by J.T. Hills
SGN Contributing Writer

            Top

• It’s definitely fun to drive
• Gorgeous exterior styling
• Intuitive controls

            Bottom

• Some fit and finish details are a bit cheesy
• Ride suffers in sport model
• Back seat is cute – serves no purpose, but is cute

            Infiniti first introduced the G Coupe in 2002 as a 2003 model. In 2007, an all-new second-generation sedan arrived with a restyled look, enhanced platform, redesigned suspension and upgraded engine. The second-generation G37 Coupe arrived in 2008 with a more powerful engine, redesigned look and a more refined interior. For 2009, Infiniti adds to the G Coupe lineup with an all-wheel-drive version. There is also a new seven-speed automatic transmission with Drive Sport (DS) mode and adaptive shift control (ASC). A six-speed manual transmission is also available. After spending a week with the 2009 Infiniti G37 Coupe in the Journey trim level, I’ve assimilated, corrugated, encapsulated, conjugated, and insinuated my own observations, and here they are:

            G37: Infiniti’s near-luxury sport coupe
            I don’t really get how auto manufacturers classify their cars. Infiniti classifies the G37 as a near-luxury sport coupe. What’s near-luxury? Either you’re in or you’re out. Bi-luxury? Anyhow, with a sticker price of $45,045, it’s certainly priced for luxury. I know, maybe it’s how the marketers justify a coupe with really astonishing exterior styling and some truly funky plastic finishes on the interior. It looks like it could be high-end – your payment’s going to be high-end – but then you get in it and you see, yup, it’s really almost nearly a luxury coupe. That’s okay, though it’s what you look like on the outside that counts the most – and, well, under the hood. All the rest is semantics.

            Actually, if you’re looking in that price range, you really get a lot of bang for your buck in the G37 coupe. If you were looking at a comparatively equipped German coupe, you could easily add another 5 to 10 thousand dollars to that price tag. So what’s a little funky plastic here and there? Lease and forget about it.
            Sarcasm aside, the G37 is beautifully designed and executed. The aesthetic design carries over to the driving experience. The Journey trim level comes with a standard 3.7-liter DOHC VVEL 330 hp V-6 engine with 270 lb-ft of torque mated to a seven-speed automatic transmission. The test car came with the optional sport package ($1,850), which among other things provided a sport-tuned suspension and 19” alloy wheels and summer tires. The only unfortunate part about it was that with our deeply rutted streets and freeways in Seattle, it provided a pretty harsh ride for a daily commute. Out on the interstate is where it was better than an amusement park ride. The G37 is on a rear-wheel-drive platform, which gave it an incredibly balanced handling. There’s no torque steer like you’d find on an Acura, well if they still made a coupe.

            The interior of the G37 is quite functional and comfortable for two people. The backseat is there for aesthetic reasons only and barely fits a gym bag. Who really cares? If you carry people, buy a sedan. The Navigation system for Infiniti is quite intuitive, with a really easy to use touch screen and real-time XM Traffic. I loved it. Funnily enough, the rear camera is actually a very practical option on the G37. The back-end is pretty high, which makes parallel parking without it a little precarious. I also loved the fact that you can pair your cellphone to the Bluetooth without pulling out the manual. I was also quite fond of the 11-speaker Bose sound system. If you’re an audiophile, you’ll love it. I loved it. It’s lovable.  

            Okay, with a MSRP of $45,045, what do you get?
            The 2009 Infiniti G37 Coupe in the Journey trim level comes pretty well equipped, but with a base MSRP of $36,650, popular options add up quick. Here’s a look at some of my favorites:
 
            Technical Features:

• 330 hp 3.7-liter DOHC 24-valve V-6 engine
• Seven-speed automatic transmission with sport mode
• Independent front and rear suspension
• Front and rear stabilizer bars
• Dual flow path shock absorbers
• Vehicle-speed-sensitive steering
• Zero-lift front aerodynamics
• 18” aluminum-alloy wheels
• Dual chrome exhaust finishers

            Safety Features

• Driver and front passenger dual stage airbags
• Driver and front passenger side airbags
• Four-wheel anti-lock brakes
• Brake assist
• Electronic brake force distribution
• Vehicle dynamic control
• Traction control
• Side curtain airbags
• Tire pressure monitoring system
• Fog lamps

            Interior Features

• Leather seating surfaces
• Eight-way power front seats
• XM Satellite radio
• Six-speaker AM/FM audio system
• Six-disc CD changer
• Seven-inch color display with Infiniti controller
• Dual zone climate control

            Optional Features

• Premium Package: Power moonroof, Infiniti Studio on Wheels Bose Audio system with 24 bit Burr Brown DAC and 11 speakers, interface for iPod, memory seat, tilt telescopic steering wheel, Bluetooth, heated front seats ($3,200)
• Illuminated kick plates ($330)
• Sport Package: Solid magnesium paddle shifters, viscous limited slip differential, 19” sport aluminum alloy wheels, sport-tuned suspension, sport brakes with four-piston front and two-piston calipers, unique front fascia and side sills, 12-way power driver and eight-way front passenger seats, sport seats with sport stitching, aluminum pedals ($1,850)
• Navigation Package: Infiniti hard drive navigation system with touch screen, XM NavTraffic, rear-view monitor, 9.3 GB Music Box hard drive and CompactFlash slot for MP3 playback ($2,200)

• Destination charge ($850)