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2004 Infiniti G35
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| G35 Gaining Traction |
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| Updated |
Jun 10, 2004 22:50:42 |
| Rating |
 469 ( -26 -5.54% ) | | Author | Dan Lyons |
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Description:
2004 Infiniti G35. Adults will fit front or rear and it's an easy cabin to access through either fore or aft doors.
2004 Infiniti G35 Sedan
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2004 Infiniti G35. The pop-up LCD screen measures 6.5", and the system is legible, and user friendly.
2004 Infiniti G35. The G35 has mid-six second speed from 0-60; it's a strong and responsive motor.
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2004 Infiniti G35. The interior boasts fine head and leg room.
2004 Infiniti G35. Standard is a 4.2 liter Inline 6, optional is a 5.3 liter V8.
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The sophomore season for Infiniti's G35 Sport Sedan is marked by the début of a new, all wheel drive version. The Sedan is a very satisfying driver - not surprising, given the hardware that it shares with Nissan's resident sports car star, the 350Z. The suspension (independent front and rear) and a nicely balanced weight distribution (52/48) make the G35 feel, well, nicely balanced. The G35 is agile without being twitchy; comfortable without feeling flabby. Road bumps and pock-marked pavement telegraph through the tires into the cabin, but the sensation is one of firm feedback, rather than rough ride. My drive time included a couple of multi-hundred mile city/highway/city journeys, and the G35 proved every bit the able traveler throughout.
The upscale sport sedan's platform features the same AWD running gear found in Infiniti's FX35 & 45 series crossovers. As with the slinky Utes, the G35's torque split varies from 100% rear drive to a 50/50 front/rear distribution, depending on road conditions and driving situations. The system monitors quickly and adjusts instantly, providing seamless traction enhancement on dry or wet roads. Flick the Snow-mode switch and the G35 locks into a fixed, 50/50 power split, with reduced throttle sensitivity for better grip on a muddy back road or a snowy side street. A full complement of onboard electronics are also on call, ready to step in with brake-related interventions (ABS, Electronic Brake Force Distribution, Brake Assist and Active Brake Limited Slip).
The driveline pairs Nissan's 3.5 liter V6 with either a 6-speed manual or a 5-speed automatic transmission. In this application, the DOHC, 24 valve V6 generates 260 hp (@6,000 rpm) and 260 lb. ft. of torque (@4,800 rpm). The engine has a broad, silken power band, and the five speed automatic slips easily from gear to gear. The G35 has mid-six second speed from 0-60; it's a strong and responsive motor. Not quite as quick as the 350Z, of course, and more surprisingly, not as strong as the G35 coupe. The flag ship Z rates 287 hp, and the G35 two door weighs in with 280 - trumping the sedan by 20 hp. The sedan certainly doesn't feel malnourished, motor-wise, yet it's a bit disappointing that Infiniti docks you twenty horses if you need four doors. An automatic equipped G35 sedan returns an EPA estimated 17 mpg's city, 24 highway. Stick versions are about 3 mpg's better, at 20/27.
The interior boasts fine head and leg room. Adults will fit front or rear and it's an easy cabin to access through either fore or aft doors. Reclining seatbacks are optional in the second row, though my passengers felt that the recumbent position was less comfortable than the standard angle. The driver finds good visibility in all directions. The center stack is home to the Navigation system (if you opt for the $2,000 option). The pop-up LCD screen measures 6.5", and the system is legible, and user friendly. With nav plus HVAC plus sound system, there is a lot going on, button-wise, but with a little practice, it all works. New for 2004 is a tire pressure monitoring system and heated outside mirrors. The trunk is good-sized, at 15 cubic feet, with a narrow, center pass-through into the cabin and a low lift over height in back.
The new Sedan Leather AWD becomes the fourth model in the G35 series, joining the Sedan, Sedan Leather and Sedan Sport 6MT. As evidenced in the top-line AWD, the G35 packs a lot of comfort and performance into a very refined package. Comparing features, build quality and pricing, it stacks up quite well with its competition. Dollar for dollar, this is a hard car to beat, and it should be on anyone's short list of thirty-$omething sport sedans.
2004 Infiniti G35 Sedan Reviewer's Notes
MSRP: $31,900
As Tested:
$37,280
Plus: Performance/comfort mix, value
Minus: Horsepower penalty for choosing sedan over coupe
The Competition: Acura TL, BMW 325xi, Cadillac CTS, Lexus IS 300/ES 330
---Story by Dan Lyons
---Photos by Dan Lyons
© Dan Lyons 2004. All Rights Reserved. |
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