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If you haven’t heard of the 2013 Infiniti M35h, then you’re forgiven. It’s a luxury car – quite expensive at that – and limited in quantity, which remains one of the best surprises among the cars tested this year.
Infiniti’s midsize sedan hybrid isn’t exactly given with a starting price of $70,000. However, if you keep a well-fed wallet by your side, and if you’re looking for a car that does not compromise the performance aspect for the benefit of the fuel economy and comfort, then the M35h may vary well be for you.
Infiniti cars, possibly with the exception of the QX56, all have a fairly dynamic and sporty handling. It’s this particular personality that enabled the brand to move up and firmly compete with the German manufacturers. The 2013 Infiniti M35h is no exception to the rule, and gives the driver a sporty handling that is especially stable and solid.
The steering is firm, promoting a sense of confidence that allows the driver to position the car directly and without hesitation. In other words, when you want to change directions or navigate the car in traffic, the control is at your fingertips.
The 2013 Infiniti M35h combines a 3.5-litre V6 gasoline engine with a 50 kW electric motor and a lithium-ion battery. The pick-up and acceleration of this car have nothing to do with what is generally expected of a vehicle that uses both an electric motor and a conventional propulsion system. The 360 horsepower and 457 lb-ft of torque, of which 199 lb-ft come from the electric motor, offer a reassuring performance to rival most other cars of this segment. For example, increasing the speed from 0-100 km/h takes 5.5 seconds.
The M35h is quite dynamic, and does not neglect the comfort of its occupants. The only fault that was found relates to the suspension being a tad too firm, especially when the ground is bumpy and uneven. The M35h fails to camouflage the imperfections of the road as would a Lexus GS or a Mercedes-Benz E-Class, though it remains softer than a BMW 5 Series or the Audi A6. This is also true for the Infiniti M when equipped with a traditional engine.
We especially enjoyed the silence inside the cabin. Once those solid doors close, the external noises are almost all filtered out. The seats may be a bit too firm and narrow for some, but overall, the M35h is a welcoming car, and it feels good to spend your time in it.
However, much like the other Infiniti products, new owners should expect to spend a few hours getting accustomed to the center console of the M35h and the many commands. The overall ergonomics is something to be reviewed since even after several days driving the M, we continued to have trouble adjusting the settings of the audio system. Managing the options for the air conditioning was also not yet instinctive.
Inside the cabin
In this segment, the M35h is not the most spacious car. The headroom is adequate in front, and just a tad so in the back for those taller than six foot. Similar to other Infiniti models, we found the cabin to be somewhat narrow. For the rear, the legroom is such that manufacturers competing with the Infiniti in this segment won’t exactly squint their eyes with jealousy.
Moreover, it should be noted that the trunk loses volume due to the presence of the hybrid battery system. It’s not as disappointing as what has already been seen in other hybrid models, but still, cargo space decreases from 422 to 320 litres. Let’s say that there is a noticeable difference!
Reasonable Consumption
If you decide to purchase a 2013 Infiniti M35h, it’s to benefit from a better fuel economy compared to other models in the M range. According to Infiniti, the average fuel consumption of the M35h on the highway is 6.1 L/100km, while in the city it is expected to be 7.5 L/100km. For our part, our observed average reached 9.3 L/100km, which is not bad for such a powerful and impressive car.
The propulsion system
The 2013 Infiniti M35h is not available with AWD and therefore, with the propulsion system, don’t expect anything special for the winter performance. At the very least the car is heavy and powerful. These aspects will stabilize the M35h on a snowy road. Also, forcing the car out of a small snowbank should not cause too many problems.
The M35h is also equipped with a stability control system, along with standard traction control. If you live in a rural area or you cannot miss a day of work due to a snowstorm, the Infiniti M35h is perhaps not the best choice for you.
Conclusion
The 2013 Infiniti M35h is definitely not a model destined to beat the sales records. Moreover, the availability of these models will be fairly limited at your Infiniti dealerships. On the other hand, it’s a pleasure to drive, and it’s efficient and economic. The word luxurious sums it up. If you don’t anticipate stepping out of the house too often during the winter, or you have a second car with AWD, the M35h is not only an original choice, but one that is advised.
2013 Infiniti M35h gallery
