You just get in, buckle up, put it in gear, press the accelerator, and go; the supple chassis, communicative steering, and willing V-6 take over from there. The seating position and sightlines are pleasing, and the ergonomics, especially with the $2150 navigation package's excellent touch-screen display, are top-notch.
That said, for all its energy, the Infiniti G35's 306-hp, 3.5-liter DOHC 24-valve V-6 engine is pretty coarse. It delivers nearly seamless acceleration, but it doesn't sound very good as it does so, with none of the mellifluousness of the BMW straight-sixes, of course, but also falling short of V-6s from Mercedes-Benz and Acura.
Our tester's base sticker was $34,100, but the car was loaded with some six thousand dollars in options, including a $2300 premium package (moonroof, stereo upgrade, iPod interface, seat memory, Bluetooth, etc.); a $1100 sport package (magnesium paddle shifters, 18-inch alloy wheels, sport seats, special exterior trim); and a $2150 navigation package. With destination, the final price was $40,365, a price point with lots of other attractive options.