The Infiniti G37 Coupe has made one of those rare ascents, taking on BMW on its own turf and mostly meeting those lofty performance targets.
The G37's a strong competitor to BMW's 3-Series coupe, even if the G37's IPL edition isn't in the same league as the multifarious M3.
Both get more heat this year from Mercedes, now that the C-Class comes in two-door form--even as an AMG.
Audi's A5 is pretty, but a little empty-headed when it comes to performance, and Lexus' IS sedans and convertibles are worth a look, though they feel small and tight, and with the smaller V-6, underpowered.
Finally, there's a stalking horse from within: the Nissan 370Z isn't as refined or as luxurious as the G37 Coupe, but it's a brilliant performer, even though its omnipresent engine noise makes us want earplugs as standard equipment.
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 2012 INFINITI GBrowse Used Listings |  2012 Audi A5Browse Used Listings |  2012 BMW 3-SeriesBrowse Used Listings |  2012 Mercedes-Benz C ClassBrowse Used Listings |  2012 Nissan 370ZBrowse Used Listings |
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| Quick Specs | ||||
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A sexy, lavishly equipped luxury car, the 2012 Infiniti G37 Coupe has much of the vaunted performance feel of its primary German target. |
Both the Audi A5 Coupe and its Cabriolet convertible sibling are striking designs that offer comfortable, easy-to-drive capacity for two people--and four in a pinch |
Despite the weight gain, the BMW M3's still one of the most stunning performance vehicles we've driven. |
With a new base four-cylinder engine, the 2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class makes even more sense for value-conscious (yet image-conscious) luxury shoppers. |
Performance per dollar, the 2012 Nissan 370Z is a bargain, and it's quick enough in absolute terms to reach toward the domain of much more expensive sports cars. |
| MSRP From | ||||
| $33,100 | $37,100 | $34,900 | $34,800 | $32,280 |
| Gas Mileage | ||||
| 16 MPG City / 29 MPG Hwy | 14 MPG City / 31 MPG Hwy | 13 MPG City / 34 MPG Hwy | 15 MPG City / 31 MPG Hwy | 18 MPG City / 26 MPG Hwy |
| Engine | ||||
| Gas V6 | Turbocharged Gas I4 | Turbocharged Gas I4 | Turbocharged Gas I4 | Gas V6 |
| EPA Class | ||||
| Midsize | Subcompact Cars | Compact Cars | Compact | Two-Seater |
| Style Name | ||||
| 4-Door Base RWD | 2-Door Coupe Manual quattro 2.0T Prestige | 4-Door Sedan 328i RWD | 4-Door Sedan C 250 Sport RWD | 2-Door Coupe Manual |
| Drivetrain | ||||
| Rear-Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive | Rear Wheel Drive | Rear Wheel Drive | Rear Wheel Drive |
| Passenger Capacity | ||||
| 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 2 |
| Passenger Doors | ||||
| N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Body Style | ||||
| 4 Door Sedan | Coupe | Sedan | 4 Door Sedan | 2 Door Coupe |
| Transmission | ||||
| Automatic w/OD | Manual | Manual | Automatic | Manual w/OD |
| Detailed Spec Comparison | ||||
| 2012 INFINITI G vs. 2012 Audi A5 | 2012 INFINITI G vs. 2012 BMW 3-Series | 2012 INFINITI G vs. 2012 Mercedes-Benz C Class | 2012 INFINITI G vs. 2012 Nissan 370Z | |
