Infiniti G37 Saloon : INFINITI AND BEYOND

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Infiniti has high hopes for the G37 saloon. Steve walker reports

Would you be happy swapping your BMW, Audi or Mercedes-Benz compact executive saloon for a Nissan? It's a safe bet that the majority of respondents to that particular questionnaire would answer in the negative, even without any indication of how good the Nissan might actually be. This is badge equity at work. We're trained to associate certain things with premium brands and others with the more mainstream ones. All of which explains why Nissan defers its assaults on the premium car market to the Infiniti sub-brand. Would you swap your BMW 3-Series, Audi A4 or Mercedes-Benz C-Class for an Infiniti G37 saloon? Now there's a question.

Toyota has achieved success and respectability in the European market with its Lexus sub-brand and that arrangement draws the closest available parallel to the relationship between Nissan and Infiniti. Infiniti is a name that's well known to American car buyers, the brand having launched there in 1989 and broken through the 100,000-unit annual sales barrier back in 2003. Its journey in Europe is likely to be more taxing, however, particularly for the G37 Saloon which competes in a compact executive car market that's mature and highly competitive. Infiniti needs to build its European brand quickly but carefully and that can only be done through good marketing, good promotion and most importantly good product. So how does the G37 shape up? The G37 is immediately put at a disadvantage by its availability with just one engine, and worse, an engine which isn't a diesel. The all-important oil-burner is in the pipeline but for the time being, the car competes with the 3.7-litre V6 as used to intoxicating effect by the Nissan 370Z sportscar. The engine doesn't lack character in the 370Z, so it should be up to the job in the G37 saloon which runs on similar underpinnings. It develops 316bhp, enough to get the car from standstill to 60mph in 5.8s. That's pace on a par with a BMW 335i and faster than the Mercedes C350. Like the German cars it's targeting, the G37 is has a speed limiter which throws a damp tea towel over proceedings at 155mph.

"For performance, equipment and price, it looks a strong contender"

The standard G37 models are rear-wheel drive but there is an intelligent all-wheel-drive option. A further intriguing possibility is the 4-Wheel Active Steer technology which comes with the sporty S models. This is a system by which the rear wheels turn to assist those at the front when steering inputs are made. They work to enhance low speed manoeuvrability while also increasing composure at high speeds. Two gearboxes are available, a six-speed manual as standard or an optional seven-speed automatic. The auto features wheel-mounted paddle shifters that appear to be a source of great pride for Infiniti because they're fashioned from Magnesium. The curvy lines of the G37 create a softer appearance than those of its compact executive rivals and ultimately a less distinctive one. There are elements to latch onto, however, such as the headlight clusters pushed wide to curve around the front corners and visually widen the car. In common with other Infiniti models, the G37 also features a long bonnet which has a practical application as well as a stylistic one. It allows the front-mounted engine to be pushed further back in the chassis for a more balanced front to rear weight distribution. The cabin of compact executive cars is a vital area for it's here where owners must be reminded that the premium they've paid over more proletarian models has been worthwhile. As you'd expect from a Japanese brand, the build quality is hard to criticise but there are lots of buttons cluttering up the fascia and the cohesion of design that the leading brands achieve isn't quite there. There's an acceptable amount of space in the rear for this sector and the 450-litre boot is also competitive. There's a lot of equipment as standard on the G37, meaning that the £2,000 price premium needed for, say, a BMW 335i with similar performance will grow once it's been brought up to G37 specification. Standard stuff includes Bi-Xenon cornering headlights, speed-sensitive power steering, electric front seats, parking sensors, I-Key smart entry, a six CD stereo, Bluetooth connectivity and 18" alloy wheels. The GT trim level adds full leather trim, heated seats and a few other extras for only £1,300. The G37x and G37x GT models have all-wheel-drive while the range-topping G37 S is rear-wheel drive but has four-wheel-steering, firmer springs and a rear limited slip differential. It's diesel that accounts for the majority of compact executive car sales in the UK and Europe but the Infiniti offering competes at the higher end of the market. Here, petrol gets a bit more of a look in with buyers valuing performance over economy. It will still be tough going for the G37 until its diesel engine pitches up but the brand is hoping to grease the wheels with an exemplary customer service offering. Infiniti customers will get a free collection and delivery service when maintenance or repair work is required. There's also an Infiniti Touring Assistance package designed to give full expert assistance while owners are out on the road. The big V6 in the G37 returns 26.7mpg on the combined cycle with accompanying CO2 emissions of 248g/km. The automatic gearbox makes the car fractionally more efficient but the 4x4 system puts a dent in economy to the tune of 1mpg. Residual values will be a major determining factor in the G37's fortunes in the UK and it may take a while before the market settles on how it's going to value Infiniti products in comparison to rivals. Is there room for another entrant in the compact executive saloon market? BMW, Audi and Mercedes would say no, Infiniti says yes with its G37 saloon. The G37 is unashamedly targeted at the sportier end of the market with its 316bhp V6, a very different place to that occupied by its fellow Japanese premium brand, Lexus. On performance, equipment and price, it looks a strong contender. The lack of a diesel and elements of the design mean there may still be work to be done. Infiniti has enjoyed considerable success in the US market but Europe is a different ball game. To appeal over here, Nissan's premium arm is banking on its value for money and quality customer service giving it an edge. There's also definite satisfaction to be gleaned from driving a compact executive car that hardly anyone else has got but trading on its rarity value is not where Infiniti wants to be in the long term. As far as it's concerned, the sky's the limit.

Facts At A Glance
CAR: Infiniti G37 Saloon
PRICES: £30,300 - £34,700 on the road
INSURANCE GROUPS: 16-17
CO2 EMISSIONS: 248-255g/km
PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 5.8s / top speed 155mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (urban) 18.5mpg, (extra urban) 35.8mpg, (combined) 26.7mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: six airbags, ABS, ESP, pop-up bonnet
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: length/width/heightmm 4770/1770/1450