Not so long ago, buying a Lexus, Infiniti or Acura meant making do with less. While this is still true for Honda's luxury division and, to a lesser extent, Toyota's, sliding behind the wheel of an Infiniti no longer carries a feeling of inferiority.
Seriously, if you have $52,000 to spare, which is about the price of the 2011 Infiniti G37x Sport I recently tried out, a world of possibilities exists. What will you do? Pick a Bimmer, Audi, Mercedes or Infiniti?
Slightly more expensive than the current test subject is the beautiful BMW 335i xDrive. However, to get the same content as the Japanese, you'll have to shell out an extra $4,000. In the case of the Audi S4, make that $5,000. Finally, a similarly-equipped C350 4MATIC from Mercedes-Benz demands a premium of nearly $3,000.
Let's talk about power first. In reality, the Audi, BMW and Infiniti all belong in the same ballpark with 333, 300 and 328 horsepower, respectively. The Mercedes plays in a lower league with just 268 ponies, although the Stuttgart-based automaker confirmed that the upcoming next-generation C-Class will produce 302 horsepower thanks to a revised six-cylinder.
Then comes opulence, that wonderful feeling of being comfortably wrapped in nothing but the finest materials. All these cars overflow with leather, wood, polished metal and other exotic trim pieces. The Germans boast stark yet sumptuous interiors – a winning formula. The Infiniti (and other premium Japanese cars for that matter) prefers to mix several different shapes and surfaces to create an especially-attractive layout.
In typical fashion, the centre stack is crowned by a near-horizontal section that houses the navigation system and main menus. The user-friendly switchgear is another testament to the all-important quality factor. Speaking of which, all four rivals offer flawless build quality, fit and finish.
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| Those after a quality sports sedan that does not compromise performance, style or flair, delivers the goods any day of the week will surely be satisfied with the G. (Photo: Matthieu Lambert/Auto123.com) |
Seriously, if you have $52,000 to spare, which is about the price of the 2011 Infiniti G37x Sport I recently tried out, a world of possibilities exists. What will you do? Pick a Bimmer, Audi, Mercedes or Infiniti?
Slightly more expensive than the current test subject is the beautiful BMW 335i xDrive. However, to get the same content as the Japanese, you'll have to shell out an extra $4,000. In the case of the Audi S4, make that $5,000. Finally, a similarly-equipped C350 4MATIC from Mercedes-Benz demands a premium of nearly $3,000.
Let's talk about power first. In reality, the Audi, BMW and Infiniti all belong in the same ballpark with 333, 300 and 328 horsepower, respectively. The Mercedes plays in a lower league with just 268 ponies, although the Stuttgart-based automaker confirmed that the upcoming next-generation C-Class will produce 302 horsepower thanks to a revised six-cylinder.
Then comes opulence, that wonderful feeling of being comfortably wrapped in nothing but the finest materials. All these cars overflow with leather, wood, polished metal and other exotic trim pieces. The Germans boast stark yet sumptuous interiors – a winning formula. The Infiniti (and other premium Japanese cars for that matter) prefers to mix several different shapes and surfaces to create an especially-attractive layout.
In typical fashion, the centre stack is crowned by a near-horizontal section that houses the navigation system and main menus. The user-friendly switchgear is another testament to the all-important quality factor. Speaking of which, all four rivals offer flawless build quality, fit and finish.
 |
| In typical fashion, the centre stack is crowned by a near-horizontal section that houses the navigation system and main menus. (Photo: Matthieu Lambert/Auto123.com) |