Interior Mark Technology Survey: 2009 Infiniti G37x Sedan
Infiniti '… Sedan achieves . near perfect balance between performance and comfort relative to price, and it can be tweaked with some of the best tech available in the entry-level luxury class — everything from easy iPod integration to advanced safety features. But if the . Sedan has an Achilles heel, it'. that many of the car'. best electronics require adding expensive, bundled option packages onto the final bill.
On the 2009..37x AWD Sedan we recently tested (sticker price $43,015), these options spiked the price by more than $7,000. And while you get . lot for that amount of money, you also can get stuck with stuff you don'. want, which can tip the tech scale on whether to buy the .37 Sedan or . competitor.
Audio: The 10-speaker Bose Studio on Wheels audio system is part of the $2,300 Premium Package option, and it delivers very good but not great sound quality. My standard test tracks showed that the system stands out in terms of spacious soundstaging and focused imaging, and bass was tight and in your face thanks to the 10-inch woofer in each front door, although . noticed nasty panel rattling on the lowest and loudest notes. But tonal detail and accuracy suffered . bit and dynamics were somewhat flat on the most difficult musical passages./spy shots. typically test audio systems with any available sound processing turned off to level the playing field — and because . prefer to listen to test tracks unaltered. But . was impressed with the Bose system'. Driver Audio Stage processing since it considerably expanded an already expansive soundstage..
iPod Integration: The main music source unit is an in-dash CD player, but our test car offered plenty of other options. Infiniti 's Interface System for iPods is also part of the Premium Package option and one of the easiest such applications to use. An iPod plugs into a proprietary cable in the center console and can be controlled though the 7-inch touch screen in the dash, the Infiniti Controller just below it or with steering-wheel controls, which are particularly convenient and safe for on-the-fly operations. The interface is intuitive, finding music is relatively fast and the system includes podcasts, composers and audiobooks in the main iPod menu along with the usual suspects of albums, artists, songs and playlists. My only gripe is that if you have a large music library there's no way to quickly scroll through it. To go from Al Green to ZZ Top takes quite a few clicks and a frustrating amount of time.
Other music-source options include a slot in the dash for a CompactFlash card and the Music Box 9.3GB hard-disk drive that's part of the $2,150 Navigation Package option (which replaces the standard 6-disc CD changer). Music files are accessed on a CF card via a very simple menu showing folder, file, song, album and artist, but the Music Box lets you play, search and edit files in a myriad of ways. The system allows recording CDs but not files on a CF card, and the G37x also has RCA aux-in jacks instead of the more familiar and convenient miniplug port.
Bluetooth: A hands-free phone system is also bundled with the Premium Package option, and I had no trouble pairing my BlackBerry 8300. But I couldn't get the system to download the device's address book — and it would disconnect the phone every time I tried. The system does have its own address book that a driver can populate and add name tags to, but downloading the user's address book saves this redundant, time-consuming step. The Bluetooth system also works with Infiniti 's Voice Recognition system so that numbers can be read aloud.
Navigation: The VR system can also be used to operate the G37's navigation system, but with varying results. As in many other vehicles, the VA system in the G37 had about a 50 percent success rate. For example, when I asked for the California city of Topanga, I first got Fontana and then Santa Ana before the third time returned the correct result. Otherwise, the hard-disk nav system works great and has cool features such as 3D POI icons, route simulation that shows a preview of your course and the ability to choose alerts ranging from a dog bark to a church bell to signal when you've reached a destination. It also offers lane guidance for negotiating tricky freeway intersections and has XM NavTraffic capability.
Tech Extras: The Navigation Package throws in a rearview camera, while the pricey Premium Package also includes a powered moonroof, steering wheel and seats, among other amenities that are usually luxury standards. If you want even more goodies you have to go for the $1,100 Technology Package, which adds adaptive cruise and headlights and pre-crash seat belts. The AWD version also has a Snow Mode switch to avoid wheel spin in the white stuff.
If you're looking for an entry-level luxury sedan — and you need AWD performance — the 2009 Infiniti G37x Sedan is a class-leading contender that excels on many critical levels. But be sure to carefully check your tech needs against the vehicle's expensive and expansive option packages — and against what's available in competitors such as the Acura TL SH-AWD with Tech Package, BMW 328i xDrive and Lexus IS 250 AWD. Otherwise the electronics in the Infiniti G sedan could throw a near-perfect purchase and driving experience out of balance.
IL Tech Ratings (10 is best): 2009 Infiniti G37x Sedan
Audio: 7
iPod Integration: 8
Bluetooth: 6
Navigation: 8
Tech Extras: 6
Overall Average Score: 7
