New Car : Infiniti G Coupe

Infiniti G Coupe

Full 2013 Infiniti G Coupe Review

What's New for 2013

For 2013, the Infiniti G Coupe's base trim level has been discontinued, while a minor change to interior trim and colors also takes place.

Introduction

Finding a balance between luxury and performance in a car is no easy task. Err on one side or another, and you run the risk of losing a good chunk of potential buyers. It's no surprise then, that true luxury sport coupes are a rarity, and among this small group you can include the 2013 Infiniti G Coupe. What the Infiniti lacks in some of the brand cachet of its German rivals, it makes up for with real driver engagement, a comfortable ride and all of the electronic features you expect from other cars in this class.

Based on the Nissan 370Z, the Infiniti G37 certainly has a sporting pedigree. With its stout 3.7-liter V6 producing at least 330 horsepower, the vast majority of drivers will find this car's acceleration to be plenty exciting. The same goes for the coupe's tenacious handling, which enables it to corner with aggression. There's even a pair of higher-performing models in the form of the G37 Sport and IPL (Infiniti Performance Line) that provide a slight boost in power output and sharper handling. To top it off, the Infiniti boasts one of the most user-friendly electronics interfaces on the market.

Of course the 2013 Infiniti Coupe isn't without a few drawbacks. In terms of everyday usability, the child-size rear seats and small trunk should give practicality-minded shoppers some pause. Also, with the elimination of the base G Coupe trim, the price of admission is higher this year. To compound matters, options are grouped into packages that often have to be ordered with other packages. This means you have to go all-in for some premium options. Finally, we're not very fond of the engine when it's revved to its maximum, as it sounds and feels a little harsh.

Body Styles, Trim Levels, and Options

The four-seat 2013 Infiniti G Coupe is offered in four trim levels: G37 Journey, G37x, G37 Sport and IPL (Infiniti Performance Line). Infiniti also offers a G Sedan and G Convertible, which are covered in separate reviews.

Standard features on the G37 Journey include 18-inch alloy wheels, automatic xenon headlights, foglamps, heated mirrors, keyless ignition/entry, cruise control, dual-zone automatic climate control, leather upholstery, heated eight-way power front seats, a folding rear seat, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel (with an accompanying tilting gauge cluster), a center-mounted color display, Bluetooth phone connectivity, a rearview camera and a six-speaker sound system with a six-CD changer, satellite radio, an auxiliary audio jack and an iPod/USB audio interface. The G37x is identically outfitted and adds all-wheel drive.

The Premium package adds a sunroof, rear parking sensors, a power tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, adjustable driver-seat lumbar support, driver memory functions and an 11-speaker Bose sound system. To that you can add the Navigation package, which includes a navigation system, a touchscreen interface, real-time traffic and weather, Bluetooth audio connectivity, voice controls, and video playback via DVD and USB.

To both of those packages you can add the Sport package, which includes 19-inch wheels (available separately), summer performance tires, sport-tuned suspension and steering, upgraded brakes, a limited-slip differential, unique styling, front sport seats with adjustable bolsters and thigh support, aluminum pedals and magnesium paddle shifters (for automatics). If you get all of the above, you can also tack on the Technology package that adds adaptive cruise control, a pre-collision seatbelt preparation system, automatic wipers and an advanced climate control system with an air purifier. This all-or-nothing options structure makes it difficult to select features you actually want.