New luxury sedan packs the power of the Q in a mid-size.
(Find Used in Your Area)
By Sam Moses
Overview
The new Infiniti M45 is a great piece of equipment. It's very well engineered, and may be the highest combination of smooth and fast in a mid-size luxury car ever to come down the pike. BMW, Mercedes, Audi, Jaguar and Cadillac have nothing for the M45's silky 340-horsepower engine. The 2003 Infiniti M45 plays its dual role well, but we have trouble deciding whether it is a luxury car or a sports sedan, Its styling doesn't help, offering little distinction.
Model Lineup
There are no separate M45 models, so the powerful V8 with its smooth five-speed automatic transmission is what you get. But it's not all. For the base price of $42,300, more great features come standard: the same high-quality leather as in the flagship Q45, a 225-watt Bose premium sound system with satellite-ready AM/FM radio and in-dash 6 CD changer, Vehicle Information System with large LCD screen, skid control (VDC, for Vehicle Dynamic Control), dual-zone climate control, high-intensity xenon headlamps, 18-inch alloy wheels with W-rated tires, and last but definitely not least, front-door side airbags and four-door curtain airbags. The Comfort and Convenience Package ($950) includes memory seats, electrochromic mirrors which are heated and reverse-tilting on the outside, the HomeLink remote system and a tire pressure monitor. The Technology Package ($2700) includes the DVD navigation system and Intelligent Cruise Control, which uses lasers to maintain the distance from the car in front of you by controlling the throttle. The Premium Package ($2200) includes seats that are cooled as well as heated, a sunroof, and voice recognition system for climate, audio and navigation control. Chrome wheels can be added to this package for another $1000. Stand-alone options include the sunroof ($1000), natural maple trim ($300), rear spoiler ($540), satellite radio ($400) and all-season tires (no extra cost).
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| 2003 Infiniti M45 consumer reviews: | | | | overall rating |  | | value | | | comfort | | | reliability | |
| | This car is delightfull. Love the Voice commands & AC seats. Lots of comfort and lots of power! A real blast to drive, yet a lot of comfort inside. And the price is a steal compared to it's competitors. I'd highly recommend this vehicle. Great value for the money!!!! | | posted by Osvaldo on Dec 05 2007 | | |
| overall rating |  | | value | | | comfort | | | reliability | |
| | This car rocks over any luxury sports sedan at its price, and some at significantly higher prices. So far the only downside I noticed was that the controls on the side of the seat are not real easy to reach, however once the seats are set the memory seats are easy to reach. This car is an excellent value. | | posted by Bennett on Dec 05 2007 | | |
| overall rating | | | value | | | comfort | | | reliability | |
| | The engine power is smooth and effortless. It gets a lot better mileage than I expected. The interior looks very classy and elegant. The standard Xenon headlights are a big plus too. | | posted by Shawn on Dec 05 2007 | | |
| overall rating | | | value | | | comfort | | | reliability | |
| | This car has class, features, and a 340 horsepower V8. This is a terrific vehicle, powerful and fun to drive. Only 2 drawbacks: fuel economy and turning radius. | | posted by Rodrigue on Dec 05 2007 | | |
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