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Week at the Wheel: Infiniti G37x. Image by Max Earey.

Week at the Wheel: Infiniti G37x
The four-wheel drive Infiniti G37x is now a mainstay of the range, but how does it stack up?

   



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| Week at the Wheel | Infiniti G37x |

Inside & Out: star star star star star

The subtle G37 saloon has undergone one or two very minor tweaks for the 2010 model year. For instance, the nose has been mildly restyled to bring it into line with the Coupé and Convertible, but that's about it for the outside. You still get the same cool, crisp lines and wide, American-looking rump. The optional pearl metallic paintwork combined with Grey Barra alloy wheels of our test car are a striking combination and give the G37 a suitably understated vibe.

The cabin is dripping with gadgetry and luxuries aplenty but it doesn't quite give off the same air of quality as the Infiniti's more established German rivals like Audi, Mercedes-Benz and BMW. Don't get us wrong; it's not badly put together; it just doesn't quite exude the same sense of engineering prowess and feels a little cheap in comparison.

Engine & Transmission: star star star star star

A 316bhp V6 - shared with the Nissan 370Z - isn't exactly in keeping with the times, but it is rather fun. It makes a wonderful gruff bark when the twin tailpipes rattle into life after you push the start button, which rises to an almost V8-like metallic snarl when you really gun it. There's more than enough power for UK roads and the G37 will hustle from point to point with tremendous pace.

The G37x you see here comes with four-wheel drive as standard. The x - four-wheel drive - was previously an option, but 41 percent of Infiniti's European customers specified it, so it's now a model in its own right. The heavier system adds 0.1 seconds to the 0-62mph time, but six seconds dead is still quick for a hefty barge like the G37.

Infiniti's automatic transmission isn't great. The shifts seem slow and the gearbox often won't allow the driver to change down to keep the revs up for a fast corner, responding only with a refusal to drop a cog and an annoying bleeping noise from the dash. The manual gearbox is a much more attractive proposition for keen drivers.

Ride & Handling: star star star star star

Firm suspension keeps the G37 in check on the bends and the fat 225/50 tyres over 18-inch wheels are seriously sticky. That grip comes at a price though, as the Infiniti crashes and vaults over every pothole and undulation it comes across. For a luxury saloon, it's really quite uncomfortable on anything but the smoothest of roads.

The steering is firm and meaty but it could do with a little more delicate feedback to give the car a more engaging edge. You can have a lot of fun in the G37, but most of the grins come from the engine rather than the handling.

Equipment, Economy & Value for Money: star star star star star

This is where Infiniti comes into its own. It's hard to justify paying over £35,000 for a petrol-engined luxury saloon in this day and age, but the G37x is a lot of car for the money. Our test car came in premium spec, which gets loads of goodies like a reversing camera, 30GB hard drive navigation system, 11-speaker Bose sound system and intelligent cruise control that monitors the speed of the car in front.

It's still not cheap, but there's no way that you'd get an equivalent Audi, BMW or Merc with anything like this level of kit for the same price. The dealer support is likely to be pretty strong too, as Infiniti doesn't expect to sell huge numbers of cars in the UK, so you can bank on strong customer service.

Overall: star star star star star

The G37x has individuality on its side if nothing else. Yes, it's big, eye-wateringly expensive to run and not really appropriate for the UK, but there is a certain charm about it. The V6 is a hoot of an engine and you'll never get as much kit on a rival car for the same money. It's hard to recommend, yet if you want to stand out from the luxury car crowd but don't fancy being too ostentatious while you're at it, then the G37x could be up your street.

Jack Carfrae - 1 Jun 2010



  www.infiniti.co.uk    - Infiniti road tests
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2010 Infiniti G37x specifications: (GT Premium)
Price: £38,820 (x model starts at £34,370)
0-62mph: 6.0 seconds
Top speed: 149mph
Combined economy: 25.7mpg
Emissions: 255g/km
Kerb weight: 1801kg

2010 Infiniti G37x. Image by Max Earey.2010 Infiniti G37x. Image by Max Earey.2010 Infiniti G37x. Image by Max Earey.2010 Infiniti G37x. Image by Max Earey.2010 Infiniti G37x. Image by Max Earey.

2010 Infiniti G37x. Image by Max Earey.2010 Infiniti G37x. Image by Max Earey.2010 Infiniti G37x. Image by Max Earey.2010 Infiniti G37x. Image by Max Earey.2010 Infiniti G37x. Image by Max Earey.



2010 Infiniti G37x. Image by Max Earey.
 

2010 Infiniti G37x. Image by Max Earey.
 

2010 Infiniti G37x. Image by Max Earey.
 

2010 Infiniti G37x. Image by Max Earey.
 

2010 Infiniti G37x. Image by Max Earey.
 

2010 Infiniti G37x. Image by Max Earey.
 

2010 Infiniti G37x. Image by Max Earey.
 






 

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