By Bill Clark
Pros:
- Blazing acceleration
- Sports-car-like handling and braking
- Comfortable seating for four adults
Cons:
- Sports-car-like ride all the time
- Sluggishly-programmed paddle shifters
- Addicting to drive fast
With a penchant for sports cars and a baby on the way, what’s a guy to do? I do love my 2007 350z, but how practical is it? Is there anything out there with 4 doors that could take its place? There really wasn’t anything I could think of with four doors that would foot the bill. That was, until I spent some quality time behind the wheel of a 2011 Infiniti G37 sedan. That’s right – 4 doors and a lot of fun!
The car:
I tested the G37 Sedan Journey model with every available option: Technology package, Premium package, sport package, navigation package, R-spec high-friction brake pads, and interior high-gloss maple accents. These options brought the base price of $35k up to $44,245.
Overall, I’d say the sport package is an absolute must-have since it brings big-brakes, staggered (wider rear than front) wheels and tires on larger 18 inch wheels, viscous limited-slip differential, paddle shifters, and sport front fascia and side sills. The rest of the packages are up to you.
The good:
The G37 brings dramatic, fluid, drop-dead gorgeous looks to an otherwise bland automotive segment. The 2010/2011 G37 models get a slight facelift over previous models and the sport package gives the rounded car a slightly harder look.
That being said, the sedan version of this car is beautiful, but also very demure-looking. You really have no idea what you’re in for until you drive it. Once you have enough tarmac and no one in front of you, floor it from a stand-still and be prepared for the big ear-to-ear grin that ensues. The close-ratio 7-speed automatic transmission is geared for performance and keeps the 328HP/269TQ 3.7-liter V6 in the fattest part of the power-band for a blistering 5.0-second 0-60 and 13.5 sec ¼-mile times as reported by our friends at Motor Trend. That’s on-par with or better than many sports-cars, and incredible when you consider it’s 3800 pound curb weight.
Peter, Thanks for the counter-point from someone closer to the 6-foot club. I am 5’5\ and 150lbs so maybe that’s why I found it so comfortable while your experience differed. I have not driven the latest Altima, but I plan to check it out. I must have found somewhere comfortable to stow my size 8 left foot since I’m pretty sure I brought it with me, but don’t recall not having a place to put it. I wonder what year/model you drove. Having no place for a left-foot is a pet peve of mine too.
Test drove this car Bill and agree with you on many counts except the ergonomics are unbearable.I think this was designed for a 5’6 Japanese man or women.The pedals are way to close and there is nowhere for some one to rest there foot.This is a dangerous design flaw and if you were on a size 8 you will have problems.The seats were not supported just badly contoured.The sunroof cut off my head room and the backseats were awful .I did not feel I was in a 30k to 40k car it really was not a step up over the Altima.Actually the Altima was a much better car.The looks of the G were so nondescript as you said that it looks generic.I would really qualify this car for Women and smaller Men because if you approach 6′ as most American males due this car is a safely hazard.