Author: Brian Armstead, Canadian Auto Press
Published: Thursday, August 13, 2009
The near luxury auto segment is crowded with serious competitors. The Audi A6, BMW 5 Series, Cadillac CTS, Jaguar XF, Lincoln MKS, and Mercedes-Benz E-Class are all worthy rivals. But if you cross the "pond," having bypassed all of the above named American and European studs, you'll end up in Japan. There, you'll be able to consider two entrants for this segment – the Lexus GS and Infiniti M.
ow I've driven all of the aforementioned models, and for my money I'll take the 2009 Infiniti M. The M comes in V6 (M35) rear-drive form in the US or V8 (M45) rear- or all-wheel drive guise in Canada (AWD receiving an "x" designation – M35x, M45x), with no rear-drive M35 in Canada. Why does the M take the crown? Because to me it does everything just about right, and does it with so little fuss that you'd be hard pressed to think you were maintaining a serious performance sedan, as its Sentra-like operating expenses are sure to please you and your bank account.
Consider this: both M models come with engine timing chains, not fabric, rubber or metal belts that many competitors feature. Forget the required change intervals of these lesser alternatives and you'll torpedo your engine. Not having to complete this one major maintenance item can save you up to a grand over the competition. Also, look at leading consumer ratings for the above models. Now in fairness, all are relatively reliable, but the Japanese have proven they are at the top of the reliability game. European brands, bless them all, have a reputation for pricey repairs and finicky components. Think Mercedes in the mid 2000s when electrical gremlins abounded, or Audi or BMW with their unreliable automatic transmissions, in some earlier models. Take a peek at Consumer Reports' analysis of the M and it's an "all-red" affair. Red dots are an indication of stellar reliability, whereas solid black dots spell out potential trouble areas. Mercedes has certainly rebounded with new reliable models, but when you factor in initial purchase price, cost of ownership, and resale value, again, the M is a big winner.
So what about the Lexus GS? A nice car indeed, but really devoid of much if any driving feedback. It's quiet, reliable and has loads of luxury features, but every time I drive one I need a double espresso.
This long intro leads us to this week's tester, the 2009 Infiniti M35x. It's a blast to drive, offering a powerful 303hp V6 and superb road manners. Oh, and it looks pretty darn good as well.
Styling is all sport coat and leather loafers. This is a performance luxo-cruiser after all, not some stiff suit with a double-knotted tie. It was developed to be a runner – long and lithe. Looking at it head on, large air ducts reside below the bumper to feed intake air and cool the brakes. Infiniti's signature chrome slat grille is flanked by adaptive HID headlamps. A high rear deck houses LED taillights, and quad exhaust tips let pretenders know your M35 is for real. My tester also includes (among other features) gorgeous 19" polished alloy wheels. The look is athletic, and very complete. There is no sense that designers should have done "this" or "that" to make the M whole.
Inside, technology has become the hallmark of the Infiniti brand. Your kids will have a ball with their alphabet soup trying to sort out all of the acronyms associated with this car. AABS, VDC, TCS, EBD, AFS, LDW, LDP and ICC are but a few. Now, my space for this review does not give me chance to explain what they all mean (Infiniti's excellent Web site can break them down for you), but two of my favourites are the Lane Departure Warning (LDW) system and Intelligent Cruise Control (ICC). The former gives an audible warning when you stray from your intended lane, and the latter uses radar to keep your preset distance to the car in front of you. They are both optional on the M, included with other features in the $7,250 Technology Package.
Infiniti's M35x AWD starts at $54,900. Truly, the M35 is close to automotive perfection, and competes well not only in its own segment, but against much more expensive models.
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