Infiniti G Coupe (2009 – 2013) review

The Infiniti G Coupe’s swooping bodywork is exotic and expensive looking, and the rarity of the G in this country adds to its wow factor. There are saloon and convertible versions, but the coupe is the best looking thanks to its classic plunging roofline and strong rear haunches. It competes directly with the BMW 3 Series Coupe and Mercedes C-Class Coupe.

The G’s instrument binnacle moves with the steering wheel. It’s a neat touch which means you have a clear view of the instruments however much you tinker with the driving position. There’s a wide range of adjustment for the seat and wheel so it’s easy to settle in. The switches and controls are easy to use, and the finish standard lives up to the Infiniti’s high price.

Even very tall drivers and passengers will be comfortable in the front, but the rear seats are very cramped. Children should fit, but adults will struggle. There’s 275 litres of luggage space – enough for a weekend away, but small compared with the boot of a BMW 3 Series Coupe.

The G Coupe is rear-wheel drive, and its chassis isn’t too far behind the class-leading BMW 3 Series. The Infiniti engineers have succeeded in tuning the G37 to flow across European roads and it feels like driving a more refined and grown-up Nissan 370Z. The shift from relaxed cruiser to fun sportscar is down to the driver’s mood, and what they want to get from the car.

Lift up the bonnet on all versions of the G Coupe and you’ll find the same 3.7-litre V6 engine which powers the Nissan 370Z sports car. With a gutsy 316bhp on tap the Infiniti roars from 0-62mph in as little as 5.8 seconds. From behind the wheel the G feels seriously quick. We drove the seven-speed automatic which has paddle shifters mounted behind the steering wheel. It can be left to its own devices, or you can move the drive selector across to manual mode and lock the gear choice to the paddles.

The G may be quick but it’s also thirsty and average fuel consumption ranges from 23.7mpg to 26.7mpg compared with the 31mpg achieved by the BMW 335i. It’s a shame there’s no diesel model to bring down running costs and improve the distance the Infiniti will travel on a tank of fuel. Resale values are unlikely to match those of more established premium coupes.

Infiniti is Nissan’s luxury brand, which bodes well for reliability. The signs are the G Coupe should give many miles of hassle-free driving, and there’s a three-year, 60,000-mile warranty if anything does go wrong.

At the time of writing the G hasn’t been crash tested by the safety experts at EuroNCAP. However, all the modern safety aids you would expect are fitted as standard, including anti-whiplash head restraints. There’s even a pop-up bonnet to help protect pedestrians.

Even the most basic G37 is well equipped, especially compared with the stingily specified German competition. You get Bi-Xenon headlights, seven-speaker and six-CD audio system, electric driver’s seat and 18-inch alloy wheels as standard. Upgrade to GT spec and leather faced seats, electric passenger seat and memory for the driver’s seat are fitted. The range-topping G37 S should be the performance drivers’ choice as it benefits from sports hardware including four-wheel active steering (4WAS), sports suspension, upgraded brakes, front sports seats and 19-inch lightweight alloy wheels.

Rarity is assured – at least for the time being – which should appeal to those with no particular allegiance to traditional marques who want something a bit different.