You can pretty much stand off to the side of the Infiniti M37S and check off the little box for every available vehicle feature: H-O V6? *check* 4 wheel steer? *check* Adaptive cruise control? *check* Bose active noise cancellation? *check* 5.1 Bose surround system? *check* 3D navigation system? *check*
A 2011 Infiniti M37S hit my driveway a little bit ago and after taking it for a quick drive, I’ll profess that this sedan is unlike any I’ve drove before. It doesn’t belong on the road. This is a track car. The 4-wheel steer and high-strung V6 gives this saloon F1 car cornering capabilities. So it only seems natural that when the performance aspect is combined with the impressive infotainment suite that it would make a lasting positive first impression, right? Wrong. It only took 2 miles for me to decide that I’m not a fan of this car.
Something is amiss here. This is a prime example of how simply having features does not instantly qualify the vehicle. While there are a ton of systems onboard the M37S, they just don’t seem to work well. This is particularly true with the infotainment suite. Granted, I’ve only been in the car for a few short drives now, but it’s not a fun system. It’s a confusing mess of dashboard buttons and strange navigation paths–I can’t remove previously-connected Bluetooth phones to add my Droid to the list. The navigation is hokey, the Bose noise cancellation can’t drown out the loud tires wrapping the 20-inch rims, and worst yet, the damn car is nearly uncontrollable on rutted roads.
Still, we have this car for a week and making 90 degree turns at 70 MPH doesn’t get old. I hated the MyFord Touch system at first too. Maybe I just need to give this one time to prove itself.
As usual, expect an extensive look at the media and in-vehicle systems this Wednesday followed by a comprehensive review on Friday. Please, M37S owners, give me the low-down on this car. I can’t stand it right now.