Walkaround: The 2013 Infiniti G37 coupe is a very handsome vehicle. It has smooth, contemporary lines, but not the overly busy scoops/spoilers/strakes/etc. found on many Asian performance cars. The less aggressive, more refined look is in keeping with the overall sport/luxury demeanor of the G37. Attractive, multi-spoke alloy wheels barely conceal the massive 4-piston front and 2-piston rear disc brakes. The Infiniti G37 is definitely a sports car, but it favors refinement over raucousness.
Interior: A high-quality interior is expected of Nissan’s luxury Infiniti brand and we weren’t disappointed. Our test car was fitted with beautiful Stone (a very light gray) leather and correspondingly light carpeting. We drove the G37 during a record dry spell, but the “not for the Northwest” carpet quickly displayed dirt. The Stone leather made the slightly snug interior seem bigger, but some Weather Tech floor mats would be a wise addition.
The coupe’s sleek styling limits interior space and although the G37 is considered a four-passenger car, it’s really a two-and-change configuration. Front seat legroom is stretch-out spacious and headroom is fine even with the power sunroof. Back seat legroom is almost nonexistent. I squeezed myself into the back seat just to see if it was possible, but I had to slouch so much that the front seat was almost to the dashboard.
Rear seat ingress/egress is quite good. The big doors open very wide and the front seats go far forward. The problem is the lack of room once you get in.
The best use of the back seat is as a catchall for coats and miscellany. The seat is soft leather like the front ones, but we doubt it will see much passenger use. The seat folds flat, which greatly expands the overall cargo capacity. The trunk also has a flat floor although it isn’t very deep.
Under the hood: Nissan and Infiniti V-6 engines are among the finest on the market. The current 330-horsepower 3.7-liter engine is an extension of the vaunted 3.5-liter V-6. This engine series is a cornerstone of the company’s powerplant program. Precision smoothness and broad power bands are hallmarks. The one in our test G27 coupe was rated at 270 lb-ft of torque.
Our G37 was the G37xS model, which means it had all-wheel-drive and the Sport Package. The transmission was the excellent 7-speed automatic, which has manual shift paddles located behind the thick, contoured leather steering wheel. The paddle shifters are an excellent compromise over the 6-speed manual transmission. They let you be aggressive when desired with the luxury of the automatic in congested traffic.
The 7-speed automatic helps fuel economy, which is fine for a sports car, but short of economy car numbers. The EPA rates the AWD G37 at 18 city and 25 highway. We got a little over 26 mpg on three 200-mile, nonstop highway trips. Fuel economy numbers dropped into the low twenties in mixed driving.
Behind The Wheel: We put about 800 miles on the G37 in a week. A round trip to Portland and another weekend excursion to Mount Rainier meant extended periods behind the wheel. The time was very enjoyable (except for the now too common I-5 traffic jams). The G37 is an excellent car for covering long distances in comfort and security. An excellent sound system and satellite radio helped pass the time. The 7-inch information/navigation screen was easy to read and use.
Nineteen-inch alloy wheels and Yokohama P225/45R19 tires were part of the $1,950 Sport Package. The package also includes a limited slip differential, sport-tuned suspension, and sport brakes. The Sport Package when combined with all-wheel-drive provides a level of handling performance that exceeds most opportunities to fully appreciate it. As great as this combination is, if we were purchasing a G37 we’d be inclined to order the AWD and stick with the standard P225/50R18 tires. The reality of western Washington traffic is that you’re more apt to want a smoother ride than racetrack handling.
The great leather seats and good insulation modulated road noise, except for notable rough stretches such as those near the Tacoma Dome and from Federal Way to Southcenter. The excellent sound system also helped a lot.
Whines: Rear seat access is via power actuated (both directions) front seats. The annoyance is the slow speed compared to a simple release and slide mechanism. Small item interior storage spaces/bins weren’t as big or plentiful as we like.
Bottom Line: We were fortunate to get the 2013 Infiniti G37xS AWD coupe during a week with extensive travel needs. The miles flew by effortlessly. The G37 coupe is loaded with high performance components, but it was the luxury touring features that sold us.
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