Auto123.com - Helping you drive happy

2011 Infiniti M37x AWD Review

Get the best interest rate
Mathieu St-Pierre
Betrayed by its cover
Thankfully, the M's cabin is sumptuous and comfortable. I especially appreciate the dashboard's design where a number of important controls are nearly horizontal just below the navigation screen. The seats also earn high marks from those lucky enough to step aboard this car. Fit and finish are top drawer and the attention to detail mixed in with the surrounding opulence make the M's interior a fabulous place to spend large quantities of time.

Pushing 328 hp and 270 lb-ft, this lump manages to challenge the M's 1,843-kg. (Photo: Mike Goetz/Auto123.com)

G vs M
It always amazes me to see how much more aware I become of the cars around me when I'm driving my “new” weekly press car. In this case, as there were no other 2011 Ms, I noticed that the Greater Montreal Area is covered in Gs, 35s, 37s, coupe and sedans! At one point, I passed a 2010 G37x by and I seriously found myself wondering why anyone would spend the extra $14,000 + (full-load G37x is $49,650, as tested M37x is $63,800) on a little extra headroom and electronic wizardry that is unnecessary unless you're blind, deaf or about to reach the Century mark in age. The G looks more dynamic and just as distinguished...

VQ to the rescue
As you may well know, 37 stands for 3.7L, the latest displacement of Nissan's famous V6 engine. Pushing 328 hp and 270 lb-ft, this lump manages to challenge the M's 1,843-kg (4,063-lb) girth with relative ease. Essentially, the car is fast, like 6 seconds to 100 km/h fast. Now, think about this for a second: the M56's 420 hp and 417 lb-ft only hasonly a supplemental 38 kg (84 lb) to tackle... Can you say mad quick? Any way you slice it, in this car, the 3.7L V6 is a gem of engineering; smooth, slick, refined and efficient. My 500+ km road test returned an average fuel consumption of 12L per 100 km. Fine numbers for formidable performance.

Without a doubt, the 7-speed autobox is my favourite mechanical component of this car. It is forceful and determined, omnipresent and capable. Always on tap, the M37's juice is funnelled with precision to the car's four wheels. The box always knows what gear to be in and if you're not satisfied, you can shift manually. If you're looking for paddles, you'll need to select the Sport trim. Most appreciable with this transmission is how prominent engine-braking is after a downshift; love the feeling.

Another feature that stands out with the new M is its 4-Wheel Active Steering and sport-tuned suspension. (Photo: Mike Goetz/Auto123.com)
Mathieu St-Pierre
Mathieu St-Pierre
Automotive expert
None