As it should be, the M has excellent seats. They provide all the required support for leisurely strolls to grandma's house and for a romp in the country. Rear passengers are also treated to premium comfort when the car is equipped with the Premium Package. It includes power reclining rear heated seats and a power rear sunshade. The M's interior comes together through expert craftsmanship and attention to detail. One detail that is appreciated by passengers are the rear doors that open a full 80 degrees.
YBYAV8
This was written on a Porsche 911's vanity plate some years back. A big macho V8 engine is always a blast (except when filling up the gas tank) however with the existence of high-strung, high-powered V6s, it is difficult to justify the extra bucks. Nissan's VQ is a masterful example of technology and engineering. If there ever was a doubt in my mind that Nissan's 3.5L V6 was only an average performer, this past week with the M35 wiped that thought clean out of my mind. Output for this motor ranges from 255hp to 306 hp all without forced induction. The M35's 275 hp and 268 lb/ft of torque are more than enough to catapult the 1,800 kg car into illegal territory faster than you can say: "How fast was I going officer?" And if going is something you enjoy doing, the M will consume about 15L per 100 km on a regular basis.
The 5-speed automatic transmission is an impressive performer: crisp and with decisive shifts. In manual mode, the throttle smartly shoots up in order to match engine and transmission revs. The only way the powertrain experience could have been enhanced is through the use of steering wheel mounted shift paddles. Under braking, the pedal is tactile and response is immediate and powerful. Steering is a little off: there is very little feedback the little feel that exists is artificial.
The sporty luxury
The M features a dynamic suspension layout that may not be to all tastes. This car's high-speed stability is exemplary as is corner-carving. Unfortunately, the trade-off is limited wheel travel which translates into rough times over less than perfect road surfaces. There is a marked effort on behalf of Infiniti for trying to combine supple road manners with great handling however in my opinion, they fall a little short in their execution.
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| No need for a V8 with this 3.5L V6. |
YBYAV8
This was written on a Porsche 911's vanity plate some years back. A big macho V8 engine is always a blast (except when filling up the gas tank) however with the existence of high-strung, high-powered V6s, it is difficult to justify the extra bucks. Nissan's VQ is a masterful example of technology and engineering. If there ever was a doubt in my mind that Nissan's 3.5L V6 was only an average performer, this past week with the M35 wiped that thought clean out of my mind. Output for this motor ranges from 255hp to 306 hp all without forced induction. The M35's 275 hp and 268 lb/ft of torque are more than enough to catapult the 1,800 kg car into illegal territory faster than you can say: "How fast was I going officer?" And if going is something you enjoy doing, the M will consume about 15L per 100 km on a regular basis.
The 5-speed automatic transmission is an impressive performer: crisp and with decisive shifts. In manual mode, the throttle smartly shoots up in order to match engine and transmission revs. The only way the powertrain experience could have been enhanced is through the use of steering wheel mounted shift paddles. Under braking, the pedal is tactile and response is immediate and powerful. Steering is a little off: there is very little feedback the little feel that exists is artificial.
The sporty luxury
The M features a dynamic suspension layout that may not be to all tastes. This car's high-speed stability is exemplary as is corner-carving. Unfortunately, the trade-off is limited wheel travel which translates into rough times over less than perfect road surfaces. There is a marked effort on behalf of Infiniti for trying to combine supple road manners with great handling however in my opinion, they fall a little short in their execution.
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| The limited wheel travel makes for a stiff ride. |