MotorMouths

The 2012 Infiniti M35h pushes the envelope with its hybrid system and its driver assistance features, making for one of the most economical luxury sedans, without sacrificing power.

The 2011 Infiniti M56 reaches dealerships next spring, and with it you’ll be getting more car for roughly the same money.
More space, speed, shape and cutting-edge technology.

My criticisms stem from how close the new Infiniti M comes to perfection rather than how far it falls from it. Compare it to existing competitors rather than an evasive ideal, and it stacks up very well for anyone who prioritizes the driving experience over silence and spaciousness.

Our drive of the 2011 M37 revealed definite improvements over earlier M models, with performance and styling gains that should provide a stronger identity for Infiniti against the competition.

The M may have had some of its edginess polished away. But these sedans are easily the most comfortable and luxurious cars Infiniti has ever produced. The finely tuned blend of sportiness and luxury in these new M sedans could steal quite a bit of business from Infiniti’s German rivals.

The 2011 Infiniti M37 and M56 are a huge improvement over the outgoing model in terms of design, engineering, performance and overall luxury appeal.

As a luxury sedan the Infiniti M certainly succeeds. As a sports sedan, a little less so. The only thing that would keep us away from this are all those beeping “features.” But maybe we are just too old-school.

The new, curvaceous M is definitely sexier than its staid predecessor. Our M37x tester gave us a great ride, and the 330 horses on tap motivated the M sedan beautifully. The only time I could see this motor coming up short, is after a taste test of the M56.

Usually when you push a high-performance luxury sedan, it responds eagerly. The 2011 Infiniti M pushes back. However, it only does that if you want it to, and only if you’ve paid extra for an options package that amounts to a technology tour de force.

The new M is no more refined, no more special in the way it goes about its business, than its little brother. And that, not anonymity, is the real problem with the 2011 Infiniti M37S.

Functionally the Infiniti M series fulfills all needs; it’s a sweet-driving, powerful luxury sedan. Probably its biggest drawback is in perceived status.

Functionally the Infiniti M series fulfills all needs; it’s a sweet-driving, powerful luxury sedan. Probably its biggest drawback is in perceived status, something only a blue-and-white or three-pointed-star logo seems to cure.