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Road Test: 2009 Infiniti M45x car review; Serendipity

Merriam-Webster defines serendipity as “the phenomenon of finding valuable or agreeable things when not sought for.” In other words, a pleasant surprise.

 

Serendipity was our experience with the 2009 Infiniti M45x.

 

We knew the Infiniti would be nice. We’re familiar with the brand and its products but it had been many years since we had alit the confines of an Infiniti M, so we had equivocal expectations. After all, an exterior evaluation was positive. The grille was not imitative of other cars and the narrow trough up either side of the hood, formed by the contours of the grilles and headlight cluster, was subtle and refined.

 

Likewise the band of chrome that followed the join line along the top edges of the greenhouse was unique and well integrated into the overall design. The taillights did not follow the curve of the sheetmetal but rather protruded slightly. It doesn’t sound good in print, but in person it was individualistic and quite well done, distinctive without being odd. Overall, the Infiniti M45 projected a sophisticated and athletic air. It is said that good design, like good grammar, costs nothing. It is also, as seen in the Infiniti M, invaluable.

 

Still we were unprepared for what was inside.

 

(continued) 

 

The interior is why the word “impressive” was invented. It’s why the low soft whistle comes automatically to some and why others utter phrases such as “this is nice.” Note the emphasis on that third word.

 

A large part of the experience comes from the total projection of warmth and quality. The speedometer and tach have the look of expensive instruments, with black faces and crisp white numerals surrounded by a ring of bright metal with a restrained gear-like outline on the outer rim.

 

The leather on the seats is soft, the seats supportive with large wings on the seatbacks for lateral support. The seats have climate control—heat and cooling—as standard equipment.

 

But it’s the dash that captivates, a merge of organ keyboard and a breaking wave, trimmed in satin-finish African rosewood. No other automotive dash is shaped like this and for us it elicits a half-formed memory that we can’t quite place. And yet…

 

The Infiniti M’s dash is more than emotionally evocative, however. The combination of touch-screen and buttons is intuitive. That’s good because there are a lot of buttons. The dash has a large iDrive-like knob but its function is relatively limited and easy to learn. One appreciated detail is a large button to change between day and night illumination of the screen for those times such as when headlights are required for rain but it’s too bright for the screen to be viewed in normal nighttime intensity.

 

The analog clock now obligatory in more expensive automobiles is not only classy but also legible, appreciated because function is often lost to artiness. On the other hand, our test Infiniti M45x had two blank buttons on the dash, a visual reminder of optional functions not on this car and nagging the owner for having cheaped out.

 

The Bose audio, part of the optional Advanced Technology package, is superb with acoustics sufficiently sensitive to catch the second cellist adjusting his tuxedo in the third movement.

 

Double sunvisors were provided, something that should be on all luxury cars to eliminate the annoying visor flip when a low sun varies between windshield and side window when the road curves and curve back.

 

The back seat lacks the full luxury of the front but it’s much better than the kids deserve. It’s contoured for two. Legroom is sufficient but could even be greater if toe room were provided under the front seats. It’s an odd oversight. A feature are now uncommon are ashtrays. The Infiniti M has them in the rear armrests and the front center console.

 

Yet so far into this review with no mention of mechanical equipage. First, the M45x has, as its name might suggest, a 4.5-liter engine, in this case a sophisticated double-overhead cam variable intake cam valve timing 32-valve V-8 producing 325 horsepower and 336 lb-ft of torque. A new 3.5-liter 303-horsepower V-6 is standard in the M35.

 

The 5-speed automatic standard in the M45 is remarkably unobtrusive when left to its own devices but shifted manually it’s quick to respond and includes rev-matching on the downshift that is not only aurally entertaining but precisely accurate and jerk free.

 

Our test M45 had the “x” suffix meaning it had all-wheel drive (also available with the V-6, called the M35x in that configuration, natch). Infiniti calls it ATTESA E-TS™(Advanced Total Traction Engineering System for All Electronic Torque Split), and without a deep dive into the inner workings of the system, it divides torque at the wheels from 0:100 in “normal” conditions to 50:50 when traction is poor. Infiniti M-Class cars with the Sport package—which our tester did not—have active rear-wheel steering. Rather than relying on rear suspension geometry to feed in rear wheel toe, the rear-wheel steer comes from moving the lower suspension arms by electric motors, the direction and angle calculated from data including vehicle speed and steering angle. How well does it work? We honestly can’t say. Didn’t have it.

 

However, it was equipped with the Advanced Technology package that includes the aforementioned Bose audio but also Lane Departure Warning and Lane Departure Prevention. These do what they say, thanks to cameras in the outside rear view mirror housings that monitor lane markings. Drifting across the line without signaling starts the LDW beeping. The LDP applies selected brake(s) to tug the car back into the lane. It does work, at least up to the point where the angle of crossing is to steep.

 

The Advanced Technology package also includes “intelligent” cruise control, not one of our favorite devices (we prefer to provide the intelligence to cruise control), and Preview Braking, which prepares the brakes for application if approach speed is too great.

 

The Advanced Technology package was above the Technology package which includes the navigation system which includes XM NavTraffic, which we couldn’t fully appreciate because we didn’t go into any bad traffic situations, but we did see that it was reporting construction zones fifty miles up the Interstate from where we were. But with no traffic back-up indicated we elected not to test it. We’ve seen construction zones before. Although on the other hand, had there been a delay…well, we’ve seen one of those, too and probably wouldn’t have tested it personally.

 

Still, the Infiniti M45x would be an excellent place to spend an hour or two or three on the highway. The ride is smooth and quiet enough to enjoy the Bose audio. It is competent-plus on winding roads as well. Its size conspires against true sports car agility—for that your Infiniti salesman will talk to you about a G37—but to use a hoary old auto reviewer’s phrase, it goes where it’s pointed.

 

With 330 horses and 336 lb-ft of torque it’s a strong performer and Infiniti engineers have coaxed a wonderful V-8 woofle from the intake and exhaust arising anywhere from light throttle to the pedal mashed into the carpet. There’s enough oomph for an easy merge, assertive moves in traffic and a good push out of a corner. Or just a naughty indulgence in the joy of M45x.