Those who live in slushy, snowy climates should be wary of the Sport Package, however. These cars are equipped with sticky speed-rated tires, which are designed for lots of grip on dry pavement, and aren't much good in snow. Better to choose the all-wheel-drive M35x or M45x, which come with the same general-purpose, all-season tires as the base models. And with all-wheel-drive, the x-models add an element of confidence and security in sloppy climates, without a significant toll in fuel economy.
The M35x and M45x come with the same electronically managed ATTESA E-TS (Advanced Total Traction Engineering System for All Electronic Torque Split) all-wheel-drive system found in the G35x sedan and the FX35 crossover. We were less impressed with the overall effect of the M35x. The strength of the V6 engine is lots of power and torque, which in turn means good response and acceleration. Yet this is neither the most fuel efficient nor the smoothest V6 on the market, and that bit of not-so-luxurious coarseness seemed to be magnified in the M35x's all-wheel-drive powertrain, or at least in our test car. The AWD system itself is not as smooth or seamless as those in some other luxury cars, such as Audi's quattro system. During hard bursts of acceleration, the Infiniti's front wheels can generate a front-wheel-drive-style torque-steer effect, in which power from the engine twists the steering wheel in the driver's hands. Moreover, as power spreads out amongst the four wheels, it can create a driveline lash that comes across to the driver as a jerk somewhere in the bowels of the car. It adds up to a less-than-luxurious experience we haven't noticed in rear-drive Infiniti Ms. However, the M35x could still be a good choice for wet or snowy locales.
We haven't tried the new V8-powered M45x, but we have to wonder if its even more potent engine wouldn't exacerbate our complaints about the V6-powered M35x.
The RearView monitor, included in the navigation system, is impressive. It has a camera located in the back bumper that projects a view toward the rear onto the in-dash LCD whenever the driver shifts into Reverse. It's a great safety item as it can help a driver see objects or children behind the vehicle that are otherwise hidden from view. Infiniti's version goes one step further and displays a line on the screen that indicates the course of travel as the steering wheel is turned. It's a neat idea that works. Drivers still need to pay Next Page