Road Test, 2010 Infiniti G37 Sedan Journey Sport car review; blame it on the car

If a 2010 Infiniti G37 Sedan Journey Sport were ever pulled over by the California Highway Patrol...we're not saying one ever has been, but if it were...the driver should not be ticketed. Blame it on the car.

Indeed, the 2010 Infiniti G37 sedan, powered by 328-horsepower 3.7-liter V-6 is quick. And our test car, a 2010 Infiniti G37 Journey with the Sport package, was not only quick, it was slick. The G37 is available in four trim levels, the base G37 Sedan, the better equipped G37 Sedan Journey, the G37x Sedan AWD and the G37 Sedan Sport 6MT. The last is available only with a six-speed manual transmission, a seven-speed automatic standard on other models. Equip a G37 Journey with the Sport package, however, and it gains the same performance suspension system and other distinguishing characteristics of the Sport 6MT except with the seven speed automatic...except that the automatic with the Sport package has solid magnesium column-mounted shift paddles.

As such, the 2010 Infiniti G37 Sedan continues unchanged from its predecessor. This year, however, represents a "refreshing" of the model, with a new grille and (bi-Xenon) headlights, the latter with the foglights moved from within the headlight cluster down to the lower fascia. The rear fascia was also changed, with new exhaust outlets, and the standard 17-inch wheels have a new pattern. Changes inside include a new console design with the automatic transmission and changes in trim materials.

The overall contours remain unchanged, however, with soft, almost voluptuous curves and a sleek overall profile, enough so that we were complimented several times in the space of a few days on our "sports car." Sports cars don't have four doors, but who were we to argue. Despite the four doors, the front seats have the definite plus in room, the coupe-like roof stealing headroom from the backseat passengers.

The California Highway Patrol might, but we couldn't complain about the performance, business-like acceleration accompanied by a smooth but raspy exhaust note from the double-overhead cam V-6, repeatedly recognized as one of the best. The seven-speed automatic's shifts were quick and solid, though when we accelerated hard and then let off the throttle quickly, the transmission could be caught out, as if it was trying to figure out what the driver wanted to do next. Some jerkiness temporarily ensued. That didn't happen when shifting manually, of course, and we'll opine that anyone needing an automatic transmission for city driving or whatever won't miss a manual transmission for want of performance. And anyway, the transmission neatly revved the engine to match rpm on downshifts.

The Sport package lives up to its name with crisp and responsive handling. Lane changes can be cracked off sharply and the 2010 Infiniti G37 Sedan Journey Sport is balanced in corners. Lay on the throttle and car tracks out as if it's following a chalk line on the pavement along with the words, "go this way." The car is happier on a winding road than on a freeway, however, and on some rougher sections of the I-5 through Los Angeles we definitely knew we were on some of the rougher sections of the I-5. In this case, "sport" is a synonym for "firm".

Of course, if the 2010 Infiniti G37 Sedan Journey Sport--especially one in Vibrant Red--were ever pulled over (and we're not saying one was), we'd heartily recommend that the car not be ticketed either. Because, you know, that just might happen.

Illustration: 2010 Infiniti G37 Sedan Journey Sport, photograph by John Matras.

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