Infiniti, Test Drives

Test Drive: 2009 Infiniti G37x

June 17, 2009

2009 Infiniti G37x. Click image to enlarge

My G37x AWD tester carried a starting MSRP of $41,300. To that, Infiniti added on the $3,540 Premium Package (power driver’s seat lumbar support, power moonroof, auto up-down rear windows, Bose’s Infiniti Studio on Wheels stereo, iPod interface, two-position driver’s seat memory, power tilt-and-telescoping steering column, auto-dimming inside mirror, Bluetooth hands-free phone system) and the $3,900 High Technology Package (navigation, 9.3-gigabyte hard-drive music storage, voice recognition controls, rear-view parking assist, intelligent cruise control, adaptive headlights, pre-crash seatbelts). Of note is that the High Technology group can’t be had without also choosing the Premium Package (in AWD models, or the Touring Package in rear-drive cars), which essentially makes the high-tech package a $7,400 option.

In any event, that’s still a lot of kit for my car’s as-tested price of $50,565. Compare that to the $54,100 price for the 2009 Audi A4 2.0T I test drove late last year. It had all the stuff this Infiniti came with, as well as a couple of extras, like Audi’s excellent Drive Select electronic chassis controls and a blind spot assist system, but had only four-cylinder power. Opting for that car’s V6 (though I’d argue that the four-cylinder is a great balance of power and economy) would still have you short on power compared to the Infiniti, but would easily cost a few thousand bucks more than my Audi tester did.

Then, there’s the nearly $60,000 BMW 335i xDrive that James Bergeron tested in March, which featured that company’s terrifically-torquey 300-hp, twin-turbocharged six-cylinder engine.

You might wonder how Infiniti makes money selling its cars for so much less than its German competitors. One way – though not the only way, by any means – is through its $1,825 freight charge. In my A4 tester, this was only $800, and BMW charges $1,400 for its 2009 3 Series.

Both are terrific cars and well-worth the money, and in shopping around, you may wish to take into consideration that the Infiniti will depreciate more quickly than the BMW or the Audi.

But I believe that, even for a discerning enthusiast, there’s no shame in going for the least-expensive option if that option offers a satisfying driving experience, and the G37x does that and then some.

Just choose an interesting colour, will you?

Pricing: 2009 Infiniti G37x AWD

Base price: $41,300

Options: $7,440 (Premium Package, $3,540; High Technology Package, $3,900)

A/C tax: $100

Freight: $1,825

Price as tested: $50,665
Click here for options, dealer invoice prices and factory incentives

Specifications

Specifications: 2009 Infiniti G37

Competitors

Buyer’s Guide: 2009 Acura TL

Buyer’s Guide: 2009 Audi A4