2004 Infiniti G35 X review from North America

Nothing has gone wrong.

There is a slight rattle in the driver's door armrest when the radio is turned up.

We did a lot of research when choosing a vehicle this time. Our choices came down to the G35, Acura TL and the Cadillac CTS - while there were pros and cons for all three, the G35 shined!

I love the AWD system, it is a truly ingenious system. With normal acceleration from a stop, power transfer is 25% front and 75% rear. The system constantly monitors traction and will distribute power to each wheel individually based upon need. After it gets to a certain MPH, power goes 100% to the rear giving you that great RWD driving experience. In more slippery conditions, the split can be 50/50. It even has a snow lock out mode so you can be 50/50 all the time. Even though this car has tremendous power, the tires won't break loose even with the VDC system (traction control) turned off. An outstanding system!

The engine just loves to rev and revs smoothly throughout the power band - I think the 260HP/260lb ft torque is underrated. I've already ran at the local drag racing track and pulled a 2.18 60ft and crossed the 1/8 mile trap at 9.45 @ 75.10 MPH (this converts to a 14.7 in the 1/4 - right on par with the magazines). This was done with a completely full 20 gal. tank of required premium gas. Very impressive for an almost 3,700lb car! After market components are plenty, but so are the prices of them - expect to pay more than usual.

Shifts through the automatic transmission are crisp and the quickest I've experienced. The auto stick is a neat feature that doesn't get used much because the transmission does a terrific job by itself. There used to be an annoying lag between auto stick shifts before we added an aftermarket Grounding Kit from Grounding Gear. Now shifts via the auto stick are instant.

Steering effort is a little stiff, but turn in is quick with good feedback. Pressing the car hard produces slight under-steer, but it remains predictable. This is due in part to a stiff suspension that's not overly harsh. The rougher roads can be unsettling at times though, but remember... this is a sports sedan.

The High Intensity Discharge lights are bright as are the LED's in the rear tail lamps. The chrome accents on the exterior are tastefully done and in my opinion, mask the performance capabilities from those who don't know any better. The rakish look is rounded off by 17" alloy wheels fitted with All-Season Goodyear's that have surprisingly good bite.

Inside, we are treated to amenities galore! We opted for not getting the Navigation and we've regretted it ever since. Seats are comfortable, but I wish the front seats were the same as the coupe's - they are the most comfortable seats I've sat in. I've read different opinions on the interior, but I think it looks rich. I really like how the entire instrument panel moves with an adjustment of the steering wheel. The audio system really bumps and shakes the mirror into confusion. The heated seats have a hi/lo setting, which is good because hi can really start to bake. Steering wheel controls are "levers" instead of buttons which I feel are more intuitive. Leather is soft, but not as plush as it appears.

Like I've already stated, the interior has a lot of amenities, but I do have my gripes. One is that Infiniti only provided a pass through for the rear seat instead of folding seats. The AC/Heat controls can be confusing to adjust while driving. Lastly, out of the three 12V receptacles - none of them stay on when the car is off.

But the overall experience of the car far supersedes my small gripes. Motor Trend hit the nail on the head when they voted this car as their car of the year. Granted that was the coupe, but Infiniti has made the transition from sports car coupe to four door sleeper seamlessly. You really get a lot for the money. It's a beautiful car that you can expect to maintain it's value for years to come.