V8 power with four-cylinder efficiency. It's the alchemy of the driving world. Nobody likes paying $4/gallon for gas, but for some of us, the cost of losing our performance cars is greater than the price of fuel.
And that's where the 2012 Infiniti M35h hybrid comes in. On one hand, it's a refined sedan with a world-class interior; on the other hand it's a competent sport sedan with 369 combined horsepower; and on the third hand, it returns a Versa-like 27 mpg city and 32 mpg highway. That's a lot of hands to keep track of.
On paper, it should be the best of all worlds. For $53,000, it better be. And while fuel economy will vary based on driving habits, we were more concerned with the promise of V8 performance. So how does the 2012 Infiniti M35h do when fuel economy is ignored in favor of flat-footed fun? Follow the jump...
Vehicle: 2012 Infiniti M35h
Odometer: 4,325
Date: 3/1/2011
Driver: Chris Walton
Price: $53,700
Specifications:
Drive Type: Longitudinal front engine with electric motor, rear-wheel drive
Transmission Type: Seven-speed automatic
Engine Type: 3.5-liter V6 with 50 KW electric motor
Displacement (cc/cu-in): 3,498/213.5
Redline (rpm): 7,000
Horsepower (hp @ rpm): 369 combined (302 @ 6,800 gasoline motor and 67-hp electric motor)
Torque (lb-ft @ rpm): 258 @ 5,000 gas and 199-lb-ft electric motor
Brake Type (front): 12.6-inch ventilated disc with two-piston sliding calipers
Brake Type (rear): 12.1-inch ventilated disc with single-piston sliding caliper
Steering System: Electric power steering
Suspension Type (front): Independent double wishbone, coil springs, stabilizer bar
Suspension Type (rear): Independent multilink with coil springs and stabilizer bar
Tire Size: 245/50R18 99V M+S
Tire Brand: Michelin
Tire Model: Primacy MXM4
Tire Type: All-season
Wheel size: 18-by-8.0 inches
Wheel material (front/rear): Aluminum alloy
As tested Curb Weight (lb): 4,151
Test Results:
0-30 (sec): 2.2 (2.3 with TC on)
0-45 (sec): 3.6 (3.7 with TC on)
0-60 (sec): 5.2 (5.4 with TC on)
0-60 with 1-ft Rollout (sec): 4.9 (5.0 with TC on)
0-75 (sec): 7.6 (7.8 with TC on)
1/4-Mile (sec @ mph): 13.5 @ 102.9 (13.6 @ 102.8 with TC on)
Braking
30-0 (ft): 30
60-0 (ft): 119
Handling
Slalom (mph): 63.7 (61.6 with TC on)
Skid Pad Lateral acceleration (g): 0.84 (0.78 with TC on)
Sound
Db @ Idle: 42.5
Db @ Full Throttle: 76.4
Db @ 70 mph Cruise: 64.4
Acceleration: Holy crap! This car is fast. (All accel runs in Sport.) I could feel the torque immediately from launch and it maintains it throughout the run. Upshifts are quick and smooth. Turning off traction control only works up to a point and it intervenes with too much wheelspin. For the best run, I "woke up" the engine prior to releasing the brake.
Braking: Very effective brakes, especially from 30-0. Distances grew shorter for the later stops, but then the brakes began pulling to the right. Overall, very good performance aside from the pulling/drifting.
Handling: Skid pad: With ESC off, this car has good balance between understeer and oversteer where the rear steps out slightly just before the front understeers. Good setup with ESC on: a combo of throttle and brakes limits speed and disallows the rear from slipping at all. Either way, the steering is springy and only slightly informative. Slalom: ESC off, just as on the skid pad, the rear slides just enough for confident rotation but now the steering remains effective to catch it. Very good balance and precision in transition. With ESC on, corrections occurred before the rear could rotate, but returned control to driver readily.
93aero says:
09:40 PM, 03/ 8/11
That sounds like a hybrid id be more than happy with getting behind the wheel of!
icecubefosho says:
09:40 PM, 03/ 8/11
Pretty impressive... 5.2 seconds to 60 for a hybrid. I guess the Lexus GS will have to step its game up.
cjasis says:
10:44 PM, 03/ 8/11
Cheaper, more powerful & substantially better EPA ratings than the Lexus GS450h? Awesome? Does it have a real trunk (something the Lexus is sorely lacking)?
kyolml says:
11:01 PM, 03/ 8/11
is the EPA rating accurate? A electric motor shouldn't help that much better than a detuned 370Z engine.
copmotor440cid says:
12:47 AM, 03/ 9/11
Not bad at all, especially if it delivers on the fuel economy claims. Not sure if there is truly a market for these things since even in trendy southern California I have only seen maybe one or two GS450h's.
rollk says:
01:19 AM, 03/ 9/11
I'll wait a year or two when it depreciates in half
frank908 says:
05:10 AM, 03/ 9/11
Cool! Now if they can work on the melting-blob design on the body, it'd be a real hit.
ignorance123 says:
06:17 AM, 03/ 9/11
It's intriguing that Nissan going almost exclusively with CVTs still wouldn't put one in an Infiniti that attempts to get better mileage. Good thing, too as that would have made this thing awful.
maximus5201 says:
06:44 AM, 03/ 9/11
I would like to see what this powertrain can do in the lighter, less expensive G sedan (or even coupe). 5.2 seconds 0-60 is impressive, I imagine it would be slightly quicker and more efficient in the lighter G. Not too shabby.
streetsidestig says:
07:19 AM, 03/ 9/11
Hold on. It's a hybrid, but it only gets 32 on the highway? Why did they even bother with the electric bits?
randomdude says:
08:09 AM, 03/ 9/11
"Hold on. It's a hybrid, but it only gets 32 on the highway? Why did they even bother with the electric bits?"
Uhh...not too familiar with how hybrids work, are we? Hybrids don't typically get much better HWY mpg, the electric aids mostly help in stop/go driving where the batteries can regenerate and then be used to aid acceleration from a stop, reducing gas consumption.
THAT BEING SAID - the base M37 gets 26 HWY mpg, this gets 32 HWY mpg - that's 6 MPG better, so this actually DOES get significantly mpg on the highway.
bankerdanny says:
08:20 AM, 03/ 9/11
Random Dude, you beat me to it. 32 mpg for a large sedan with a 300+ hp V6 is pretty darn good.
lions208487 says:
09:10 AM, 03/ 9/11
My next vehicle of choice. Though some may not like the exterior, check it out in person, because It will grow on you. If anyone is worried about the hybrid system and battery pack, the warranty covers you on that for 8 yrs 100,000 miles. I may be the sol Infiniti fan boy here, but this car seems like a win win. I have driven the M37 and M56, and I like both. Can't wait to take this one for a test drive to see if there is any difference.
leadfoot1202 says:
10:31 AM, 03/ 9/11
@lions208487
"I may be the sol Infiniti fan boy here"
You're not alone. The exterior just doesn't take photos well.. but in person its a whole different story. And like someone else already said, I'd love to see Infiniti do something similar with the smaller G sedan.
ptcdawg says:
10:34 AM, 03/ 9/11
I too question the mileage rating. A GS450H is rated at 22/25. They are comparable in power/size I believe.
fuel_on_fire85 says:
10:49 AM, 03/ 9/11
I dig it and I hate Hybrids...
saunupe1911 says:
11:24 AM, 03/ 9/11
I love the M-series sedans. Infiniti keeps improving. Also they are extremely reliable. I've never met a G or M owner that complained about the reliability of the car. It's usually, "Dang this car is fast."
gtrguy2012 says:
06:39 PM, 03/ 9/11
5.2 to 60 is very impressive for a hybrid that still gets 32 mpgs on the highway. Infiniti has it's game straight.
v8vader says:
07:34 PM, 03/ 9/11
but what gas mileage did you get during that testing? hehe either way, awesome job Infiniti.
smallfield says:
07:42 PM, 03/ 9/11
If the mileage is true, this is a pretty good deal. No real compromise in performance and drastic mileage improvements.
Unless the battery pack requires a lot of space I agree it would be better to package in a G. Probably 10K cheaper, better mileage and performance with the decreased weight.
Either way this is great.
4maticbenz says:
07:47 PM, 03/ 9/11
A HYBRID that impresses me with both its looks and performance?!
Something is seriously wrong here.....
bruceleroy81 says:
06:19 AM, 03/10/11
I don't see anything wrong with this at all. Finally, a fuel efficient performance car that get's it right. This car is way sportier and more fuel efficient and faster than the Lexus GS450 Hybrid.
The thirst of a 4-cylinder, with the power and quickness of a V-8. It's perfect. I would gladly take this car.
lsobboh says:
08:52 AM, 03/10/11
@bruceleroy81: This car isn't any faster than the GS. In fact they're a dead heat. According to the EPA it IS a lot more efficient however. And it should be for it IS 4 years newer technology. Granted that it stays parellel to it's claims, this car would be a huge hit and a much better alternative the the GS based solely on MPG alone. The GS is rated 22/25 and actually achieved 22MPG during testing, hopefully the M can stay true to its ratings as well. I'd still say wait for the freshened GS redesign to emerge before making any final judgements however...
stylinstumpy says:
02:37 PM, 03/11/11
I'm surprised Edmunds did not mention that this car has a near 50/50 weight distribution!!! (51/49)
LOVE THIS CAR