2009 Infiniti G37

• Overall
• Prices
• Performance
• Exterior
• Interior
• Safety
• Reliability

Performance - What the Auto Press Says

The G37 Coupe that debuted last year was a spirited performer, able to serve as a comfortable commuter, and on request, as a powerful and agile enthusiast's car. For 2009, the sedan gains all of the performance equipment the coupe boasted last year -- and most writers say the power boost translates well to the four-door body.  The convertible, however, would lose any race against its siblings -- the added weight of the hardtop roof costs it some acceleration and some handling balance.

• "Lively and fun, giving way just enough when pushed to keep us interested, while maintaining that balance and comfort necessary to keep the car great to live with as a daily driver." -- AutoWeek
• "Step hard on the gas, and this beautifully appointed, quiet-riding car becomes the automotive equivalent of a snarling attack dog. Seriously fast, with a throaty exhaust rumble." -- Newsday,
• "A great car for eating up pavement...it's quick, handles well and stops effortlessly -- both on-track and off." -- Edmunds

Acceleration and Power

All versions of the 2009 Infiniti G37 draw their power from a 3.7-liter V6 engine with variable valve timing that creates 330 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque. That doesn't sound like significantly more power than many competitors, but a number of reviewers have written that it feels like more. A six-speed manual is available, or new for 2009, a unique seven-speed automatic (with paddle shifters) that saves fuel by offering gear ratios suited to a huge variety of driving conditions.  Convertible versions lag a bit behind coupe and sedan additions off the line.

The EPA estimates that both Coupe and Sedan versions should get 18/26 mpg with the automatic transmission 17/25 with the manual. The car requires premium fuel.

• "Not surprising, the acceleration times for the brawnier G37 S [sedan] are markedly improved over the less-powerful, five-speed G35 S Zero to 60 now takes only 5.0 sec, with the quarter-mile obliterated in just 13.5 at 105.3 mph. Compared with numbers from our long-term G35 S -- 5.3 and 13.9 at 99.9, respectively -- it's evident the additional 22 hp and two cogs make an appreciable difference." -- Motor Trend
• "G37's eager V6 engine satisfies at any speed. Passing maneuvers are a breeze." -- Consumer Guide
• The engine "stormed out of the lower reaches of the rev range and pulled hard all the way to its 7,500-rpm redline, and the power was easy to manage all the way." -- Edmunds
• "Acceleration was strong and smooth, and the engine makes great music as it happily revs to the red line." -- Forbes
• The convertible "feels quite a bit more deliberate than the coupe thanks to the weight -- 0-60 mph is probably in the high 5-second range now." -- Los Angeles Times

Handling and Braking

Reviewers are generally impressed with the handling balance of the G37, calling it sporty and responsive even in standard trim. But an available four-wheel active steering system takes handling to another level, making the G among the sharpest cornering cars in its class.

Convertible versions lose some of that handling precision, thanks to the 462 pounds of weight added by the retractable hardtop.

• In handling, the G37 is "Among the best in this class. G37S versions are grippy and agile, with little lean in corners. The available Four-Wheel Active Steer System provides particularly sharp moves. Braking is strong and secure." - Consumer Guide
• "Through all but the most aggressive curves, the car stays as flat as the Arizona desert." -- Motor Trend
• "Transitions through corners are well managed, and there's no bobbing and weaving as you stop accelerating and begin braking or vise versa." -- The Auto Channel
• "The G37 slithered through the corners of the road course with nearly zero body roll, a tell-tale sign of a well developed suspension." -- Road and Track
• "This car simply goes where you point it.At any speed, you could easily thread a needle with this steering." -- The Family Car
• Four-wheel active steering "turns the rear wheels as well as the front ones, which purportedly improves high-speed handling and makes it easier to turn at parking-lot speeds." -- Cars.com
• Four wheel steering "works as advertised, but most buyers would be just as satisfied with the basic setup." -- Forbes
• "Thanks in part to the fact that the roof panels are steel and not aluminum, the convertible weighs a staggering 462 pounds more than the coupe. So if you like the way your G37 Coupe drives, just throw a Kawasaki Ninja in the trunk and see how that grabs you. ... the convertible exhibits more tremble and cowl-shake over rough roads than the closed-roof car." --  Los Angeles Times