Infiniti M35 vs Lexus GS 350 02/11/2011
Nissan was recently able to leapfrog Honda in order to become the second-largest automaker in Japan, although the company still trails Toyota in total sales. However, Toyota's Lexus marquee still has a stranglehold on the luxury division. We recently compared Nissan's Infiniti M35 with the Lexus GS 350 to see if the second-place manufacturer has the right tools to challenge the industry leader.
These four-door sedans are extremely close in price, with the M35's $45,800 sticker being about $300 cheaper than the GS 350's $46,100 price tag. Drivers who select either vehicle won't have to fear big repair costs, as both cars feature excellent 6 year/70,000 mile powertrain warranties.
Both the M35 and GS 350 are well-equipped on the interior, boasting a wide range of features that includes dual climate control, heated seats, keyless ignition and more. The GS 350 has a slight edge in that it includes a standard iPod hookup, while Infiniti buyers will have to pay extra for this feature.
With the two cars nearly even in every feature up to this point, the ultimate decision comes down to performance. Surprisingly, the two vehicles have the exact same horsepower: 303. However, the GS 350 ultimately takes the cake with 274 lb-ft of torque compared to the M35's 262 lb-ft, while also holding a slight edge in fuel economy.