2011 Infiniti M37.The first-generation M-series was a mildly dressed up Japanese domestic market Nissan. The second generation brought the car up to contemporary expectations in terms of exterior styling, but fell a little short on the inside.
That outgoing model was an excellent car in virtually all respects, but facing competition from established benchmarks such as the Mercedes-Benz E Class and BMW 5 Series meant that Infiniti needed to make improvements.
Power and control
This engine also scores 18 mpg on the EPA's city driving cycle and 26 mpg on the highway. In mixed suburban driving, our test car returned 19 mpg.
The M37's transmission works well in full automatic mode, or the driver can opt to shift gears manually for more complete control during hard driving.
The only exception to this commendable unobtrusiveness occurs if the driver makes the mistake of selecting Eco mode on the center console-mounted Infiniti Drive control knob. Under most driving conditions, they are normally innocuous. No marginal improvement in fuel economy could be worth enduring Eco mode for long. Conversely, its engine is a good match for the BMW's and easily tops the Mercedes-Benz V6.
BMW's 535i is pricier, at $52,775 base, though the company has introduced an entry-level 528i with a smaller engine that starts at just $45,425, if customers can live with 90 hp less than the Infiniti. One outstanding interior feature is a high-definition widescreen display that makes other companies' efforts look like Atari video games.
The Jaguar XF is a striking contender, probably closest to the Infiniti in ambience and design philosophy. The difficulty in winning fans means that Infiniti could have a hard time convincing shoppers that the $50,465 bottom line (including $865 destination) on the tested M37 (with the Premium Package) represents good value.
The 2011 Infiniti M37 is an all-new midsize luxury sedan model that replaces the brand's M35.
The luxury sedan game is a tough nut to crack. Along with its V8-powered sibling, the Infiniti M56, the 2011 Infiniti M37 is a midsize luxury sedan available with rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive.
Body Styles, Trim Levels, and Options
The 2011 Infiniti M37 comes standard with 18-inch wheels, automatic bi-xenon headlights, foglights, power-folding heated mirrors, automatic wipers, a sunroof, keyless ignition/entry, dual-zone automatic climate control, leather upholstery, heated eight-way power front seats, driver memory functions, a power tilt-and-telescoping steering column, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, rearview camera, Bluetooth and a six-speaker stereo with a CD player, auxiliary audio/visual jack, iPod interface and satellite radio.
The Deluxe Touring package adds a power rear sunshade, an in-car air purifier, upgraded leather upholstery and interior trim, and a 16-speaker Bose surround-sound stereo. The Sport package (not available with all-wheel drive) adds 20-inch wheels, summer tires, sport-tuned suspension and brakes, four-wheel active steering, sport seats and steering wheel, and unique exterior styling elements. The Sport Touring package adds the surround-sound stereo, air purifier and power sunshade to the Sport package. The Technology package includes adaptive cruise control, a lane departure warning and prevention system, blind-spot warning system, forward collision warning system, adaptive headlights and the "eco pedal" that provides feedback to the driver to encourage fuel-efficient driving.
Rear-wheel drive is standard, but the M37x features all-wheel drive. EPA-estimated fuel economy is 18 mpg city/26 mpg highway with rear-wheel drive and 17/24 with all-wheel drive.
Over its three generations, Infiniti’s M car has gone from a staid, upright, obsolete-when-it-debuted sedan with a big engine to a curve-heavy technology-packed luxury car with a big engine. The first generation of the M was basically a left hand drive, Infiniti-badged version of the JDM Nissan Gloria. The second-generation M stepped up the technology game over the original car, adding features like four wheel steering, all wheel drive, blind spot warning system, a sophisticated multimedia entertainment system, and a standard V6 engine. The M’s cabin is a stylish, well-appointed place to spend time. It requires diligence to actually find cheap-feeling, hard plastics – all of the car’s touch points are either French stitched pleather, real metal, real wood veneer, or soft-touch plastic. For a car up one price class (and a half-size larger) from Infiniti’s G37 sedan, this is all par for the course. For 2011, the Infiniti M37 has Infiniti’s newest VQ-series V6, this one displacing 3.7 liters, and it pulls strongly at nearly every engine speed. Manual gear changes are possible with a separate shift gate on the console-mounted lever, but they’re frustratingly inconsistent in their speed of execution.
The suspension in this non-Sport Package-equipped tester was a bit too soft for my taste, but I’ll give Infiniti credit for continuing to offer that as a choice to those who want larger wheels (the Sport Package comes with 20 inch wheels versus this car’s 18s) and a firmer, more controlled ride.
