What set this breed of Infiniti apart was its “user-focused technologies” – things that pampered the driver and occupants, in other words. And this iteration of the M sedan had plenty
Restyled and re-engineered for 2011, Infiniti’s M sedan was offered as an M37 or M56, and was available with either rear-wheel or all-wheel drive.
There were two engine choices: a 3.7-litre V6 and 5.6-litre V8. The latter power plant belted out a hefty 420 horsepower, which was up 95 horsepower from the previous model and made the M56 a very quick car indeed. Nissan called it a “serious” engine. The V6, meanwhile, was good for 330 horses.
Both engines were mated to a seven-speed automatic transmission with a manual shift mode and, in the case of the M37, Nissan/Infiniti’s downshift rev-matching feature. This automatically matched engine and transmission speeds when downshifting and was also found in the 370Z Roadster.
Both rear-drive models were also available with Nissan’s four-wheel active steering feature, which angles or ‘steers’ the rear wheels up to one per cent during hard cornering. It was part of the Sport Package, which also included upgraded brakes and 20-inch wheels and tires.
The optional Infiniti Drive system let the driver, via a console-mounted rotary knob, choose from four performance modes, including an Eco setting, which changed the throttle pedal response and made it push back slightly when you wanted to overtake or speed up. Infiniti tagged this feature the Eco Pedal and performance was directly affected when it was in play.
The interior was also on the receiving end of a complete redesign and featured a tiered centre stack angled toward the driver, with all-new switch gear.
But arguably what set this breed of Infiniti apart was its “user-focused technologies” – things that pampered the driver and occupants, in other words. And this iteration of the M sedan had plenty.
For example, as well as providing an impressive 16-speaker aural experience, the Bose sound system helped reduce noise, vibration and harshness (NVH). If, for example, the engine was revving at 5,000 rpm in one of the lower gears, the sound system sensed this and dampened the intruding noise accordingly.
There was one safety recall to report for this vintage of the M sedan and it concerned a possible leak in the pressure sensor in the M56’s fuel delivery system. If present, it could lead to an engine fire, but was easily rectified by dealers. This glitch also applies to the 2011 Nissan Juke.
The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) had 13 technical bulletins out there for the 2011 M sedan. These include issues with the intelligent key feature, sketchy power windows, “excessive engine braking” after releasing the accelerator, transmission glitches, and various electrical problems.
Some complaints registered with NHTSA:
- “the transmission has major hesitation when accelerating, slowing down and with everyday use;”
- “difficulty in steering;”
- “while coming to a stop, my car would jump forward.”
Electrical gremlins seem to be this vehicle’s nemesis.
Marketing researcher J.D. Power wasn’t too keen on this year of the M sedan, giving it below-average grades for overall quality, performance and design, and just an average rating for predicted reliability.
Confusingly, Consumer Reports gave its Good Bet seal of approval here, but all was not sweetness and light. The Bose sound system, for example, seemed to be a steady source of headaches and blemished an otherwise above-average dependability performance. The electrical system was also a source of problems, according to CR and, consequently, the 2011 M sedan rated an average used car verdict.
Some comments to CR from owners:
- “ride is jarring over bumps and hard surfaces;”
- “love the seats;”
- “everything the serious BMW 5 Series shoppers want without the over-priced, horribly (un)reliable BMW badge.”
From a base price in the low $50,000 range in 2011, the M sedan has dropped to somewhere in the high teens to low $20,000 neighbourhood these days, depending upon the model. The all-wheel-drive models fetch $1,500 to $2,000 more than their rear-drive counterparts.
2011 Infiniti M sedans
Original base price: $52,400 to $73,400
Engine: 3.7-litre V6 and 5.6-litre V8
Horsepower/torque: 330/270 and 420/417
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic with manual shift mode
Fuel economy (litres/100 km): 11.4 city/7.6 highway (M37 rear-wheel drive), with regular or premium gas
Some alternatives: BMW 5 Series, Audi A6, Lexus GS, Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Cadillac STS, Acura RL
Ted Laturnus writes for Troy Media’s Driver Seat Associate website. An automotive journalist since 1976, he has been named Canadian Automobile Journalist of the Year twice and is past-president of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC). For interview requests, click here.
The views, opinions and positions expressed by columnists and contributors are the authors’ alone. They do not inherently or expressly reflect the views, opinions and/or positions of our publication.
