AZCentral.com's view

For the family man or woman who longs for a Nissan 350Z sports car, but there’s just not enough room for the spouse, the kids and the dog, here’s a sedan that should fit the bill.

The Infiniti G35, an early arrival for 2003, shares the Z platform and much of the attitude of Nissan’s reborn sports coupe, but with four doors and an accommodating interior. Sharp styling, nimble handling and a powerful V-6 set the rear-wheel-drive G35 apart from the run of midsize sport sedans, and it approaches the segment leader, the BMW 3-series, in athletic ability.

G35 is also another inspired automobile from a company that has performed a spectacular turnaround in just a few years. Nissan and its luxury division, Infiniti, climbed out of the cellar the old-fashioned way: by significantly improving its cars and trucks.

The heart of the G35 is its 260-horsepower V-6, the same 3.5-liter engine found in the new Altima and Maxima, though boosted about 20 horsepower for the Infiniti. In the 350Z, it’s kicked up to 287.

An all-aluminum, double-overhead-cam engine with variable valve timing, this is a very smooth and free-revving V-6 with a delicious howling exhaust note under acceleration. The power comes on in a linear fashion, not super strong off the line, but gathering power as the rpm build.

The automatic transmission is not quite as impressive, with shifts that are a too laconic for the engine performance. It is fitted with a manual-shifting mode, which I found balky and only moderately effective. Despite the fine six-speed used in the Z-car, no manual transmission is available for G35, which seems like a mistake for a car trying to appeal to driving enthusiasts.

The 260 horsepower trumps just about all of the standard engines used by the upscale competition, such as the midsize cars from Audi, BMW, Lexus and Acura, giving G35 a distinct advantage in performance and prestige.

G35 also undercuts them in price by a good number of thousand-dollar bills. The base price is set at $27,100, though the leather-trimmed test car started at $28,900. Even with all the options, except for a GPS navigation system, the test car just topped $31,000.

Rear-wheel drive is another plus. This is the preferred method of motivation for many people who appreciate the balance and handling characteristics of rear-drive cars. Recently, there have been rumblings from various manufacturers, notably Chrysler and General Motors, about producing some new rear-drive cars.

The G35’s suspension is supple, handling rough road surfaces or sharp curves with equal aplomb. The highway ride is quiet and stable, but the G35 comes alive on a two-lane desert blacktop with some tight turns. The steering is nicely responsive, and the four-wheel disc brakes are strong and fade-free.

G35’s attractive styling is distinctive, feeding a bit off the Altima, and similar in some ways to the new Lexus ES300 and the angular Cadillac CTS. The wheels are se t way out to the corners for style and ride enhancement.

A two-door G35 coupe is promised for the fall.

The interior continues the forward-looking styling of the outside. I particularly like the rounded shape of the lower dashboard, which incorporates the movement of the air vents into the overall scheme. Also appreciated is Infiniti’s signature analog clock in the center of the dash.

There are lots of bins and cubbies in here, but the hard-plastic surfaces and some flimsy pieces seem too chintzy for this level of car.

The gauges look good, and they move up and down with steering-wheel adjustments, keeping them in the line of vision wherever the wheel is set.

Front-seat accommodations are roomy enough, and the rear seats should sit three comfortably, as long as they’re not too tall. The sloping roofline cuts into rear headroom.

The G35 comes well-equipped with luxury features at its base price. The test car included a 200-watt Bose audio system, priced at $900 and worth every penny; a glass moon roof at $1,000; and destination charges of $545.

G35, though slightly smaller than the Altima, should make a big splash. Quick, maneuverable and sporty, it’s the kind of sedan that Infiniti has promised us all along.

Infiniti G35

Vehicle type: Five-passenger, four-door sedan, rear-wheel drive.

Base price: $28,950.

Price as tested: $31,395.

Engine: 3.5-liter V-6, 260 horsepower at 6,000 rpm, 260 pounds-feet of torque at 4,800 rpm.

Transmission: Five-speed automatic.

Wheelbase: 112.4 inches.

Curb weight: 3,369 pounds.

EPA mileage: 19 city, 26 highway.

Highs:

Powerful engine.

Nimble handling.

Smart styling.

Lows:

Transmission woes.

Chintzy interior pieces.