If you're one of those drivers who spends more time in your car than you do in your living room, then you'll appreciate the inside of the Infiniti J30. Its Italian-style, deeply gathered leather is rich and elegant, and has a sumptuous touch. Infiniti has incorporated just the right touch of wood - a deep burl walnut - to appeal to traditionalists without offending the terminally hip.
You can tell this car was designed in laid-back California by its muted and tasteful blend of colors. Our test model was bathed in coordinated earth tones: beige, sand and cream.
Instrumentation is well-placed, well-lit and easy to read. Controls are logically located and a snap to use. You won't have to take your eyes off the road to find the windshield wipers, nor risk life and limb searching for the radio's volume control. Even the cupholders are functional, which, we've found, is not always the case.
However, we did have a problem with the abominable analog clock that sits like a gold-rimmed cyclops in the middle of the instrument panel. It is an incongruous touch, apparently meant to appeal to those people who need to be constantly reminded of their lofty position in the hierarchy of automobile ownership. Scrape off the gold foil, Infiniti: Your buyers already know they've arrived.
Just like any good living room, the seats in the J30 are plush and comfortable. The front seats deliver a firm, wraparound fit that makes you feel you're in contact with the car and the road. Rear seating is a bit more cramped, especially for taller passengers, but the seats themselves are also plush and comfortable.
When you're plunking down $40,000 on a new car, you expect an abundance of luxury touches, such as leather seats, walnut trim and a 6-speaker AM/FM/cassette with CD player. However, the powertrain is equally, if not more, important. And here, this sport sedan is ready to deliver.
The J30t's 8.3-second 0-to-60 mph performance won't make you the fastest kid on the block, but the 3.0-liter V6 under its hood is powerful and reassuring, especially at highway speeds. With 210 hp and 193 lb.-ft. of torque, you needn't worry about overtaking a semi on a narrow, backwoods blacktop.
The V6 also delivers a pleasant engine note, the sort of confidence-building thrum that you normally expect to hear coming from a larger V8.
It's a good thing the engine sounds so good, because it helps mask the fact that wind noise is a little louder than one might expect from a car in this price class.
The J30 also tends to pass a bit more road noise than one might expect. Don't misunderstand us: Noise levels are extremely low, but in the era of heightened expectations, the best cars in this class have become almost as silent as a recording studio.
If you get the J30t, expect a little more ride harshness than you'd find with the base J30. It's a more-than-acceptable trade-off, though, for the J30t's firm and supple ride. Handling is sure and stable, and steering is precise. There's a bit of body roll in hard cornering, but it's by no means objectionable. And braking is sure and straight, even on moderately slick roads.
If the J30's price tag shattered your illusions about inexpensive Japanese cars, you may not like the EPA fuel economy numbers, either. The J30 averages just 18 mpg in the city and 23 mpg on the highway. These figures are adequate, but not world-class.