Jump LinksInfiniti I35 Common ProblemsIs the Infiniti I35 fast?Are 2003 Infiniti I35s reliable?Is the Infiniti 3.5L V6 a good engine?While it may not be the only maker of highbrow, premium Japanese automobiles, Lexus has been the most successful of them all. With full-size luxury sedans like the LS, compact sports sedans like the IS, and the top-selling midsize sedan, the ES. It is this last one which has got our attention, as there don’t seem to have been many direct competitors to the ES from Infiniti or Acura, the other two main Japanese premium automakers. Infiniti is to Nissan what Lexus is to Toyota. This means it is a brand owned by Nissan that makes cars for a more upscale market, with a greater number of comfort features and more premium materials than in any Nissan. Sometimes, an Infiniti model might be based on an already existing Nissan car, and this is the case with the Infiniti I35.Infiniti’s I range of cars and the subsequent M cars did provide a challenge to the Lexus ES in that midsize luxury sedan segment, but while the Lexus ES continues to go from strength to strength, there is now no Infiniti rival to be seen, and Infiniti's recent struggles have been well documented. This is why we will be taking a closer look at the Infiniti I35, which went toe to toe with the Lexus ES back in the early 2000s, but the Nissan on which it was based was discontinued, so it did not last long. However, does it deserve to be forgotten, or is it worth considering buying it as a cheaper alternative to today’s Lexus ES? Read on, and all will be revealed...This article provides a historical look back at the Infiniti I35 and how it provided competition to the Lexus ES and also acts as a buyer's guide for a used example. All information is sourced directly from the manufacturer and from independent reputable tests carried out when the car was new. Reliability and maintenance information comes from our approved sources, and used prices come from an aggregation of prices from a range of online marketplaces. Where The Infiniti I35 Fits Into Things Bring a TrailerThe Nissan Cefiro was a midsize sedan first launched in the late 1980s, and quickly gained a reputation for performance thanks to its rear-whee -drive, engine, and suspension it shared with the R32 Nissan Skyline. The following generation switched the drivetrain to front-wheel drive, and instead of offering an inline-four or inline-six engine, chose the acclaimed V6 engine the Cefiro is mostly known for. If you’ve never seen a Nissan Cefiro in the United States, that would be because it was never sold over here. However, the second and third generation of the well-known Nissan Maxima were based on it, and so too were Infiniti’s I models.Infiniti The first Infiniti I model was launched in 1994 for the 1996 model year. Based on the second-generation Nissan Cefiro, it became a top seller for the Infiniti brand. The next I30 arrived for MY2002 and saw an increase in power from the third-generation Nissan Cefiro on which it was based. The i30 was criticized, however, for not being different enough from the Maxima, especially if you weren’t paying attention to its different front grille. Making the suspension softer in the name of comfort also meant that any performance the Cefiro had was dialed out.Infiniti Nissan sought to address some of this with the Infiniti I35, which was also based on the third and ultimately last (in most markets) generation of the Nissan Cefiro. The 2002 Infiniti I35 brought a redesign and more power than before, as well as an optional Sport package, to try to add some more performance. The I35 went out of production along with the Cefiro in 2004 and the midsize sedan hole in Infiniti’s range was filled by the M series of sedans soon thereafter. Design And Interior: Don’t Call It A Maxima 2002 - 2004 Infiniti I35 (7)-1The Infiniti i30 looks noticeably different to the I35 and, as a result, it does not look as similar to the cheaper, less premium Nissan Maxima on which it was based. This was important, as the attractively designed 2004 Lexus ES was also restyled so it did not look like its Toyota Camry cousin, and customers of these premium vehicles want everyone to know they’ve spent the extra money.The Infiniti I35 showed this with a new horizontal front grille that was shinier than before, a larger Infiniti badge at the front, and a bold shield bearing the brand name at the rear. High-intensity discharge xenon headlamps at the front, redesigned taillights with a jewel-like combination, body color door handles and 17-inch alloy wheels all separate this I35 from the Maxima.2002 - 2004 Infiniti I35 (1)-1The interior is overall the same as it is in the Nissan Maxima, but this is largely because the interior in that car was already fairly plush, not because Infiniti wasn’t trying. It did, however, add some leather here and there and some synthetic wood, but not so much that it's obvious that it isn’t real. Also unique to the Infiniti’s interior is the clock on the dashboard and the electroluminescent instrument cluster. As one would expect, a plethora of comfort features were available, and these included a power rear sunshade, heated electric seats, a navigation system, and if you still have all your old CDs, a six-disc autochanger. The I35's Engine And Performance Had The Lexus ES Scared InfinitiEven if the design of either the inside or the outside of the I35 doesn’t appear to be anything special, that doesn’t matter, as the engine should more than make up for it. Before the I35 came along, the third generation of Nissan Maxima, otherwise known as the A33, was powered by a 3.0-liter V6 that produced 227 horsepower. This was also the engine and output you would get in the Infiniti i30. The engine capacity was then enlarged to 3.5 liters, which is where the I35 gets its name, and the power output predictably increased to 255 hp. This is significantly more than the 225 hp the V6 that was in the Lexus ES produced, and so the 2004 Infiniti I35 was noticeably faster than the car it sought to rival, getting from 0–60 in under seven seconds, whereas the Lexus took over seven seconds.Infiniti Infiniti wanted to make a success of squaring a luxury performance car circle, and so it knew it couldn’t just give the I35 more power and be done with it. This is why there was an optional Sport package, which brought with it 225/50R-17 V-rated tires that added extra grip and stability at speed, sports suspension, side-sill spoilers and vehicle dynamic control. All of this was partly successful, and the I35 did feel tauter and more agile than before, but there was also the unwanted by-product of torque steer when pushing on. At least it didn't lose its ability to coset passengers when settled down, with its supple ride and smooth four-speed transmission, as well as the variable intake valve timing, silent cam chain and drive-by-wire-throttle system that all make the engine quieter. How Much Does An I35 Cost To Buy And Maintain? Infiniti Being a luxury sedan that is well over 20 years old, you can expect used prices for even the final model year 2004 Infiniti I35 to be low. Depreciation in the 2003 Infiniti I35’s value means that while it could potentially have cost over $30k when it was new, you can quite easily find an example on the used car market for under $10,000, even one that has only done a little over 50,000 miles. With a fair few miles more on the clock, you can easily find one for under $5k. Of course, even a car from Japan, a country known for cars with solid reliability, has potential issues that any savvy buyer should look out for so that I35 Infiniti ownership does not become a headache. Infiniti I35 Common Problems Stalling Airbag problems Cooling issues Infiniti Based on the issues that I35 owners have reported and complained about to the NHTSA, the most common concern appears to be the vehicle stalling, and the most common reason for this occurrence is failing camshaft and crankshaft position sensors. Replacing these is not too expensive, with low labor costs and a new sensor costing just over $300. The I30 was fitted with Takata airbags, which were the subject of a recall due to their inflator’s propensity to rupture, so it is simply a matter of checking that it was replaced. The cooling system issue is overall less common than the other two, but age could still result in radiator leaks, thermostat failure, water pump wear, or clogged fans. If this happens, it might cause the average annual maintenance cost of $488 to rise slightly. Verdict: Should You Buy This Over The Lexus From The Same Period? Infiniti With all the benefits and potential pitfalls of Infiniti I35 ownership discussed, the question remains, should you buy one if you are in the market for a retro midsize Japanese luxury sedan, or should you go for the more popular Lexus ES? This will largely depend on if having the brand cachet of a more well-recognized luxury badge like Lexus is important to you, or if you want to be different. Looking more closely at the machines that wear these badges, there are clear benefits to choosing the Infiniti over the Lexus and vice versa. The Infiniti is no doubt the better driver’s car, and it doesn’t seem to sacrifice as much of the comfort that the Lexus also has in order to achieve this, though web forums do suggest the Lexus is still the more comfortable sedan. The Lexus also looks better, and is probably slightly more reliable, although it is important to note that both cars are reliable and owners report being able to potentially do 200k miles with only minor repairs required to the engine and powertrain components. We can, therefore, recommend the Infiniti I35 as a used luxury bargain buy. FAQs Is the Infiniti I35 fast? The Infiniti I35 is unlikely to blow anyone away with its performance. Even at the time when it was new, it was not able to trouble any serious sports cars with its acceleration or handling. With that being said, its V6 engine was fairly potent for a car of its class, and as discussed earlier, it has the ability to out-accelerate and out-handle rivals like the Lexus ES. Are 2003 Infiniti I35s reliable? While there have been some issues with the Infiniti I35’s reliability, which include stalling while driving due to sensor issues inside the engine, and a necessary recall for the faulty Takata airbags, the 2002, 2003, and 2004 Infiniti I35 reliability is overall good. This is partly because the I35 is based on an already solid car - the Nissan Cefiro - and being later in the model’s lifecycle (after the i30) naturally means that most gremlins would have been ironed out. Is the Infiniti 3.5L V6 a good engine? The V6 engine that powers the Infiniti I35 is the same one that powers the A33-generation Nissan Cefiro and, in turn, the fifth-generation Nissan Maxima. Overall, it has a great reputation among those who have experienced it. Owners and enthusiasts have praised it for both its durability and its strong power delivery. What’s more, the Infiniti I35 benefits from the engine being enlarged from 3.0 to 3.5 liters, meaning more power and the work done on it to make it quieter, creating a more refined driving experience than its Nissan counterpart.
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