I have to confess, I was totally smitten with the rakish Infiniti G35 the minute I drove it. Built by Nissan’s upscale Infiniti division, the G35 sports sedan and sport coupe are both based on the outstanding and very hot rear-wheel-drive Nissan 350Z.

Infiniti debuted the rear-wheel-drive G35 sedan in March 2002, as an affordable alternative to the likes of the BMW 3 Series, Audi A4, Mercedes C-Class, Jaguar X-Type, et al. It was followed by the coupe, which is basically a more practical, luxurious, and civilized version of the Z. The new G35X is outfitted with the same all-wheel-drive setup as Infiniti’s FX luxury crossover.

The G35 sedan boasts the entire checklist needed to qualify as a true sports sedan: first and foremost — rear-wheel drive; a powerful engine; a driver-oriented cockpit; sports suspension; balanced weight distribution; performance tires; and finally, outstanding brakes.

Walkaround: Bold, aggressive styling is what sets the Infiniti G35 apart from everything else in this segment. You won’t mistake it for some nondescript, anonymous Japanese or European jellybean shaped car.

The G35 seizes your attention with its stacked, belligerent looking, vertically oriented headlamps, low, aggressive hood line that flows smoothly into the sharply angled windshield, and catamaran-style front fenders. The fenders (which are as cool looking from behind the wheel) actually contribute to the G35’s impressive handling, managing airflow off the sides of the hood.

The short rear deck conceals the largest volume trunk in its class, boasting 14.8 cubic feet of storage. A large pass-through in the center armrest accommodates long items, while the seatbacks fold forward to enlarge the cargo area. 17-inch aluminum wheels are standard.

The L-shaped tail lamps use a race-inspired cluster of bright LEDs that illuminate more quickly than conventional lighting when the brake pedal is depressed.

The exterior of the G35 coupe shares visual elements with the sedan, and they share the same wheelbase. But the coupe is shorter, wider, and lower overall than the sedan. And although they have much in common, the G35 coupe differs from the 350Z in several significant ways. Most notably, its wheelbase is 8 inches longer, and the G35 is nearly 17 inches longer overall. The G35 coupe has a separate trunk instead of a hatchback, and is a two-plus-two, while the Z has no rear seat.

Interior: The interior — the roomiest in this class — utilizes high quality materials complimented by an abundance of luxury features. It’s designed for the serious driver. It’s well laid out and offers good ergonomics — except for the sound system controls, which are over-engineered and confusing.

The instrument pod moves with the tilt of the steering column — a feature I personally wish was standard on all other cars as well. It improves instrumentation visibility enormously for drivers of all heights. The steering wheel doesn’t telescope — but should. Instruments feature Nissan’s signature amber lighting and offer good daytime legibility. Infiniti’s trademark analog clock graces the dash.

A panel mounted on top of the dash houses digital readouts for compass and climate settings. The steering wheel features driver-friendly cruise and audio controls, including a handy audio power button. The optional navigation system is easy to see day or night.

Seats for the driver and passenger are designed differently with the driver’s seat utilizing a special spring design providing extra support for sport driving. The front passenger’s seat allows a more relaxed posture.

As you expect from Infiniti, which competes with the Acura and Lexus luxury divisions of Honda and Toyota respectively, the G35 has plenty of standard equipment, including automatic climate control, cruise control, a 120-watt AM/FM/CD/cassette stereo with RDS, power windows, mirrors and locks.

The option packages are actually too confusing to list here because they include mechanical and performance items as well as interior comfort amenities. For example, the sedan with leather upholstery is considered a separate model.

But many options such as the glass sunroof, premium Bose audio, Sirius satellite radio, and DVD-based navigation system can be ordered ala carte — but not all options are available on all models.

The G35 sedan is spacious and comfortable, offering substantially more interior room than the Lexus IS 300, BMW 3 Series, Audi A4, and Mercedes C-Class

The coupe shares all of the sedan’s standard interior amenities, plus six-way power driver’s seat; two-way power passenger’s seat; and a more powerful, 160-watt stereo. The coupe with leather is similarly equipped. The coupe’s front seats feel more like a racing seat, yet compared with the 350Z interior; the G35 coupe is much nicer and trimmed more luxuriously

 Under The Hood: the same engine used in the 350Z — a 3.5-liter, V6 that boasts more horses than the BMW 330i, Lexus IS 300, or Mercedes-Benz C320, powers all versions of the G35

The V6 delivers 287 horses in the 350Z and 280 in the G35 coupe. The sedan is rated at 260 horses because of a more restrictive exhaust system.

A five-speed automatic transmission with a J-Gate style manual-shifter is standard, but a six-speed manual is also available, except on the G35X.

The six-speed leather coupe also comes with a limited-slip rear and W-rated performance tires up-sized to 18 inches; plus heavy-duty Brembo brakes, and a double-mass flywheel.

Behind The Wheel: I found this car to be an absolute, stone cold, driver’s machine, offering an almost personal connection with the road. Steering is quick and precise with excellent feedback. Driving it hard doesn’t alter the response, and a skilled driver will find the chassis can be rotated, or steered with the throttle.

The G35 utilizes the same platform as the 350Z and Infiniti FX35 and FX45 luxury crossover SUVs. That platform was specifically designed for mounting the V6 longitudinally behind the front axle (front-wheel-drive sedans mount the engines sideways, in front of the axle). Moving the engine rearward, and coupled with short front and rear overhangs, balances the weight toward the center of the car, providing the key to its excellent handling. The long 112-inch wheelbase, its wide track, and aforementioned aerodynamic exterior design, all contribute to the G35’s excellent high speed and cornering stability.

All G35 models feature a four-wheel independent multi-link suspension and electronic stability control, four-wheel ventilated disc brakes with ABS, Brake Assist, and Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD).

Dual-stage front air bags, side-curtain airbags to provide head protection for front and rear passengers, and front-seat side-impact airbags are standard.
   Whines: The sedan has a little more road noise than some other cars in this class. The controls for the power driver’s seat, located on the right side of the seat, are pretty awkward to reach and hard to find in the dark. Tight parking spots are problematic because the long, heavy doors make it difficult at times to get in and out.
   Bottom Line: The Infiniti G35 is a compelling choice for buyers desiring the performance and handling of a true sports sedan coupled with a unique, stylish look. The G35X offers the traction and stability of all-wheel drive, providing an excellent alternative to the Audi A4 Quattro. It also offers more interior room than other cars in this class, and costs less than the BMW, Lexus, or Mercedes. Buyers wanting a genuine sports sedan under $30,000 should take a serious look at this.

The G35 coupe is one terrific sports car that could be too much car for someone wanting a stylish, but benign luxury coupe, like a Solara or Accord. The G35 coupe is for the person who wants a real sports car with racecar-sharp response, but more luxury, room and practicality than the 350Z. It’s one of the quickest, best handling cars on the road, yet comfortable and practical, with all the trappings of a luxury sedan.