2012 Infiniti G37 Sedan - Review

If there's one car in the midsize luxury sport sedan segment that can seriously challenge the BMW 3-Series on performance terms, it's the Infiniti G37. It's a sharp performer, powerful, and well-suited to the enthusiast niche of the market.

Almost coupe-like in profile, the 2012 Infiniti G37 is a modern, powerful sedan with just enough aggression without descending into caricature. The cockpit is simple and functional, drawing much of its layout inspiration from the sports car realm, with low seating positions and driver-focused controls.

For an enthusiast driver, the Infiniti G37 is one of the best bets around: it's capable, and very, very fast in the right hands, but the feeling of sporty performance and crisp handling is accessible to all. The 3.7-liter V-6 under the hood generates a healthy 330 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque, revving willingly whether paired with the six-speed manual or seven-speed automatic. Even rough roads fail to foil the G37's excellent ride and handling capability, while the suspension handles body roll and the brakes stop confidently.

Inside, the G37 Sedan is a bit less luxurious than its German rivals, with refinement taking a backseat to performance, especially with regard to the somewhat rough and noisy V-6 engine. Speaking of back seats, there's precious little room, relegating them to child seats for most uses, though adults can manage shorter trips with relative comfort. Overall, the noise, vibration, and coarseness of the cabin comes off as more sports car than luxury sedan, but for those that like the balance, it may be just right.

No evaluation of a modern car would be complete without consideration of safety. The 2012 G37 Sedan does well in crash testing, but does leave something to be desired: it gets top marks of "good" from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in side and frontal impact crash tests, but scores a mid-range "acceptabel" score in roof-crush tests. Rear-impact scores are the lowest rating of "marginal," according to the IIHS. Nevertheless, the G37 sedan's ability to avoid accidents through good handling and agility, its standard anti-lock brakes with brake assist, front, side and side-curtain airbags, and electronic stability control combine to render a confident, safe sedan.

For more details and opinion on the 2012 Infiniti G37, visit the full review at The Car Connection.