2011 Infiniti G25x sedan AWD. Photo by David Arnouts.
2011 Infiniti G25x sedan AWD. Photo by David Arnouts.
2011 Infiniti G25x sedan AWD. Photo by David Arnouts.
2011 Infiniti G25x sedan AWD. Photo by David Arnouts.
2011 Infiniti G25x sedan AWD. Photo by David Arnouts.
2011 Infiniti G25x sedan AWD. Photo by David Arnouts.
2011 Infiniti G25x sedan AWD. Photo by David Arnouts.
2011 Infiniti G25x sedan AWD. Photo by David Arnouts.
By ANDREW STOY on 7/13/2011
DIGITAL EDITOR ANDREW STOY: I'm not sure what Infiniti is aiming for with this 2011 G25x sedan. It's a perfectly adequate small sedan, but it's lost most of its sporting character with the transition to the small V6--to the point where it isn't in the same league as the Audi A4 or BMW 3-series.
It's not well-equipped enough to play in the near-luxury space, with a somewhat dated interior appearance and no noteworthy features to set it apart from the competition. And it's not big enough to aim for the family-sedan market, where it's outpriced and outsized by the likes of the Toyota Avalon and the Ford Taurus. This little Infiniti is even outshone by more mundane sheetmetal such as the Honda Accord V6.
The 2.5-liter V6 is a nice engine, free-revving and surprisingly torquey for its specs, but it has the life sucked out of it by the seven-speed slushbox. I'm sure it's a programming issue, but this wretched excuse for a transmission was slow to downshift, way too quick to upshift, clunky and recalcitrant. One would assume a sport mode would have helped things a bit, but Infiniti didn't see fit to add such a button at this price point. The brakes transmitted a tremendous amount of "noise" through the pedal, and the car was remarkably loud, with wind and road noise drowning out the nice mechanical character of the six.
Knock $7,000 off the as-tested price and put it up against the Ford Fusion V6 AWD and the Honda Accord. The Infiniti will still lose, but at least you'd have a fair fight.
ART DIRECTOR TARA KLEIN: After spending my Fourth of July weekend with this Infiniti, I can see how the G25x would be a nice introduction into the land of luxury-brand vehicles. It has less power than the G37, sure, but the look, feel and quality are still there.
The exterior has dynamic curves and chrome touches that provide a sleek and finished look. Following suit, the interior, while kept simple, has high-end materials accented by aluminum and chrome, giving it an upscale flare. The seats were also very comfortable and supportive. While this car isn't one in which a "wow" was muttered under my breath, it was very well composed, with easy-to-read and locate gauges and controls. If I were entering the luxury market, I find the clean, minimal driving environment to be much more inviting instead of jumping haphazardly into one that is bombarded with gadgets that a) might rarely be utilized with everyday use and/or b) take an hour to learn how to master. For some, it could be slightly intimidating.
The one beef I have, and it's a big beef at that, is where's the nav? Did I see this correctly that there is no navigation option for this G25x? Please tell me I'm wrong. There is no reason why that shouldn't be available at least as an option, especially on a luxury vehicle, no matter how entry-level it may be.
While the ride was a bit rougher than I'd like, the G25x did feel a lot quicker than I had anticipated, providing enough power for the typical day-to-day drives.
These days, there are a lot more people who value the price of a vehicle over the amount of brute force it might have. I found the G25x to be a nice compromise, without ever feeling like it was a punk little brother of the G37. Just add a few more options (mostly nav, please), and I think this model could stick.
INTERACTIVE ASSOCIATE EDITOR JAKE LINGEMAN: I won't beat up this 2011 Infiniti G25X as much as Andy did, but it does feel kind of like the punk little brother of the G37. It seems to have good torque off the line, and when you rev it high, it makes quite a racket. With a hard push of the pedal on the expressway you will get a good, hard two- or three-gear drop, but the power isn't mind-blowing by any means.
The transmission does start to get annoying when cruising, especially in hilly areas. It constantly downshifts every time you push the pedal a bit. Then it seems when you want it to downshift, it just stays in a torqueless seventh gear. If the driver wants to make a move, he or she better push that pedal down, far.
Having the seven-speed automatic surely makes for better mileage. In my 100 or so miles I averaged almost 24 mpg. But no matter, I would rather have a six-speed manual or even a five-speed automatic in this--at least give a guy some paddles!
The back seat is too small for a sedan. With my front seat pushed back to the proper position, there was only about four inches of legroom. Let me clarify by saying I'm average height, so anyone six feet tall or taller would really have a problem with back passengers.
OK, enough complaining. The G25x looks every bit as slick as the G37x. The silver color looks fine and the shape of the sedan is sexy--not as sexy as the coupe, but sexy.
The interior is a bit above average. I feel as if Infiniti took some of the really cool bits out for the less expensive version. The steering wheel is different; it looks a bit less expensive than that of the last G25 that I was in but the feel is good. The seats are comfortable and adjustable; I had no trouble finding a good driving position.
The air conditioning is freezing, enough that I was switching it on and off this morning, and the controls are easy to reach and use. The loudish radio worked instantly with my iPhone, which is always a bonus.
Final note: Navigation is not available on the G25 or the G25x--that's the word straight from Infiniti. So if you need that, look elsewhere.
2011 Infiniti G25x Sedan
Base Price: $34,825
As-Tested Price: $35,825
Drivetrain: 2.5-liter V6; AWD, seven-speed automatic
Output: 218 hp @ 6,400 rpm, 187 lb-ft @ 4,800 rpm
Curb Weight: 3,746 lb
Fuel Economy (EPA/AW): 22/23.5 mpg
Options: Power sliding/tinted glass moonroof ($1,000)
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