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2006 Infiniti M45
Infiniti’s M45 is a heavy-footed, ready to romp
sports sedan that offers both technology and luxury at a price point in the
$40,000-$50,000 (US) range. It comes in four forms with our choice being the
less expensive six-cylinder M35 version. Also available are an all wheel drive
model, the V8 M45 with its 335 horsepower, and a sport model with Rear Active
Steering.
There is a lot to like about the Infiniti, but it does have a sturdy ride thanks
to the wide tires and the noise that they generate. In addition, the dash
mounted controls are difficult to reach and require considerable practice to
master. Other than that just the tightness of the back seat that makes carrying
five passengers difficult and the need for premium fuel to achieve 20 mpg are
all that might from being unsurpassed as a luxury sports sedan
What must be pointed out is that the Infiniti backup camera is the best ever. It
is clear, gives you lines so that you can see the width of the M when backing
up, and uses the large dash mounted monitor. If you live in a crowded place or
have children this feature is a must. Also available is a GPS with a bird’s eye
view map, Bluetooth hands-free system, a rear-seat entertainment system, and
heated and cooled seats. All of these work well and make the Infiniti a joy to
frolic with regardless of the weather or traffic.
Competition most directly comes from the Acura RL
which has the Infiniti covered when it comes time for sophisticated electronics,
pricing, and interior room. However, the Acura does not offer the handling or
performance of the Infiniti. Another competitor might be the Chrysler 300 Hemi
that is more basic in terms of doodads and luxury, but offers as much
performance and room for many thousands less. BMW 5 Series, Mercedes, Jaguar S,
and Lexus GS are also worth noting with the BMW being the most competitive. But,
as the Infiniti M, its styling is an acquired taste.
Mom’s view:
This is an executive vehicle and quite capable of handling any situation with
its ready to romp engine, smooth five speed transmission, and abundance of
features. It is pleasant to drive, but rear visibility is limited and the M45 is
not that nimble when parking it tight. Safetywise you get ABS, vented disc
brakes, an electronic braking assistance program, stability control, front and
side airbags and side curtain airbags, active head restraints in front, a tire
pressure monitor, and even a lane departure warning system. What really
separates the Infiniti M from the competition besides a well regarded dealer
network and its pricing, is how comfortable it is. The seats are firm, but not
Mercedes hard, and the feel of the interior fabrics, woods, and leathers,
reassure you that this is a luxury vehicle. You can easily get in and out as the
doors open wide and the entry is well lighted. The is a little dark for my
tastes, but it could come back into fashion. The dash is very difficult to
master with the clear seven-inch LCD screen taking up the center and a series of
operation related push buttons surrounding a large control know below it. The
result is not good. I could barely reach some of the functions and those placed
on the far right of the control unit required me to stretch far more than should
be necessary. Of course, that leaves the center console available for two good
sixed cupholders and a nicely designed, two level storage bin. The Infiniti
system is far more usable than the competition, but the placement is not
friendly to the short of limb.
Perhaps what spoils you most about Infiniti M
ownership is a recognition “key” that alerts the car to your presence and
unlocks the door and does a variety of other tasks prior to you pushing on the
start pushing to ignite the engine. I found it best to push the start button
once to enliven the accessory mode and get the memory seat and other functions
into position. A few seconds later I hit the start button and a very gruff
rumble from the potent V8 awakens to your call. The pre-programming can even be
set for the mirrors and windows and it quickly becomes second nature and I never
have to I fumble through my handbag looking for the key.
Infiniti’s rear is its weak spot. The trunk lid
does not open nearly enough when the remote is used and you have to put your
hand under the always dirty rear bumper to gain access. The trunk is also not
that large with just 15 cubic feet of space or 11 if you opt for the full-sized
spare tire. There is a ski pass through. Even the exterior rear view of the
Infiniti is way too busy. Finally, if you order the rear seat entertainment
center and the rear monitor is down you simply cannot see out the rearview
mirror.
Would I buy the Infiniti M45? No. The M35 is less
expensive to buy and maintain, has a similar nice interior and its 280
horsepower is enough for me. Regardless, the powerful 335 horses, superior
brakes, and sumptuous interior make this Infiniti compelling for those who enjoy
driving in the fast lane.
Dad’s view: We
waited a long time to test the Infiniti M45 and it was worthwhile. This is a
tightly bound, athletic sedan capable of getting to 60 mph in less than six
seconds, giving 20 mpg, and doing so in a captivating cabin. Riding on an
extended version of the terrific G platform, the M sedan can easily change its
disposition from friendly chat to shouting match just be depressing the
accelerator. The 5-speed automatic transmission with a manual shift mode
slightly tames the 335 horsepower and 340 lb-ft of torque and you can reach 100
mph in a quarter mile. The engine maxs out at 6800 rpm and it does not take long
to get there. The transmission even blips the throttle when you manually
downshift. Very impressive.
Suspension is anchored by a double-wishbone front
and multilink rear set-up and the steering is modulated well, except at low
speeds where it has a ponderous feel. I was always surprised at how difficult it
was to park compared to its nimble sister, the G35. The ride reminded me far
more of the FX SUVs. If you order the Sport Package you get a firmer suspension,
a rear steering system that emphasises turn-in when cornering and improves exit
speeds, and 19-inch cast-alloy wheels, climate-controlled firmer seats and
aluminum interior trim. The ride is definitely sportier, but we question the
need for such a package on a vehicle that weighs over two tons.
Standard features abound with leather upholstery,
a 10-way adjustable memory capable driver’s seat, one-touch up-and-down power
windows, dual-zone automatic climate control, auto-dimming rearview mirror, and
heated outside mirrors. If you go with the Sport option Infiniti throws in rear
active steering, sport suspension, upgraded wheels, adaptive HID headlamps,
aluminum interior trim and heated and cooled sport seats. Some popular options
include a DVD-based navigation system, voice recognition technology and
laser-based intelligent cruise control that maintains a reported safe distance
from other vehicles, and audio enhancements
Although not light on its feet, the M is quite capable of matching lighter and
more sporty cars when cornering. It is remarkably well tuned and only overt
bumps and diamond cut highways cause it much concern. The performance is very
understated and you quickly grow enamoured with the power absolutely corrupting
your petrol company credit card. I seldom got more than 17 mpg and we barely
averaged 20. Once the transmission has decided that you are serious about
acceleration, and you choice not to shift for yourself, be prepared for a deep
howl from under the hood and a spine adjusting push as the revs flow freely
until you are where you wanted to be, and quicker than you thought. It is
addicting and the cool part is that the exterior is so bland that it seldom
draws undue concern from the authorities. Only you know what lurks under the
bonnet and it would take a self-control freak from not falling under its spell.
On the other hand the brakes, although excellent for what the hell fell off the
truck in front of me applications, is quite touchy in less dramatic situations.
The big discs act right now and there isn’t too much middle ground as the feel
goes from wooden to woo nellie in a hurry.
I truly enjoyed the M45, but it took me a while to accept its heavy feel and
ponderous parking problems. It certainly has caught the Lexus GS and it only has
to reign in the expensive BMW 5 Class to become the dominate car in its class
for those trying to combine the good life at a fast clip.
College going male’s view:
The best option for me was the 14-speaker Bose Studio Surround sound system with
digital 5.1 channel decoding. It was the finest stereo I have ever heard in a
car that was not added on by an aftermarket tuner. Clear, concise, and readily
capable of taking my CD downloads at http://www.simple-thoughts.net and making
them into control room fresh. You must listen to this system. Period.
I remember when Infiniti just came out and they
had an optional rear wheel turning system that proved to be complex and ruing
the vehicles mileage and performance. Although we don’t test at speed, I doubt
the value of this option since the wheels only turn a maximum of one degree
thanks to an electrically actuator even if it adjusts the rear toe angles in an
opposite phase when cornering at high speed.
This ample sized Infiniti is not a babe magnet,
but does appeal to older folks. It has certain sophistication to its looks, but
the rear with its LED light clusters and high mounted back-up lights appear to
be the antithesis of last year’s Accord tail section. Neither one is
particularly attractive. I did like the five-spoke 19-inch alloy wheels on the
Sport model.
Those riding in the back seats on Infiniti Ms with the Premium Package will find
them heated and able to recline. Inside the rear center armrest are controls for
the DVD system with an LCD that folds out of the ceiling and is controlled with
a remote. You also get dual rear climate controls, but getting three adults back
there isn’t easy. By the way, if you have the DVD screen lowered it blocks the
rear view mirror.
Despite my college classes and ridiculous
textbook costs---where is technology when you need it? —I wouldn’t mind owning a
M sedan. But in my case it would be the M35 that is $7000 (US) less expensive
and gets better fuel mileage by ten percent. Check www.nada.com about resale.
Young working woman’s view:
Most interestingly, the optional lane departure system on the Infiniti uses a
camera to detect lane markings and buzzes the driver when the car crosses that
line. It is deactivated under 45 mph or when you use the turn signals. Should be
a good tool for those who aren’t used to signaling. If you travel tired or take
long journeys this could save your life.
We didn’t test the M35X with its all wheel drive, but noticing the ease of which
the large V8 applied torque to the rear wheels I would highly recommend this
model to those who frequent the snow, either willingly or by default. The M45 is
too much car for my needs, but I liked the comfortable interior and the
wonderful rear view monitor. Perhaps the V6 model would be more favorable, but
the Infiniti G35 makes more sense to me and is easier to park.
It has a four year/60,000 mile warranty and the
range of costs go from about $40,000 for the base M35 to $46,750 for the M45 and
three thousand more for the Sport model. All models get a good, but not great,
five speed automatic transmission. I think it takes too much time to downshift.
The major option groups are the Journey Package
that includes an upgraded Bose sound system, HomeLink, rear view video monitor,
front pre-crash seatbelts, and a compass for $1,700 and a very good, but not up
to Acura standards, $2000 navigation system. The GPS has an interesting bird’s
eye view map that makes it much easier to find places quickly in large cities.
I was frankly disappointed with the travel range with the Infiniti M45 as we
barely got 350 miles on the 20-gallon tank before we had to sell another acre of
land to for fuel. Other than that I would highly recommend this vehicle to those
who really like to drive or really like to have it all. Impressed, but than
again I’m young.
Family conference: The Infiniti M Class is such a giant leap forward that
it is hard to imagine why anyone interested in a sporty and luxurious vehicle
would not consider it. Yes, it could be more refined, but the slightly more
powerful and polished BMW 5 Class costs $7000 more. It is car for those who like
to show a car who’s the boss and rather drive than be driven. For a list of all
vehicle websites go to http://www.reacheverychild.com and click on business.
Written by the Car Family |
