DriveTech

2007 Infiniti G35 Sport does more than add a sporty touch

Manufacturers that come out with a four-door sedan in the $30,000 range eventually also come out with a sport model. It's all an attempt to capture the group that needs a sport touch to their car.

If you're on the fence, then it's time you looked at the 2007 Infiniti G35 Sport. My tester came from Infiniti of Escondido. CEO John Preston is a true "car guy" because he has worked in every department and knows the car business inside and out. His No. 1 goal is customer satisfaction and he is already sending the dealership's Customer Satisfaction Index score through the roof.

Infiniti has done a real nice job turning an already great car into a greater car, giving the competition a run for its money (especially BMW). You know it's an Infiniti by the elegant clock in the center of the dash. The clock has been a staple of Infiniti since it got into the luxury arena.

The front driver's seat is quite comfortable and has the ability to adjust the lower cushion outward for drivers and front passengers with long legs. The seats are leather and the driver gets the choice of 12 electronic adjustments while the front passenger gets eight. Both seats have manual lumbar adjustments.

Starting the G35 Sport is as simple as pushing a button. You need the key fob close by but if you keep it in your pocket, you will never lose your keys or leave them in the G35. I like this feature.

A stock Infiniti comes with a six-speaker audio system with an AM/FM sound system with six-disc in-dash capabilities that include MP3 playback and an audio jack for other pieces of audio equipment. This is a great sound system but the gang at Escondido Infiniti like music and added the optional Infiniti Studio On Wheels Premium Audio System by Bose. All I can say is that you need to hear it to believe it.

Another option worth mentioning is the memory system that incorporates the outside mirrors as well as driver seat and steering wheel. This is a nice option if you have multiple drivers. My tester came with a power driver seat lumbar plus power tilt and telescoping steering wheel, one touch up and down rear windows, auto dimming rearview mirror (should be standard) with a compass, Homelink and Bluetooth hands-free phone system, and heated front seats and outside side mirrors. Rear passengers get a lot of comfort as well, with a nice big center armrest and decent headroom for the taller passengers.

The power plant under the hood of the 2007 Infiniti G35Sport is a peppy 3.5-liter dual overhead camshaft 24-valve V6 that produces 306 horsepower and 268 pound-foot of raw torque. Now this is a rear wheel drive car and I love it!

The transmission of choice is a five-speed electronically controlled automatic with sport mode and the set of paddles on the backside of the leather wrapped steering wheel are easy to reach and manipulate. When you decide to try them out, be ready for some real acceleration. If cornering is your game, the G35 Sport is ready for you with independent front and rear suspension, front and rear stabilizer bars, vehicle dynamic control and electronic brake force distribution. You also get a limited slip rear end and vehicle speed sensitive power steering, which means there's more draw on the steering the faster you go. This helps keep you and your G under control.

The Sport also comes with exterior treatments such as ground effects, 18-inch alloy wheels and P225/50R up front and P245/45R in the rears, which eliminates tire rotations. Safety features include front airbags, front seat side airbags, roof mounted side impact curtain airbags, front seat active head restraints, crumple zones surrounding the occupants, plus a lot more.

This vehicle gets 19 miles per gallon in the city and 26 MPH on the open road. Did I like this car? You bet. Infiniti knows how to stir the driver in all of us and if you haven't enjoyed your ride lately, then maybe you need to make a run to Escondido to see if Preston has something for your ills!