Picture Gallery: 2009 Infiniti G37x Sedan | Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Discuss
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The G starts at a most reasonable $37,990 for the rear wheel drive sedan, and provides quite the value with standard features such as a seven-speed automatic transmission and a 3.7-litre V6 engine producing 328hp. The all-wheel drive (AWD) model G37x starts at $41,300 (less than a $3,000 pricetag for AWD), dual-zone automatic climate control and auto headlights.
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The Premium packages only adds a few goodies to an already loaded car, but they are features that allow the G37 to play with the big boys: power driver’s seat with lumbar, moonroof, Infiniti Studio on Wheels (a premium audio system developed by BOSE), power tilt and telescoping steering wheel, iPod interface, bluetooth connectivity, and auto dimming mirror with home link.
Things really get interesting at this price point when you look at the Technology package with: Navigation system, back up camera, XM radio with NAV Traffic, a 9.3 gigabyte music box to store MP3 files, Infiniti voice recognition for climate control, audio and navigation, intelligent cruise control and an adaptive front lighting system.
2009 Infiniti G37x Sedan
MSRP as tested (including destination): $50,565
For more information on Infiniti and the G37 visit Infiniti Canada
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Okay, I don’t really fondle vehicle dashboards and I’m not sure who does… but I do touch them to see if the materials are hard or soft, and I push on some parts to see if they creak as they move, which gives an indication of what may happen as the clips that hold the pieces in place loosen up over time. The verdict on the G37 is good; everything feels well put together and, at least, my tester is not creaky.
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Compared to its German competitors, the controls and switches in the G37 feel “light.” This is a matter of preference, but I like the low-effort Japanese switchgear; some may find it feels “cheap,” but it is just standard fare on almost all Japanese vehicles, so no complaints here.
Something else Infiniti has over the Germans are easy-to-use interfaces. I’ve never driven a G-series vehicle before, but finding all the controls and settings was a breeze while it always seems to be an adventure in a German car. I think they try to hide things from you to see how smart you are. Setting up my Bluetooth phone for handsfree, changing the radio to XM and setting my destination were all done within 30 seconds of sitting in the vehicle, while I had to ponder and search to achieve most of these tasks the past few weeks in the Euro competition.
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Thank you lord, however, for XM radio and an iPod interface. Even the GPS was not able to keep me entertained as it only chimed in at the start and end of my trip. I can report it does work well though; it got me to my hotel in Peterborough without a hitch and the voice command setup worked like a charm.
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The G37 certainly is a quiet and smooth cruiser. Perhaps a BMW 3 Series out handles it, but who the heck is ever going to really notice? The G37 is by far the superior highway vehicle, yet still handles well enough for most everyone. I pushed the vehicle through a few corners over the last couple of days and the G feels nimble and slides progressively while retaining a rear-wheel drive feel even in this all-wheel drive version.
And 328hp is plenty enough for you to reach 50km/h over the limit speeds on 80km/h roads when attempting to pass a slow moving vehicle — especially a transport. Lucky for me I was in no hurry this trip so I set the cruise to 95km/h and let it do its thing, automatically matching speeds with the vehicle in front of me. I’m not sure you would need or want much more than the G37 has to offer — it seems like even more of a value after driving it a few days than it did from the spec sheet on day one.
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I used just over a quarter tank of fuel to make the trek back to Ottawa, which is pretty amazing actually. City consumption was not nearly as stellar, as the on board computer readout increased rather quickly this weekend as I ran a few errands, and it now is back up to 9.0L/100km.
I was impressed this week. I expected to be a little disappointed after coming out of an Audi S8, but in reality the G37 turned out to be both plenty of luxury and sports sedan for an incredible price.
*Rating out of 5:
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*Rating based on vehicle’s classification
2009 Infiniti G37x Sedan
MSRP as tested (including destination): $50,565
For more information on Infiniti and the G37 visit Infiniti Canada
May 04, 2009, 09:02:14 am A Maxima is more the size of a 5 series than a 3-series though. A 3-series is about the size of a sentra....
May 04, 2009, 09:42:56 am
It is a great car but based on that it would cost me 4 -5 oil changes per year.
And here is something interesting.....I called Infiniti Canada and they said this oil was not a requirement. So is the dealership trying for a cash grab or the Infiniti Canada rep wrong?
http://www.mobiloil.com/USA-English/MotorOil/Car_Care/AskMobil/What_Is_Ester_Oil.aspx
May 04, 2009, 10:14:10 am
I bought new a nicely equipped 2003 Maxima. Could have got a BMW 325 for the same price. Fast forward 4 years when the time came to get another car the Nissan was worth $10,000 less. When you crunch the numbers that is another $200/Month in just depreciation on top of regular operating costs.....and BMW would have paid for their maintenance for 4 yrs/80000km. For me, as I usually keep a vehicle for 3 -4 years and run 27 - 30000 km/yr is is something to consider.
Have to agree Maxima 3 Series really isn't a comparison especially today.
Maxima 290 HP 18 inch wheels base includes CVT and Sunroof. Its about the size of a 5 series. 38,700
A 328 with no options (NC Automatic for comparison) 39,900 230 HP .
This in no way implies that they drive the same or have the same feel. Just thatthe 3 series is a different class of car in size power etc but costs more.
Have to question the Maxima actually when a G37 starts at 37,900 1K less than a base Maxima.
May 04, 2009, 10:45:08 am
It is a great car but based on that it would cost me 4 -5 oil changes per year.
And here is something interesting.....I called Infiniti Canada and they said this oil was not a requirement. So is the dealership trying for a cash grab or the Infiniti Canada rep wrong?
Never heard of Infinitis requiring special motor oil in ANY of the reviews I've ever read. And I sincerely doubt that an Infiniti rep would tell you that nothing special is required if, in fact, something special is required.
Sounds like a dishonest service department and nothing more.
May 05, 2009, 05:52:27 am http://www.canadiandriver.com/2009/05/04/infiniti-g37-tops-consumer-reports-tests.htm
May 05, 2009, 06:26:38 am
At first I was like "What the heck are they doing comparing a $38K 328hp RWD G37 to a 200hp FWD TSX. Then I saw the fact that a TSX with leather and Automatic starts at $39.2K!!!!!
If Acura wants to put itself there with pricing it deserves to get compared (and stomped)
May 05, 2009, 08:11:08 am Seems like someone in Acura management is sitting there thinking... Hmmmm, how can I sink this division today..
May 05, 2009, 09:18:56 am
Aint that the sad truth.
Jaeger
May 05, 2009, 10:00:25 am
It is a great car but based on that it would cost me 4 -5 oil changes per year.
And here is something interesting.....I called Infiniti Canada and they said this oil was not a requirement. So is the dealership trying for a cash grab or the Infiniti Canada rep wrong?
Never heard of Infinitis requiring special motor oil in ANY of the reviews I've ever read. And I sincerely doubt that an Infiniti rep would tell you that nothing special is required if, in fact, something special is required.
Sounds like a dishonest service department and nothing more.
from Mobil site
"
Question:
What is Ester Oil?
What is ester oil and how is it different than conventional oil?
-- Randy Drier, Atlanta, GA
Answer:
Ester oil is synthetic base oil that has been chemically synthesized. Typically ester oils are used in passenger car air conditioning compressors, refrigerators, and other industrial applications. Esters are one of the classes of synthetics that have been used in Mobil 1 products as well. Esters are stable molecules, provide good solvency, and provide very good low temperature and high temperature performance in engine oils.
"
So Ester oil in practice = synthetic oil. But I don't like that past tense in there. As for 6000km oil changes. I would ask to see the maintenance section of the actual owners manual that comes with the car if it were me. In the thread below there is a suggestion that the interval is in fact 6000 MILES ( 10k km) which would seem not unreasonable.
On the other hand, these people seem worried about it all.
http://myg37.com/forums/engine-drivetrain-and-forced-induction/188842-ester-oil.html
Caveat. I have never and probably will never own a Datsun of any flavour.
May 05, 2009, 10:48:33 am
...sorry, just got hit by a wave of nostalgia for the days when Acura had direction.
May 05, 2009, 12:30:37 pm Maybe they forced the guy at Acura who sets pricing to stare at the front end of a TL ofr too long and he went insane?
May 05, 2009, 12:35:50 pm The old TSX had a really good bang for the buck... what happened...?
May 05, 2009, 12:40:27 pm
Both the TSX and TL from the previous generation were incredibly attractive sedans. I dont know who was smoking what, but it must'a been some gooood shit.
May 05, 2009, 01:19:07 pm
Compared to the old TSX ... Nothing. The pricing of the TSX hasn't changed a whole lot. For some the new TSX is even better value since you can now get it without leather for less money. It's just that compared to the G37 it's not very good value.
May 05, 2009, 01:35:43 pm My Mom gave me ester oil when i woz a kid.........now i pee 5W/30 Mobil 1.............but getting it in those small necked jugs is a biatch.................
Tsx and Infiniti G37...wdf!!!...........apples Vs Guavas soaked in Napoleon Cognac..........grocers some respect here will ya.......signed Galen Weston pimping some new President Chix stuff!!!!!...............
May 05, 2009, 03:08:31 pm
Both the TSX and TL from the previous generation were incredibly attractive sedans. I dont know who was smoking what, but it must'a been some gooood
At the train station where I park in the mornings there is a slate grey previous gen TL parked almost directly in front of me. Sweet. About 5 spots to the left of him is a black current gen TL. I literally start every morning saying WTF???
Jaeger
May 05, 2009, 03:45:39 pm
My natural inclination is to think G37 v. TL, but pause to consider:
1) Don't look now, but following Honda's "bigger is better" philosophy, the tightly drawn little TSX is now pretty much the same size as the G: .8" shorter, .7" wider, .5" closer to the ground. The Robo-schnoz TL has expanded to limo-like dimensions that leave those two well behind.
2) And with Acura supposedly introducing the 3.5 V6 into the TSX, that will move it closer into G-competitive territory, at least on paper. The value equation can only get worse, however. And then there is the risk of the now massivley powerful FWD car simply torque-twisting itself into a pretzel.
Jaeger
May 05, 2009, 03:48:25 pm
Both the TSX and TL from the previous generation were incredibly attractive sedans. I dont know who was smoking what, but it must'a been some gooood
At the train station where I park in the mornings there is a slate grey previous gen TL parked almost directly in front of me. Sweet. About 5 spots to the left of him is a black current gen TL. I literally start every morning saying WTF???
Jaeger
At least the WTF happens at the train station and not in the mirror in the morning like Saf.
May 05, 2009, 07:13:33 pm last time i saws a TRAIN....it had a BRIDE ahead of it...........choo choose yer ride CAR-Fully.........eh!!!
May 07, 2009, 11:12:23 pm
...sorry, just got hit by a wave of nostalgia for the days when Acura had direction.
If you want to call rebadging Hondas "direction".
The NSX is too rare. Only the 'Teg GSR and Type-R were interesting. Neither fit the Acura branding.
May 08, 2009, 09:17:26 am
Sure wish they'd "rebadge" an S2000 as a hardtop coupe and hand the exterior design portfolio to someone who has never even HEARD of Batllestar Gallactica.
Acura's lineup holds almost nothing that I would even consider owning. That wasn't the case even just a few short years ago.
Jaeger
May 08, 2009, 11:02:33 am
Sure wish they'd "rebadge" an S2000 as a hardtop coupe and hand the exterior design portfolio to someone who has never even HEARD of Batllestar Gallactica.
Acura's lineup holds almost nothing that I would even consider owning. That wasn't the case even just a few short years ago.
Jaeger
The one thing I'll give Acura is that the TL SH-AWD 6MT does seem to be one hell of a package. Like all recent Acuras, though, I do have to throw in a "shame about the looks" caveat. But still, it seems like a very good car.
Nothing they've got besides that even remotely piques my interest. Since in the past I've been big fans of the RSX and the first-gen TSX, not to mention the NSX (which I never really appreciated until I drove it in Gran Turismo 4), that's pretty sad.
May 08, 2009, 03:18:56 pm
I may be shallow - but for me, that's a heck of a caveat. I hear it's supposed to drive great, but... make that BUT..... I can't imagine purchasing a vehicle that I considered to be a let-down in the areas of peformance, interior quality / design, exterior design or reliability. In addition to being shallow, I'm greedy.
Then again, the automatic TL SH-AWD sure didn't impress C/D much at all. It didn't just finish dead last - it finished WAAAAAAAAY behind the Infiiti and BMW. And it generally doesn't take much for a Honda product to impress those guys.
Jaeger
May 08, 2009, 08:19:43 pm
Sure wish they'd "rebadge" an S2000 as a hardtop coupe and hand the exterior design portfolio to someone who has never even HEARD of Batllestar Gallactica.
Acura's lineup holds almost nothing that I would even consider owning. That wasn't the case even just a few short years ago.
Jaeger
We might not like it but in terms of actually having a brand identity and unique looking product, they're much better today.
And you leave (the modern) Battlestar Galactica the frak alone. It's brilliant!
May 09, 2009, 11:00:20 am
We might not like it but in terms of actually having a brand identity and unique looking product, they're much better today.
So whats this new vaunted brand identity? Ugliest facking cars in the near luxury segment?