2013 Infiniti G37x S Coupe Rocky Mountain Review By Dan Poler

By Dan Poler
Rocky Mountain Bureau
The Auto Channel

We recently had the chance to spend some time behind the wheel of the 2013 Infiniti G37x S Coupe. Introduced in its current configuration for the 2008 model year, the G37 has received only minor updates in the years since. Not to say that the vehicle feels stale – far from it. The G37 is a delight to drive and spend time in, but seems to be unsure as to whether it’s a luxury or a performance vehicle, with strong attributes of each segment exhibited.

Base features for the G37 include automatic xenon headlights, heated mirrors, keyless ignition/entry, dual-zone automatic climate control, leather, heated front seats, folding rear seat, auto-dimming rearview mirror, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel (with a unique accompanying tilting gauge cluster), a center console color display, Bluetooth phone connectivity, a rearview camera and a six-speaker sound system. The majority of upgrades from the base model are organized into packages, and our exhaustively equipped tester came loaded with several of these packages, including all-wheel drive, technology, premium, sport, and navigation packages, adding almost $10,000 to the G37’s $41,450 base price.

On the outside, the G37 feels contemporary and modern for a five-year old platform, with a gently sloping roofline and long windshield. Fit and finish is excellent as we’ve come to expect from Infiniti’s parent Nissan.

Inside, the front seats are wonderfully comfortable and adjustable, with both front occupants receiving manually adjustable thigh support and the driver receiving power adjustments for thigh and back side bolsters. While front seats will more than happily accommodate a 6-foot-plus tall driver or passenger in comfort, rear seats are cramped – it IS a coupe, after all – but surprisingly, a rear-facing car seat can be installed, a rarity for a coupe.

Controls are reasonably straightforward; at first glance one wonders about the utility afforded by the swath of oddly-angled buttons just below the center display that provide control of navigation and other features, but their layout is intuitive and easy to use. At night, the G37 uses blue accents throughout the cabin which are pleasing.

Driving the G37 is an interesting contrast, again due to that split identity between performance and luxury. There is the low rumble to the exhaust and engine that is pleasing, but handling and performance can be fairly sedate and gentle. In Sport mode, however, the engine’s 330 horsepower becomes much more engaging, gears are held much longer by the 7-speed transmission, encouraging the use of the paddle shifters. Ride is firm and body roll is kept to a minimum, but road noise is ever present.

We found handling to be generally good – there were a couple of moments of surprising loss of traction in situations we didn’t expect. Carving through backroad canyons in Colorado? No problem. But a suburban corner on dry concrete? Tires would start to slip at surprisingly low speeds. We averaged about 22 mpg over the course of our time with the vehicle, including city, highway, and some spirited driving. Luxury enhancements such as adaptive cruise control are present throughout, which are always welcome.

In the safety department, the G37 comes equipped with a wide variety of features one would expect on a luxury vehicle – numerous airbags, ABS and electronic brakeforce distribution, and dynamic traction control; the US government has not provided crash test ratings for this model.

Is the G37 luxury-first or sport-first? Hard to say. Regardless, the combination, while hard to classify, is a lot of fun to try and figure out!

Specifications
2013 Infiniti G37x S

Engine Type: DOHC
Engine Size: 3.7 liter
Horsepower: 330
Torque (lb-ft): 270
Transmission: 7-speed automatic with sport mode
Wheelbase / Length (in): 112.2 / 183.1
Fuel Capacity (gal): 20
Fuel Requirement: Premium Unleaded
Tires: Yokohama Advan A83; P225/45VR19
Brakes, front/rear: Ventilated disc with 4-piston caliper / Ventilated disc with 2-piston caliper
Suspension, front/rear: Double wishbone / multi-link
Drivetrain: ATTESSA E-TS All-Wheel Drive with Snow Mode
EPA Fuel Economy - MPG city / highway / observed: 18 / 25 / 22
Base Price: $41,450.00
Price as Tested: $51,245.00

Packages and Options

Technology Package: $1,250.00 (Intelligent cruise control, advanced climate control system, rain sensing wipers, front pre-crash seatbelts, brake assist with preview braking)

Premium Package: $3,250.00 (Power sliding/tinted moonroof, rear sonar system, Infiniti Studio on Wheels premium audio system by Bose, memory for outside mirrors, driver’s seat, and steering wheel, driver’s power lumbar adjustment, power tilt/telescoping steering wheel) Sport Package: $1,950.00 (19-inch wheels with all-season tires, sport-tuned suspension, viscous limited-slip differential, sport brakes, sport front fascia, paddle shifters, 12-way driver and 8-way front passenger sport seats with manual thigh adjustment, aluminum pedals)

Navigation Package: $1,850.00

High gloss maple interior accents: $600.00

Delivery: $895.00