Is an Infiniti a Good First Car? (G35, G37 & Q50 Models)
INFINITI makes entry-level luxury vehicles, and many of them are high-performance ones.
Do they make good first cars?
Generally: Are INFINITIs Good First Cars?
Infiniti is Nissan’s luxury brand the way Lexus is to Toyota and Acura is to Honda.
Despite the parent company’s less-than-perfect reliability, Infiniti fared remarkably well in Consumer Reports’ 2021 reliability ranking with its #4 position out of 28 automakers – behind only Lexus, Mazda, and Toyota.
Infiniti vehicles’ reliability should make them good choices for first cars. Still, they belong in the luxury segment and have powerful engines, requiring more effort in researching and selecting a suitable first car.
Plus, the expensive price tag for new INFINITIs means only older used ones make financial sense.
Specific Infiniti Models:
Most INFINITIs are powerful beyond teen drivers’ ability to control; finding one that suits a teenager is challenging.
#1 Is an Infiniti G35 a Good First Car?
The G35 is Infiniti’s entry-level premium sports car, available in the sedan and coupe forms.
Compared to its larger and more powerful siblings, the Infiniti G35 is a reasonable choice for a first car despite its mixed credentials:
- Moderately powerful (at first) – 260 hp from the 2003 G35’s 3.5L V6, although it breached the 300 hp mark with the 2007 G35 sedan.
- Rear-wheel-drive – tricky to control in slippery conditions and dangerous if you live in a snowy region.
- Mediocre fuel economy – 17 mpg city, 25 mpg highway, 20 mpg combined.
- Relatively inexpensive for a sports sedan – you can find a used G35 for under $5,000.
- Fairly strong reliability – JD Power rated the final G35 model year 82/100.
- Comparatively cheaper to insure than the G37 – the G35 is older.
- Good visibility – for a sports sedan.
- Roomy cabin – a suitable daily driver and passenger car.
- Spacious trunk – handy for grocery shopping and road trips.
The G35 comes with the optional all-wheel-drive for enhanced traction in tricky conditions.
Which G35 Year Is the Best?
Table Guide:
- Safety (IIHS): 1 (poor) to 4 (good); IIHS tests average.
- Fuel Economy: mpg city/highway/combined (manual).
- Reliability: /100; higher = fewer problems (JD Power).
- Complaints: total reported problems (CarComplaints).
| Model Year | Horsepower | Safety (IIHS) | Fuel Econ. | Reliability | Complaints |
| 2008 G35 | 306 hp | NA | 17/25/20 | 82/100 | 3 |
| 2007 G35 | 275 – 306 hp | NA | 17/25/20 | NA | 7 |
| 2006 G35 | 280 – 298 hp | 3.5/4 | 17/24/20 | NA | 8 |
| 2005 G35 | 280 – 298 hp | 4/4 | 17/24/20 | NA | 3 |
| 2004 G35 | 260 – 280 hp | 4/4 | 17/24/20 | NA | 7 |
| 2003 G35 | 260 hp | NA | 17/24/20 | NA | 21 |
The G35 debutant started with 260 hp but gradually edged upwards in the horsepower department with its later iterations.
So, if you want the least powerful G35 to make it (barely) acceptable as a first car, the 2003 model is as good as it gets.
Avoid 2003 G35 is the most problematic, with steering rack leak the most-reported issue among owners.
#2 Is an Infiniti G37 a Good First Car?
The G37 replaced the G35 and successfully serves as a sports car and luxury coupe.
It’s a gorgeous-looking car with a premium quality interior.
While many G35 model years aren’t the best vehicle for freshly-licensed teenagers, the G37 with extra horsepower becomes a poor choice for a first car:
- Rear-wheel-drive – difficult to master for new drivers; dangerous for snowy regions.
- Excessively powerful for a first car – 320-plus horses in the sedan, coupe, or convertible body style is too much for an inexperienced driver to handle safely, especially when it puts the horsepower only to the rear wheels.
- Fairly expensive price tag – although you can find the cheapest used G37 for under $10,000.
- Relatively inexpensive maintenance – $540/year compares favorably with the $739/year average for luxury midsize cars.
- Poor gas mileage – you’ll be lucky to achieve 20 mpg in combined driving.
- Premium fuel required.
- Above-average reliability – RepairPal ranked it 8th out of 31 vehicles in its class.
Which G37 Year Is the Best?
Table Guide:
- Safety (IIHS): 1 (poor) to 4 (good); IIHS tests average.
- Fuel Economy: mpg city/highway/combined (manual).
- Reliability: /100; higher = fewer problems (JD Power).
- Complaints: total reported problems (CarComplaints).
| Model Year | Horsepower | Safety (IIHS) | Fuel Econ. | Reliability | Complaints |
| 2013 G37 | 328 hp | 3.2/4 | 17/25/20 | 84/100 | 8 |
| 2012 G37 | 328 hp | 3.2/4 | 17/25/19 | NA | 6 |
| 2011 G37 | 328 hp | 3.2/4 | 17/25/19 | NA | 10 |
| 2010 G37 | 328 hp | 3.2/4 | 17/25/20 | NA | 7 |
| 2009 G37 | 328 hp | NA | 17/25/20 | NA | 25 |
| 2008 G37 | 328 hp | NA | 17/26/20 | NA | 7 |
The 2009 G37 is problematic with the complete loss of electrical power its most-reported issue.
Otherwise, all G37s are equally powerful with their 3.7L V6 and excessively so for teenage drivers.
G35 & G37 Compared with Better First Cars
Table Guide:
- Fuel Economy: mpg combined (manual).
- Maintenance Costs: per year avg. (RepairPal).
- Safety (IIHS): 1 (poor) to 4 (good); IIHS tests average.
- Safety (NHTSA): 1 (poor) to 5 (safest); NHTSA overall.
- Visibility: excellent, good, average, poor.
| Horsepower | Fuel Econ. | Maint. Costs | Safety (IIHS) | Safety (NHTSA) | Visibility | |
| Infiniti G35 | 260-306 hp | 20 | $476 | NA | NA | Good |
| Infiniti G37 | 328 hp | 20 | $540 | 3.2/4 | NA | Good |
| Subaru BRZ | 205-228 hp | 24 | $672 | 3.8/4 | NA | Good |
| Honda Civic Si | 197-205 hp | 30 | $368+ | 4/4 | 5/5 | Good |
| Mazda Miata | 116-181 hp | 29 | $429 | NA | NA | Average |
| Honda Civic | 110-158 hp | 33 | $368 | 4/4 | 5/5 | Good |
Any car with an output exceeding 200 horsepower requires careful consideration because excess power can breed bad driving habits.
The Subaru BRZ, Civic Si, and MX-5 Miata are prime examples of reasonable first cars with a little extra horsepower for an engaging drive but not enough to get the driver into trouble.
Plus, they have a compliant enough ride quality to justify being a daily driver.
The base Honda Civic may place at the bottom of the table, but it is the perfect first car with excellent reliability, thrifty fuel consumption, and modest pricing.
#3 Is an Infiniti Q50 a Good First Car?
The Q50 is Infiniti’s smallest entry-level luxury sports sedan – it has two larger siblings, the Q60 and Q70.
It may be entry-level luxury, but the Infiniti Q50 is still a powerful premium sports car, making it far from ideal as a first car despite some pluses:
- Too powerful – between 208 and 328 hp for the base model, depending on model year.
- Expensive price tag – the cheapest used Q50 still costs close to $20,000.
- Prohibitively high insurance premium – a 16-year-old can expect to pay nearly $8,000/year or $666/month for full coverage.
- Rear-wheel-drive – challenging for an inexperienced driver to control when conditions are slippery or icy.
- Costly to maintain for a first car – about $648 per year, although it’s below the luxury midsize cars’ average of $739 per year.
- Middling fuel economy – mid-20s is the best it can achieve.
- Premium gas required.
- Good visibility – a plus for new drivers. The view out the front and sides are good for a sleek modern sedan.
- Strong reliability – a consistent above 80/100 scores on JD Power.
The less powerful Q50 (208 hp) can be a good first car in the hands of a responsible driver because Q50s are highly reliable vehicles.
Which Q50 Year Is the Best?
Table Guide:
- Lowest HP: horsepower of the least powerful engine.
- Safety (IIHS): 1 (poor) to 4 (good); IIHS tests average.
- Safety (NHTSA): 1 (poor) to 5 (safest); NHTSA overall.
- Fuel Economy: mpg city/highway/combined (base; auto).
- Reliability: /100; higher = fewer problems (JD Power).
- Complaints: total reported problems (CarComplaints).
| Model Year | Lowest HP | Safety (IIHS) | Safety (NHTSA) | Fuel Econ. | Reliability | Complaints |
| 2022 Q50 | 300 hp | 4/4 | NA | 20/29/23 (3.0t) | 80/100 | – |
| 2021 Q50 | 300 hp | 4/4 | NA | 20/29/23 (3.0t) | 80/100 | – |
| 2020 Q50 | 300 hp | 4/4 | NA | 20/29/23 (3.0t) | 82/100 | 1 |
| 2019 Q50 | 208 hp | 4/4 | NA | 23/30/25 (2.0t) | 82/100 | 3 |
| 2018 Q50 | 208 hp | 4/4 | NA | 23/30/25 (2.0t) | 82/100 | 0 |
| 2017 Q50 | 208 hp | 4/4 | NA | 23/31/26 (2.0t) | 82/100 | 2 |
| 2016 Q50 | 208 hp | 4/4 | NA | 23/31/26 (2.0t) | NA | 4 |
| 2015 Q50 | 328 hp | 3.8/4 | 5/5 | 20/29/23 (3.7l v6) | 80/100 | 11 |
| 2014 Q50 | 328 hp | 3.8/4 | 5/5 | 20/29/23 (3.7l v6) | 76/100 | 19 |
2016 to 2019 Infiniti Q50s have the base 2.0t that produces 208 hp, are the least powerful, and is comparatively the better pick for a first car – if you must get a Q50.
Still, they are RWD cars and not suitable for regions with snow and inclement weather.
The AWD drivetrain is available for extra traction, but it increases your purchase price.
Avoid the 2014 Q50 as it has the highest number of reported problems among owners, with warped brakes its most-reported issue.
Alternative Makes to Infiniti for a Teenager’s First Car
Prospective teen car buyers want an Infiniti for its performance over regular sedans.
Less powerful, cheaper, and fuel-efficient alternatives may work better for a first car:
- Honda – Civic Si, standard Civic.
- Subaru – BRZ.
- Mazda – Mazda 6, MX-5 Miata.
Plus, they have attractive styling too.
Always do your research, inspect, and test drive before buying.
References:
