Test drive Infiniti M35M45 2005 - 2010 sedan

Catching up development

For two years in the Russian market, the Infiniti M business class sedan, unlike other brand models, has not become a hit. Maybe we just didn’t try this car? If so, then the updated Emka had additional chances to come to the taste of the public, spoiled by the German premium.
 
Economists use the term catching up development, speaking of countries that later have realized that capitalism is the way to a bright future. The Infiniti car brand also acts as a catch-up, but for another reason: the Japanese, in one way or another, have to prove that their cars are not inferior to the products of the German premium triumvirate. And what has recently been seduced by the Russian public Audi, BMW and Mercedes? Well, actually a lot of things, but one of the most relevant new products is a satellite navigation in Russia. Infiniti decided not to wise and presented their updated M-series sedan as a restyled model with a Russian-speaking navigation system and something else.
Something else these are quite modest changes in the design of the body and salon. But to blame the Japanese from the Nissan luxury unit is not worth it: they clearly acted on the principle of no harm and worked only on what really required revision. For example, more elegant front and rear bumpers facilitated the weighty appearance of the car, at the same time adding recognition to it. The overlays on the thresholds, and a slightly modified radiator grille, and the rear lights of a new shape work for this. In general, this is not facelift for the sake of facelifting, but quite thoughtful and successful work on the image, albeit on trifles.
The same can be said about the interior of the updated Infiniti M. Here everything is still soundly and stylish, but a little better. The branded rosewood tree in the decoration has become more like the present, the blue-violet backlighting of the instrument panel looks definitely better than the old a bright orange, first of a good audio system has grown additional speakers in the backs of the front seats (although this is the option). Another point from the list of additional equipment is an entertainment system for rear passengers with a 7-inch screen leaning from the ceiling. Infiniti competitors, as a rule, offer such televisions only on representative models, and the Japanese seem to make it clear that their Emka is higher than business class standards. In general, running ahead, it must be admitted that with quite decent driver qualities Infiniti M is very good and from the rear right seat, that is, as a car for driving with the driver. It is only a pity that in some places the frankly Nissan hard plastic is still found in Emke, not appropriate to the car that claims to be rivalry with the Germans. Already through the salon it becomes clear that in some ways, Infiniti is obviously ahead of its competitors, and in some ways it is just as far behind.
Well, what about the main novelty navigation system? As INFINITI told us at the Russian representative office, the navigator is relied only on the data of the GPS satellite and is not equipped a gyroscope that physically monitors the movement of the car. On the one hand, this reduces the reduction of the system (it is offered in a single package with advanced Bose 5.1 music, which costs about 80 thousand rubles), on the other hand, it is possible that the navigator sometimes reports too late about the approach of the right turns (or this is simply simply The peculiarity of the system you need to get used to). But in the information content and convenience of the interface, the Infiniti navigation system is perhaps not inferior to navigators on German machines.
As for the technique not auxiliary, but fundamental, here in Infiniti M, all unchanged. The sedan is still offered in two modifications of the M35 with the V6 engine (280 hp) and M45 with V8 (339 l. With.). The younger version can be all -wheel drive, and the eldest in the Sport configuration is equipped with a sports suspension with steering wheel drives. Oddly enough, of the two models, the modest all -wheel drive M35X makes a more convincing impression. And the point here is not even in the drive to all the wheels, which was an excellent help in the rain during the test. The thing is that the deliberate sport to this massive car weighing 2 tons is useless, and it copes with the functions of business class and with the help of 280 horses that disperse it to 100 km/h in 7.1 seconds. (rear -wheel drive version for 6.9 sec.). Of course, the M45 is both faster, and his reactions are slightly sharper, but still this is not a classic athletan, but simply a large high -speed car, a hard suspension and low -profile tires mainly spoil the smoothness. Would infiniti M, rather, there is rather no revelations that you expect from the brand that unofficially positioning itself as a Japanese BMW.
So, is this car able to catch up with the products of those brands, for the sake of which Nissan, in fact, came up with an Infiniti brand? Of course, looking for the answer to this question is most correct in the framework of a comparative test, but some conclusions can be drawn from an updated Emka. Infiniti M, not so much competes with the Germans as it goes in a parallel course, and it must be said, very worthy. The car has some status shortcomings, but they are insignificant, but the advantages are obvious: this is an unusually spacious salon (both in front and behind), and a richest standard equipment, and an excellent ratio of value power. To try all this and get a taste, you just need to get rid of some national stereotypes.
Maxim Bordunov
 

Source: Motor magazine [June 2008]