Avid readers of my column will know that I am already biased towards Infiniti convertibles. I am after all the proud owner of the boutique model M30 convertible produced in limited numbers from 1991 to 1992.
It has been a long 17 year wait for the next convertible from Infiniti, the G37 hardtop convertible. So has it been worth the wait?
If you've seen the car in magazines you might be thinking that it looks OK, but nothing special. I must admit I had the same impression from pictures, but seeing the car up close and in person, it is really quite nice.
The signature buttresses on the front fenders that flow into the lights are automotive art, and perhaps a bit art deco inspired. That's a good thing to my eye, and they definitely make this and other Infinits stand out from the crowd.
Of course the G looks great with the top down, but when you are forced to have it up because of the weather, the car is still a head turner. The roof line is pretty similar to the fixed roof version thanks to the stowable hardtop.
Besides the hardtop version, there is also a sedan that offers more space, four doors and all wheel drive. I can do without the extra space and two extra doors, but all wheel drive would be a nice option for the G convertible. I guess Infiniti is content to let Audi and Porsche corner the convertible all wheel drive car market.
Entering the G is easy with the Smart Key. Just press the rubber button once and it opens your door, push it again to open the passenger side. The G will know you are there, so you'll just need to press the start button with your foot on the brake to start the fun. But before you even start moving you'll be impressed.
The G's interior looks great. It has all of the luxury and technological features you would expect from a high line car. Wood trim, leather and a handsome analog dash clock greet you upon arrival. The clock looks a bit vintage, and is reminiscent of Maserati's tradition of including a clock in every car. It is a nice elegant touch and really works in the G.
The seats are both heated and cooled for the driver and passenger's comfort. It's a very nice touch, but because of the fan mechanism they are a bit noisy. It is kind of like having the ventilation fan on high.
Another problem which is really common in convertibles is that the seat belt is difficult to reach. This has to do with the fact that it must be mounted to a place other than the roof of the car, so access is more difficult. Still a small price to pay for al fresco motoring if you ask me.
Both front passengers get their own power adjustable seats which are well bolstered and comfortable. As long as the front seat passengers aren't too tall, the two back seats should be fine for most adults on a normal length trip. You might not want to volunteer to sit in the back on a long journey though.
The Infiniti G Convertible is definitely designed to be a driver's car. My car came equipped with the 7 speed automatic which also has a manual mode. The 3.7 liter 24 valve V6 engine produces 325 horsepower and 267 lb. ft. of torque.
It is not quite as fast as the purpose built Nissan 370Z, but you can tell that they are close relatives. The G will scoot you to sixty MPH in 5.5 seconds. Top speed is limited to 149 mph. A manual 6 speed is available for $50 extra.
You might be wondering why it costs more for the pleasure of shifting yourself, but the answer is that you get the sport package included as well. This will give you a sportier front end and aluminum pedals as well.
You should expect to get around 17 mpg in the city and 25 on the highway in the drop top G. Figure about 20 mpg overall.
Safety features to keep you on the road include four wheel ABS disk brakes with electronic force distribution, traction control and vehicle dynamic control which can be turned off. I wouldn't recommend it unless you really know what you are doing a a track.
The 2010 Infiniti G Convertible starts at $43,850. By the time you add the $1,150 technology package, the $3,250 premium package, $330 illuminated kick plates, the $1850 navigation package and a $550 destination charge you are out of the Infiniti dealership at $51,845.
Certainly $52,000 is not cheap, but it is on par with its competitors, and you get a great convertible with a heck of a lot of technology and luxury that's a lot of fun to drive. A similarly equipped Lexus IS 350 convertible is not quite as quick, but starts around $44,000 also. Lexus does make an IS 250 with a smaller engine which starts out at $40,000.
The cruise control is one of the best and safest systems I've tested. It will monitor the speed of the vehicle in front of you and keep you going at the same speed whether they slow down or speed up. It really works well and can definitely keep you out of trouble.
The navigation system is also one of the best in the business. You can choose your destination and settings via touch or a DVR like round button cluster. It displays the map in a sort of 3D like manner. You can hear your directions via beeps, or spoken voice, or both.
It also gives you a 1/4 mile bar that gets smaller as your turn gets closer. The Jaguar XF also has a good navigation system and comes to mind because it gives you the turn information straight ahead inbetween the gages behind the steering wheel.
The Infiniti G's audio and information system shares the navigation screen and it is equally intuitive and easy to read. You can also touch the screen to choose your XM channel or radio station, and adjust settings as well.
On twisty roads you the Infiniti G is quite entertaining. Sure it emits some noise and probably a bit more chassis flex than the hardtop coupe version, but there's nothing like taking a spirited drive with the top down and the wind in your hair. By the way the hardtop coupe version starts out around $37,000
Actually you can avoid a good bit of the wind in the G convertible if you go for the optional wind deflector. With the heated seats, great ventilation and the windows up, you could get away with al fresco driving throughout most of the year depending on your climate.
I drove the G with the top down with temperatures in the high 40's and I was very comfortable. With the windows and heat up, and the bun warmers on I was very comfortable. Even on brisk days there's nothing like driving with the top down!
I recently tested the Nissan Altima Coupe which is sort of a Infiniti G for the masses. The car is front wheel drive and less luxuriously appointed, but they do share a family resemblence. I think it would be a great idea for Nissan to come out with a convertible version of the Altima Coupe. With a starting price in the neighborhood of $23,000 with the 2.5 liter engine, it would make a great affordable convertible.
OK so as an Infiniti Convertible owner already, I might be a bit biased... but the Infiniti G hardtop convertible offers everything I want in a car. A great engine, spirited handling, cutting edge technology, luxurious comfort, seating for four people, and most importantly the ever present option to drop the top at the touch of a button.
Here are all of my 2010 Road Tests and Video Reviews.
A Video on How to stop your Prius.
Buying a Car at Auction (How I Ended Up Buying A Prius Instead of a BMW or Audi Wagon).
Comments
Hi, I test drove this car twice, but did not love how it shifted gears, the transmission seemed to hesitate pretty often and could not pick a gear. Also with the top down there is virtually no trunk space. I also test drove the BMW 328i convertible, and it drove amazing, much better in my opinion even though on paper it's a lot less powerful. The BMW also has a lot more room in the trunk. It's small, but every convertible has a small trunk, but with the roof down it's a lot bigger then Infiniti's. I also compared that to the Audi A5 softtop. I personally prefer the hardtops, but the Audi does have some benefits such as much bigger trunk, a comfortable back seat, and the top that can be raised and lowered while driving up to 30MPH. Plus the new A5 is definitely a looker, too bad they made it a soft-top and charge more for it the then BMW, and all that with a 4-cylinder engine, even a turbo one with a lot of torque. I still got to drive the Volvo c70 to compare.
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