First Drive Review
What Is It?
A V-6 Infiniti G sedan with less power and less available equipment than the bigger-engined G37. Costing $4100 less than the cheapest G37 four-door, the G25 still packs leather seats, a six-speaker stereo that’s XM ready, power front seats, brushed-aluminum interior trim, keyless start, automatic climate control, HID headlamps, and 17-inch wheels. Under the hood is a rev-happy 2.5-liter V-6 that sends its 218 hp and 187 lb-ft of torque to the rear wheels—or to all four wheels in the G25x for $1600 more—via a standard seven-speed automatic transmission. Perhaps more important, however, is what the G25 does not offer: a manual transmission, a Sport package, or even a navigation system. Clearly, Infiniti is going for a less-discerning buyer with the G25.
How Does It Drive?
The good news is that the G25 delivers a very satisfying driving experience in spite of the 110 hp and 82 lb-ft of torque it cedes to the athletic G37. Infiniti says the rear-wheel-drive G25 is 84 pounds lighter than a comparable G37, which is hardly enough to offset the power shortage (we estimate a 0-to-60-mph time of 7.2 seconds for the rear-driver) but it does sharpen the steering response a bit. The engine, which was installed in the Chinese-market EX35 and Japanese M25, is delightfully smooth compared with the occasionally coarse 3.7-liter in the G37 and is happy revving to its 7500-rpm redline. Ride quality is superb, thanks in part to the smaller-diameter, 17-inch wheels that allow for taller tire sidewalls. But this is not a true enthusiast’s car; that would require performance rubber, manual shift paddles on the steering wheel (or a manual transmission, period), and stiffer springs and shocks.
How Does It Stack Up?
The G25’s competition starts with its better-endowed sibling, the G37, which is of course quicker while burning just a little more fuel. Outside the Infiniti showroom, the G25 faces the BMW 328i and the Lexus IS250 as its primary competitors. Even the big-motor G couldn’t beat the 328i in a recent comparison test, so it’s folly to expect the G25 to fare any better in a head-to-head matchup with the Bimmer, especially given that the G lacks the aforementioned sport-flavored options. However, next to the comparatively staid IS250, which Infiniti let us sample alongside the G25, it is simply no contest. The G25 tops the Lexus dynamically and in interior and exterior design. However, BMW and Lexus make manual transmissions available for their budget-minded enthusiast customers, as do Audi and Acura, and Infiniti does not. (To be fair, the take rate for manuals among entry-luxury buyers probably supports Infiniti’s decision.)
What’s the Cost?
The G25’s greatest advantage compared with any of its aforementioned competitors is its price—the base model starts at $31,825. The Journey trim level commands $33,225 and adds heated front seats, dual-zone climate control, auto headlamps, a rearview camera, and a USB port. The all-wheel-drive G25x includes the Journey’s equipment and costs $1600 more. A base BMW 328i, by comparison, is $35,400 for the rear-drive version with an automatic and $37,400 for the all-wheel-drive model—and that’s before adding any of BMW’s notoriously pricey options. The Lexus IS comes in at a pre-option starting point of $34,190 with the automatic. Infiniti expects the G25 to account for 30 to 50 percent of G sedan sales, which is entirely possible. Its low base price should entice new buyers—mostly female, according to the company—to the Infiniti fold.
As for opening up the options list to include items like a Sport pack or a navigation system? Infiniti says not offering them on the G25 gives customers a reason to upgrade to the G37. It’s a strategy that doesn’t make much sense to us, as nearly all of Infiniti’s competitors allow buyers to downsize their engines without losing optional amenities. We hope it won’t take long for Infiniti to come to its senses and flick on the options switch that will allow the well-heeled (pun sort of intended) among the secretary set to load up their G25s as heavily as any other G.
