The 2011 Infiniti G37x coupe had me grinning before I even drove it. It was red, had paddle shifters and embraced me with its bolstered seats. What a welcome!
With its V-6 engine, all-wheel drive with Snow mode, and sinewy looks, the 2011 Infiniti G37x coupe will make you the envy of the carpool lane until the other parents see the effort it takes to get younger kids in and out of the backseat.
The G37x has a 3.7-liter V-6 engine. That’s a lot of power and capability for a four-seat coupe. The acceleration in the G37x will have you grinning ear to ear while driving from gymnastics to soccer to the grocery store and back. The braking was responsive due to the Sport Package’s sport brakes that have four-piston front calipers and two-piston rear calipers.
The 2011 G37x I tested rang up at $47,795. It started with a base price of $39,300 and added the Premium Package, Sport Package, Navigation Package and the Interior Accents Package. Oh, and some fancy-pants brake pads.
EXTERIOR
The G37x looks taut and muscly like Madonna’s arms. It’s definitely a pretty car and leans to the aggressive side, and I’m just going to tell you right now that the photos don’t do it justice. I wish the front end had more of a snub-nose, like Infiniti’s FX, but I guess that’s not as aerodynamic and would probably slow this baby down.
The other thing that slows down the G37x is getting your kids in and out of the backseat. As expected, it’s a trick that older kids master but will have younger kids frustrated if they like to do things independently. If you want to cut down on time spent loading the kids into the coupe, you can have both kids get in on one side, but then they have to climb over the large drivetrain hump in the backseat’s floor. Once the kids are in and you drive around a bit you’ll forget the effort it took to get there.
Also unfortunate is the G37x’s trunk space. While a handy icon shows how to fit two sets of golf clubs in the back, there’s no advice for how to fit a box of diapers and a stroller in the trunk. In the event you’re carrying groceries, the trunk can handle a decent load. If you want more space, you can fold the rear seat. The seat isn’t split and folds down in one piece. Also, the trunk hatch is a funky shape that may present problems with strollers, too.
The 2011 G37x coupe has a 330-horsepower, 3.7-liter V-6 engine with a seven-speed automatic transmission. It uses premium gas and gets an EPA-estimated 18/25 mpg city/highway.
SENSE AND STYLE
Family Friendly (Not Really, Fair, Great, Excellent): Fair
Fun-Factor (None, Some, Good Times, Groove-On): Groove-On
INTERIOR
The G37x has a beautiful interior with high-gloss maple accents that were courtesy of the Interior Accents Package. I was thrilled to see luxury appointments like heated and ventilated leather seats and lumbar support for the driver. The driver’s seat continued to dazzle with the lower seat cushion scooting out or in to provide additional thigh support.
However, the driver’s seat belt was maddening. It had a stiff arm that would hold out the seat belt for me, which was great when buckling up, but it also prevented the seat belt from sitting across my body properly. No matter how I adjusted it, the seat belt was rubbing against my neck. Also, the seat belt buckle’s base was so tall that the belt didn’t lay flat across my lap.
I did like the sport pedals because they reminded me that the G37s was ready to race at the drop of a hat. While those pedals served as a reminder that this is a driver’s car, it would work for a family part-time. All four of my family members were comfortable in the G37x, but a long-distance road trip in it would be out of the question.
The kids were actually glad to be in their booster seats so they could see out the G37x’s rear windows. They did love the dedicated center console between the rear seats that had covered cupholders in it. This console eliminated the possibility of a third seating position in the back. I kind of like Infiniti’s stance on not even making it an option. No debating, just four people and four only. Don’t even try five.
One thing I love about coupes is they’re usually sized nicely for me because everything is within reach. This wasn’t the case in the G37x. When I had the seat adjusted comfortably, the rearview mirror and multimedia system weren’t within reach.
IT’S THE LITTLE THINGS THAT COUNT
Storage Compartments (Puny, Fair, Ample, Galore): Fair
Cargo/Trunk Space (Puny, Fair, Ample, Galore): Fair
SAFETY
Sometimes cars like the 2011 Infiniti G37x like to remind you that their primary purpose isn’t as a family hauler. Case in point: The G37x’s two sets of lower Latch anchors are obscured not by one but by two flaps. Nothing says, “No kids,” like difficult-to-use Latch anchors. The rear seats are sculpted but miraculously my kids’ booster seats fit fine. The seat belt buckles are on stable bases, but they’re placed in the raised portion of the bolstered seat, so they actually work well.
Fitting rear-facing child-safety seats in the G37x would be a difficult. They’d fit if you were able to scoot the front seats far enough forward and still be comfortable, but getting kids in and out would be a serious challenge.
The 2011 G37x has standard all-wheel drive, four-wheel antilock brakes with brake assist, an electronic stability system with traction control, a backup camera and six airbags, including side curtains for both rows. Adaptive cruise control is optional.
Get more safety information about the 2011 Infiniti G37x here.
