2009 Infiniti M45 Review | Buyer Guide
An Overlooked Gem
The Infiniti M35 and M45 may be the best mid-size luxury cars that get overlooked by new-car shoppers. Competitors, like the BMW 5-Series and the Mercedes E-Class, top the wish list for most buyers. Yet, the Infiniti M is a perennial favorite of Consumer Reports, and a car that garners high marks from the automotive press.
The M is pleasingly styled, but it’s a car that generally flies under the radar—not a bad thing if you are exceeding the speed limit. It looks similar in profile to its lower priced stablemate, the G37, but it’s longer and wider, and less flamboyant. It’s a car you might not notice at a distance, but up close, it conveys strong vibes.
The interior is handsomely crafted with rich leather and either rosewood or aluminum trim. Of particular note is the positioning of the radio and climate controls. These knobs and buttons are mounted high on the dash and slanted at a 45-degree angle. The location looks a bit unusual at first glance, but it turns out that they are well positioned ergonomically. You can operate these controls, and hardly take your eyes off the road.
Further up on the dash is the navigation screen. The Infiniti nav system can project both a “street” view and a “birdseye” view of your route simultaneously on a split screen. Furthermore, this unit is easy to program, and more intuitive than the typical German system. You have a choice of using a controller, or touching the screen.
The M offers seating for five. Those up front have the usual multiple seat adjusters and well contoured seats. Those in the rear will find the headroom satisfactory, and the legroom particularly good for a sedan in this class. Trunk space is not overly generous at 14.9 cu-ft, but about average for this kind of car.
Infiniti offers the M-Series in two versions the M35 and the M45. The M35 sports a new 3.5-liter, V-6 with 310 hp. This represents a jump of 34 hp for the 2009 model. It is mated to a seven-speed automatic transmission. The M45 carries over its 4.5-liter, V8 with 325 horses, teamed with a five-speed automatic. The power gap between the V-6 and V-8 has closed dramatically this year. All-wheel drive is available on the M45.
My test car was a rear-wheel-drive M45 that was loaded with high-tech options. I liked the V-8, with its ample power and a sporty exhaust note. The automatic gearbox also did a god job, but had no paddle shifters for the manual mode. Options like, the adaptive cruise control, the upgraded stereo and the navigation unit all performed well, but I found the Lane Departure Warning system annoying. It would scold, with a series of beeps, if I even momentarily crossed a white line on the highway.
My M45 was equipped with the optional Sport package, which featured 19-inch alloy wheels, a firmer suspension, and active rear steering. This last piece of hardware makes subtle changes to the rear suspension geometry, via computer, to help you negotiate corners better. You won’t feel it working on the road, but it does make the M45 handle like a smaller car. Like other cars equipped with sport packages, the ride is quite firm.
The M45 does not get great fuel economy. Its EPA rating is a woeful 16-21 mpg, however it does have an impeccable record for reliability. The base price for the M45 is $52,985.
Snapshot Review
Low-Key Looks
Ergonomically Friendly
Plenty of Power
Very Good Handling
