Recently, I had the opportunity to test drive the Infiniti G25. For those that don’t know, the “big three” in Japanese auto manufacturers are: Honda, Toyota and Nissan. Each of these companies make a luxury class as well: Acura, Lexus and Infiniti; and of course, those also compete with Mercedes, Audi and BMW. In 2011, Infiniti released a version of the already popular G35 and called it the G25. The only difference being a slightly less powerful engine, and reduced accessory options. Perhaps the G35 was more powerful than most needed anyway, so this provided the perfect catalyst to make it more affordable, without sacrifice. Most do not realize that the Infiniti line offers more than any other car in its class, and it does so at a better price.
The G25 makes choosing simple, the interiors are either cream or charcoal. Seated in the vehicle, handsome aluminum trim and chrome accents surround the cockpit. The seats (heated) are appointed with quality leather. The G25 “Journey Package” (which I drove) also comes with a moonroof. There are too many options that come standard to mention but some of the most outstanding are an onboard monitor, rear-view camera, iPod port, and a surprisingly supurb sound system with rich bass. Other perks include a telescopic steering wheel, intelligent key system, xenon and fog lights, front and passenger power seats, rear passenger air, dual-zone automatic climate control, auto-dimming and compass rearview mirror, bluetooth, etc. But what about performance?
The engine (automatic transmission) is a 2.5-liter (2,496cc) 24-valve V6 with 218 hp @ 6,400 rpm that supposedly gets 20/29 mpg. I averaged 23 when driving it. You can barely hear the sound of the engine. The car accelerates, changing gears smoothly and although seems a little sluggish when boosting at lower speeds, will deliver more power above 40mph. Some people have complained of a minor jolt when coming to a stop at low speeds such as when approaching a stop sign. I noticed this as well, and was informed this was a safety feature built in to assist the driver in decelerating, while preserving the brakes.
Some of the best positives on the road include being well-balanced and riding comfortably for 4-5 passengers. When taking a turn, the Infiniti G25 is a champ. You can actually feel the weight shift to the opposite end to counter-balance. The shocks do a great job taking all the street can throw at it, and when it comes to speed, the G25 can bring it; and it does so smoothly and effortlessly.
The G25 base starts at $32,500 and the Journey is priced a little more. You’ll end up paying around $35-38K, but if you were to get all the same features with a competing brand, you’d pay quite a bit more, and still might find it lacking. I enjoyed driving the Infiniti G25, it’s a fine automobile at a great price.