2005 G35 with RWD beats the Acura TL and Caddy CTS

After a pretty intensive research comparison and test drives of all three cars, just bought the Infiniti G35 Sedan (without the AWD) instead of the Acura TL or the Cadillac CTS. We couldn't be happier! Here's how the three cars stack up in what we were looking for--

Engine performance:
The Infiniti doesn't have the low-end torque of the Caddy, and doesn't feel as beastly from 0 to 70. But it is a close second, and civilian drivers (like my wife and I) will not feel the difference. There is plenty of punch in both city and freeway driving. I've found my ability to pass on the road is limited only by my better judgment (which only works sometimes!). Merging onto the freeway is a pleasure. The Infiniti (like the Acura and the Caddy) goes 0-60 in around 6 seconds. And the engine sound is SO sweet! If you are looking for a silent ride, don't expect it from the G35, but the engine sound is well-tuned and invigorating. I think the Acura is a bit quieter and the Caddy a bit louder. But the Acura did not feel like it had the punch of either of the two cars with more HP.

Handling:
I found all three cars did relatively well here. Neither one of us are aggressive drivers or likely to do a lot of "performance"-type driving, so we certainly didn't push the limits, but we drove each of the cars on very windy roads (out to Stinson Beach). The Caddy, unsurprisingly, seemed the biggest and a tad more awkward on those roads. The RWD of the Infiniti versus the FWD of the Acura made a little bit of difference to me. I felt a tighter, more controlled "push" through the turns rather than a pull. Overall, very close for us average drivers, but the Infiniti took first place.

Comfort:
We were looking for a car that would be easy to park in San Francisco, but would be an uncramped treat for our commute. Again, the Cadillac has a noticeable advantage in front and back seat space and leg room, but feels like a bigger car. The Acura probably has a wee bit more space (or feels like it does) in the back seat. The Acura sits VERY low, however, and feels much more like a sports car than a sedan in this respect. My wife did not like this at all. The Infiniti had plenty of leg room in the front, and adequate room in the back seats, although when the front seats are fully pushed back, the back is a little tighter than the other sedans. Headroom was great in all three cars. I did notice that the Infiniti had less "lateral" room for your legs in the front seat wells comparted to the other two, but it wasn't a comfort problem for me. Ergonomics are great in the Infiniti and the Acura. The Infiniti had the best steering wheel adjustment--you can move and telescope not only the steering wheel, but the entire instrument panel. The Infiniti also has the essential stereo and cruise controls on the steering wheel. There are A LOT of climate controls and stereo controls on the console (we don't have the navigation system), and not all of them are intuitively labelled. This might be confusing for those who are not technologically adept, but I've found a quick reference to the owner's manual clears up most questions. I felt the ergonomics are much better than in the Caddy.

Looks:
We LOVE the look of the Infiniti and, to be honest, that factor may have pushed us towards the G35 over the TL more than any other factor. The exterior on the Infiniti is distinctive without being gimmicky. The lines are rounded enough to evoke a classic luxury, with just the right amount of muscle to look fast and sporty. The Infiniti seemed the most generous on the inside with the higher-end materials, including handsome brushed aluminum on the center console and steering wheel controls, and solid-feeling knobs and buttons throughout.

The Caddy looks "radical" on the outside, which I think is an appeal to the younger crowd (although my wife and I thought it was a little robotic looking) but it is very cheesily appointed on the interior. The plastic knobs on the Caddy steering wheel (inculding the plastic clicking volume knob) were not what you would expect even in this low-$30K range. Overall, the Caddy interior was far inferior to the Infiniti and Acura. Plus, we are both 30, and, like it or not, Cadillac is still fighting a real uphill battle with our age group. I admit some reluctance because of the Cadillac image.

The Acura has a very BMW type of look outside. In fact, it comes dangerously close to a straightforward BMW rip off. That's not necessarily a bad thing, because the car looks very cool, but not distinctive. Inside, it is plush, but not over-the-top. Less buttons than the Infiniti, probably, but more plastic where the Infiniti used metal, for which I give Infiniti the edge. Finally, they sold something like 70,000 TLs last year, so you tend to see them a lot more on the road.

In the looks department, the Infiniti was a runaway winner for our tastes.

Appointments:
You probably get most for your money with the Acura, unless you get a great deal on one of the others. We found that the Premium Package A included almost everything for the Infiniti. We did not want the sport-tuned suspension, although the 18" wheels would have been nice (over the standard 17"). We were able to get everything of note except: the sport-tuned suspension and wheels, the navigation system (which I've read is subpar), and AWD, for just over $32K. What we couldn't get was the Bluetooth technology available in the Acura (if you have a phone with Bluetooth, the Acura will sense your phone and basically it becomes a built-in car phone while you're in the car, without leaving your pocket--cool!). The Infiniti intelligent key system is awesome. You basically keep your "key" (transmitter) in your pocket or purse. The car senses it, and you can open doors, trunk, and start the car without fishing for your key. Your key can also remember your favorite seat position and automatically go there when you are the driver. One big problem (probably worse for AWD owners, who might take the car skiing) is that the pass-through hole from the trunk to the cabin (through the back seat) is tiny. The back seats don't fold down for trunk access, and there is no way you could fit a snowboard or more than one pair of skis through the pass through.

Overall, I think the Infiniti G35 RWD sedan is a GREAT car for young families with none or one child, who are looking for: (i) a nice car to commute in that offers interior comfort and luxury; (ii) unique, classy, but sporty styling; (iii) power and performance that impresses the civilian driver; (iv) and a lot of car for a price in the low $30Ks. I probably would be almost as happy with the Acura TL, but I think the Infiniti G35 takes first place by a comfortable margin.