Infiniti G Saloon (2009 – 2013) Review

Infiniti G Saloon (2009 – 2013) At A Glance

3/5

+Ultra exclusive, smart and understated looks, very comfortable and well finished interior, high standard equipment levels.

-No diesel engine, limited dealer network.

Insurance Group 45
On average it achieves 87% of the official MPG figure

The G37 saloon was one of the first Infinitis on sale in the UK and among those that's been designed appeal more to European tastes. This is the entry-level model and is similar in size and price to the BMW 3 Series and the Lexus IS. It's also available as a coupe and a folding hard top convertible. The comparison with the Lexus is a key one, because Infiniti is Nissan what Lexus is to Toyota: upmarket brands that aim to entice buyers away with smart looks, good levels of spec and decent performance.

Infiniti makes much of its sporting ability, which marks it apart from models from Lexus, which tend to focus on comfort. That's why you'll find the Nissan 370Z's engine under the bonnet - a 320bhp 3.7-litre V6, which is smooth and refined, yet offers urgent performance when required. It's much closer in character to the driver-focused BMW than a Lexus IS or Mercedes-Benz C-Class.

The Infiniti dealer network is small, but focused on providing exceptional service. Infiniti prefers to give a handful of owners a truly memorable buying and owning experience rather than offer run-of-the-mill service to a larger number. That translates into the kind of bespoke service that Rolls Royce and Aston Martin customers have come to expect. Each customer get their own 'account manager' as a single point of contact for as long as they own the car. Owners are also entitled to free pick and and delivery for servicing within a range of 150 miles - which means that owners don't need to worry about how far away the nearest Infiniti centre is - which is pretty handy as at the moment there are barely a handful with the main centre located in Reading, Berkshire.

Real MPG average for a Infiniti G Saloon (2009 – 2013)

RealMPG

Real MPG was created following thousands of readers telling us that their cars could not match the official figures.

Real MPG gives real world data from drivers like you to show how much fuel a vehicle really uses.

Average performance

87%

Real MPG

19–27 mpg

MPGs submitted

6

Diesel or petrol? If you're unsure whether to go for a petrol or diesel (or even an electric model if it's available), then you need our Petrol or Diesel? calculator. It does the maths on petrols, diesels and electric cars to show which is best suited to you.

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Ask Honest John

Which four-seater convertible should I buy?

"I am considering purchasing a four-seater convertible with a maximum price of £25,000. I have a list of four cars: BMW E93 3-Series, Audi A5, Lexus IS250C and a Volvo C70. I would appreciate your input and any other models you would add to the list."
I'd go for the Lexus IS250C for refinement and reliability. Test and video here: www.honestjohn.co.uk/road-tests/lexus/lexus-is250c-road-test// Another potential contender is the very rare Infiniti G37 convertible.
Answered by Honest John

Should I buy an Infiniti G37?

"Visited an Infiniti agent to consider a G37. Because they are rare/can't be "pigeonholed" like Merc E, XF etc equivalents, they appeal. Price new circa £42k. A used 6 month old G37 Premium S, with under 2k miles is available at £19975. The agent says it will be an 09 model,(regd Aug11), since facelifted, no 4WD coupling and satnav postcode unfriendly. The agent is now offering new car for £27k, using a finance pack costing £5k 1st year, with option to buy at £22k at year end. Ive since offered £18k for the used car in view of this package/spec info. Is this reasonable? Im concerned about the cars saleability in a few years given the current £425 road tax and its thirst. Would appreciate your comments/advice - dont want to buy a pig in a poke!"
Interesting car. A sort of Nissan 350Z saloon. Needs to be cheap, though.
Answered by Honest John

Can you recommend a fun convertible for commuting and weekend drives?

"We are a family with two family cars. We are looking to replace the second car, an ageing Vauxhall Vectra, with something more fun. This would primarily be for my short daily commute and for weekends when not travelling with the children. We are looking at hard top convertibles, as we are concerned about the maintenance and durability of a soft top and I prefer more refined and quieter cabin than most soft tops provide. We recently test-drove a Lexus IS250C. I loved the hi-tech gadgets and the quiet cabin. However, I found the motoring experience not as stimulating as hoped. The weight of the car meant it felt a little sluggish and, with the roof down, much of the refinement seemed to disappear, undermining the thrill of open top driving. Is this a universal issue with convertibles? If so, would I find coupes that might offer similar refinement to the Lexus but with a more engaging drive? I'm willing to spend around £30,000."
I agree, a Lexus IS250C is not a performance car, but I disagree about the roof-down refinement. See video test here: www.honestjohn.co.uk/road-tests/lexus/lexus-is250c-road-test/. I found it to be the most refined top-down convertible there is, only getting noisy in tunnels (which is inevitable with any drop-top). That said, with its Nissan 350Z engine, the Infiniti G37 convertible is quicker: www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/infiniti/g-convertible-2009/. Otherwise a BMW 330i or 335i CC will do the job.
Answered by Honest John

Amazzed

"A conundrum. It’s time to part with my nearly 8-year-old super Mazda 626 GSI SE that’s been faultless and consider a replacement. Any ideas? I’m 6’, 65 years old, active, want a bit of ‘class’ but not the oldest teenager in town: something about 4.5m in length with 4/5 doors, possibly BMW Efficient Dynamics 3 Series, possibly an XF but a big posy and difficult in Morrison’s car park, only about 5,000 miles per annum, budget up to 40k, so on and so forth."
Take a drive in a Lexus IS250 auto. Amazingly refined. Best on 16” or 17” wheels with deeper profile tyres. Also consider an Infiniti G37: www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/infiniti/g37-saloon-2009. If you go for the Jag XF, no reason not to go for the 3.0V6 petrol that starts at just under £30,000. Don't go for a diesel for 5,000 miles a year or you will have endless DPF problems.
Answered by Honest John
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