The letter “x” can signify a negative, like a strike in baseball or the incorrect answer on Family Feud. If treasure hunting is your game, then “x” marks the spot. “X” can also represent the sights trained on the BMW 3-series by Infiniti’s excellent G coupe and sedan. Now more than ever, the G is hot on the heels of the benchmark 3, thanks in large part to the lineup’s wider adoption of all-wheel drive, which is denoted by—you guessed it—an “x.”
Slushy Box, but Still a Great Powertrain
New for 2009, the all-wheel-drive G37x coupe is only available with a seven-speed automatic transmission equipped with steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters. We found the gearbox to be smart about selecting gears under normal driving conditions, but when pushed, it can slur shifts a bit and is slow to grab demanded ratios, but we’re really splitting hairs here.
With its 3.7-liter V-6 engine pumping 330 hp and 270 lb-ft of torque, the G37 offers BMW 335i performance for 328i money. The all-wheel-drive coupe weighs roughly 200 more pounds than its rear-drive sibling, but the two cars turn in equal 0-to-60-mph (5.3 seconds) and quarter-mile (13.9 seconds at 102 mph) times. The extra heft is offset by better traction at launch, and the additional poundage doesn’t affect the G’s sharp handling. What it does affect is braking, with the all-wheel-drive car turning in a 175-foot 70-to-0-mph braking distance, 11 feet longer than the rear-drive coupe.
On the skidpad, the G37x pulled a respectable 0.83 g, which is good, considering its optional 18-inch wheels were shod in 225/50 all-season rubber. The rear-drive G37 Sport registered 0.89 g wearing summer performance tires. Perhaps most impressive was that the understeer commonly associated with all-wheel-drive cars was pretty moderate by comparison in the G. Body control also is superbly managed, and the ride is firm but not overly harsh. The steering has a slight touch of on-center numbness but is otherwise, in true G fashion, sharp and communicative.
Not Much for Passengers or Cargo
Naturally, the G37x has the same delightful interior we’ve praised in the line’s other variants. The brushed, Japanese-paper-influenced trim on the center stack still impresses, and most surfaces feel quite good to the touch. The front seats are comfy for lengthy journeys, but the rears—as you might expect in a sleek two-door—are tight for real-size people; they really just amount to extra storage space. That’s a good thing, since the oddly shaped trunk can swallow only about seven cubic feet of cargo.
It’s a Bargain
The G37 is certainly inching closer to its 3-series rival in terms of dynamics and driving satisfaction but not in cost of entry. With a base price of $39,565, the G37x coupe undercuts a BMW 335i xDrive coupe by a substantial $5269. Optional packages can add up quickly with both cars, but considering the G’s $5200 advantage, you can load up your G37 with the Premium package (a sunroof, an upgraded stereo with iPod interface, Bluetooth, and more) and Navigation package for the cost of a base two-door 335i xDrive. That kind of value combined with the G’s high level of performance makes signing your name near another “x”—the one before a dotted line—an enticing proposition, indeed.
