2005 Infiniti G35 Test Drive

Couper Duper

The Infiniti G35 Sport Coupe is faster and handles better than the Audi TT or BMW 330Ci--and it costs about $5,000 to $10,000 less.

Versus Competition

The closest contest for the G35 Sport Coupe comes from the BMW 330Ci. The CLK, as we said, just can't get near the Infiniti for demanding driving. What's rather pleasant is how tame the G35 Coupe can be during daily commuting, with little upset coming from pavement ripples or bumps.

The 330Ci is better at this in most cases but not by much, and the CLK better still but too soft for all-out muscular road workouts. The Audi TT with 225 hp and quattro all-wheel drive is also very good for daily touring duty and yet can be pushed hard as well, but it gives up something in interior usefulness and isn't quite as tenacious in the grip department. There's no question the TT is a work of art, however, both inside and out.

A different cup of tea altogether is the front-wheel-drive Acura CL Type-S. But this car is much more difficult to push to its limit, thanks to excessive body roll and an engine that gets its bite in a pronounced wave of peaky torque delivery. The Acura earns high points for a larger cockpit and trunk, and a stellar reliability record, but it lacks the verve of either the BMW or Infiniti.

We might also add that although the G35 coupe has a smaller trunk than the BMW, it wins points for flexibility since a trunk pass-through is standard, so you can shove larger objects through if they won't fit in the boot.

A kicker? Just as Nissan is about to introduce a spate of NISMO (Nissan Motor Sports) parts, Infiniti is also going to offer R-Spec parts. The idea is that you could take your Infiniti or Nissan and make it a more serious handling or speed machine -- and still have it meet warranty requirements, if the extra bits are added by the dealer. Just in case you're not happy driving a car that is only mere tenths of a second faster than everything else on the road.