Infiniti

Infiniti Overview:

Infiniti is the luxury branch of Nissan that produces a lineup of cars that toe the line between sporty/luxury. 2013 brings with it the introduction of the JX35 three-row crossover, which offers luxury and utility in abundance.

(Note: Infiniti notes its all-wheel drive models by adding an "x" to the end of the model name, for example the G37x would be the all-wheel drive model of the G37.)

The G37/G37x is available as a sedan, coupe, or hard-top convertible. The sedan seats five, while the coupe and convertible seat four. It also adds the option of a six-speed manual, a hint at the G37’s sporty nature. IPL (Infiniti Performance Line) versions of the G37 are also offered and add a convertible trim for 2013.

The M-series of sedans was redesigned in 2011 and are separated them by engine. The M37/M37x get a 330-hp, 3.7-liter V-6 while the M56/M56x feature a powerful, 420-hp, 5.6-liter V-8 for superior performance. The M35h, which debuted in 2012, is a gas/electric hybrid that puts out a total of 360-hp which means it’s no slouch off the line and also returns superior fuel economy of 27/32 mpg city/highway.

The M sedans all come with a long list of standard equipment that includes USB/iPod connectivity, power front seats, a moonroof, and a backup camera.

There is also a fleet of crossovers/SUVs that round out Infiniti’s offerings.

Both the EX35 and FX35 get a performance bump for 2013 from a 3.5-liter to a 3.7-liter engine. This also means that they have changed names to the EX37 and FX37 respectively. They both get a bump up to 325-hp with the new engine.

The EX37 is a midsize five-seat luxury crossover that comes well-equipped and also offers a few cutting-edge safety technologies, like the optional Around View Monitor system which uses cameras on the outside of the vehicle to provide a complete top-down view of the EX37 and eliminates blind spots when parking.

The FX37 and FX50 are “high-performance luxury crossovers” according to Infiniti. They are separated by what lies under the hood. In the case of the FX37, it uses the aformentioned 325-hp, 3.7-liter V-6 while the FX50 gets a larger 390-hp, 5.0-liter V-8. Rear-wheel drive is standard on the FX37, but the FX50 gets an all-wheel drive system standard. As is often the case with Infinitis, the standard features list is long on both vehicles and includes Bluetooth connectivity, automatic dual-zone climate control, heated front seats, and a power liftgate.

New for 2013 is the JX35 crossover, which seats seven passengers across three-rows of seats. It has unique styling with rear side windows that pinch inwards. Inside is plenty of cargo and passenger room, to go along with a long list of standard features.

By far the largest vehicle Infiniti makes is the QX56 full-size SUV. It seats up to eight passengers and was redesigned in 2011 to give it a look that makes it more similar to the other models in the lineup. The QX56 comes with a 400-hp, 5.0-liter V-8 and a seven-speed automatic transmission. The aforementioned Around View Monitor system is also optional and is very helpful on a vehicle of this size.