Midsize Cars Improve in Side Crash Tests

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety recently concluded crash tests on seven midsize sedans and discovered that while they had improved in side crash tests, they still lacked enough head protection to earn top marks in rear crash tests.

Tested were the 2008 model year Chevrolet Malibu, Dodge Avenger, Infiniti G35, Kia Optima, Mitsubishi Galant (which was updated for the 2009 model year on sale now), Nissan Altima and Saturn Aura.

Only the Kia Optima did not earn the top score of “good” for side impact crash tests – it received the second highest nod, “acceptable.” However, the Optima was the only car in the test to receive a “good” score in rear crash tests.

The difficulty in scoring the top rank in rear tests involves head and neck protection for those rear-end collisions that produce whiplash. The IIHS claims that those types of accidents and injuries lead to losses of $8.5 billion annually. Most vehicles need to equip active head restraints to pass this test.

The Audi A3, A4, Honda Accord, Saab 9-3 and Subaru Legacy – with optional stability control – earned good ratings in all tests previously and earned the IIHS’ Top Safety Pick designation for midsize cars. 

A full chart of how the cars scored is below.

Honda Still on Top in U.S., Says Consumer Reports

For the second year in a row, Consumer Reports has named Honda the automaker selling the best vehicles in the U.S., based on factors ranging from reliability to vehicle comfort.

Toyota and Subaru ranked second and third, followed by BMW, Mazda, Nissan and Volkswagen. No domestic nameplate appeared on the list.

Mini, BMW, Infiniti Top Best Resale Value List

Our list of the cars, trucks and SUVs with the best resale value has just been updated, and a lot of familiar names top the list. When we break down resale values by segment, the Mini Cooper, Honda Accord, Infiniti G35/G37, BMW 5 Series and GMC Sierra/Chevy Silverado top their respective segments.

When you take a look at the top 10 resale values overall, it’s the Infiniti G35/G37, Jeep Wrangler and BMW 3 Series taking the top three spots, knocking the Mini Cooper off its previous No. 1 perch.

Which cars rank lowest? The Mazda B2300, Ford Ranger and Suzuki Forenza top that dubious list.

Check out the full rankings below. 

Best Car Resale Values by Class
Best Overall Car Resale Values
Worst Overall Car Resale Values

Navigation That Scores: Infiniti G35 Wins With Users

The navigation system offered in the Infiniti G35 is the highest-rated factory-installed system in terms of consumer satisfaction, according to J.D. Power and Associates, which surveyed more than 14,000 motorists who have a factory-installed system in their car.

The system in the Lexus IS 250/350 finished second, while the Acura TL’s was No. 3 in the rankings. The Infiniti G35 and Acura TL systems offer a choice of voice or touch-screen activation, while the Lexus offers voice activation only.

While voice activation is considered the most technologically advanced, it's not the method of choice for nav systems, said Mike Marshall, director of emerging automotive technologies for J.D. Power. He said touch-screen activation was the top choice for 64 percent of nav system users, while 24 percent preferred voice activation, 5 percent favored knob controls and 4 percent wanted to use buttons or dials.

Nissan Says Phones Can Erase Your Key

If you own a 2007 Nissan Altima or Infiniti G35, we have a suggestion: Keep your key fob in one pocket and your cell phone in the other.

According to the Associated Press, Nissan is getting complaints that cell phones are erasing its “intelligent keys” – you know, the ones you don't actually have to put in the ignition – because some phones can alter the fobs' electronic code if the two touch while a call is being made or received.

"When this happens, the I-Key will not start the vehicle and cannot be reprogrammed," Nissan’s statement said.

Ouch. Wrong number, indeed.

Nissan says it’s working on the problem and will give customers new keys sometime this fall. For now, the company recommends keeping your cell phone and your fob “at least 1 inch apart at all times.” Just like when you were dating in junior high.

Brent Adams, vice president and general manager at Action Nissan in Nashville, told AP that the problem involves only a "certain type of phone and this particular service," which he declined to specify. He described the number of complaints as "minute."

Nissan: Cell Phones Can Alter the I-Key (L.A. Times)

Infiniti G37 Coupe Debuting at New York Auto Show

Don’t let the name fool you: The 2008 Infiniti G37 coupe is the new G35 coupe, but the name reflects a larger engine — probably a 3.7-liter V-6 with significantly more than the 306 hp in the G35 sedan. We’re just guessing, of course, but we’ve been around long enough to speculate very, very accurately.

We’ll find out more April 4 when Infiniti reveals the G37 in full, along with an EX concept. We’re not going to speculate on that one too much, but it could be an SUV of some kind. 

Related:
2008 Infiniti G35: In Sketch Form

Cars.com Reviews the 2007 Lincoln MKX, 2007 Infiniti G35

The other day, I was sharing a ride with Mike Hanley when we both noticed a new Lincoln MKX on the highway in front of us. We hurried to catch up to the “creme brulee” SUV. From the rear it really is a looker, with one of the most distinctive designs around. It made me sad that I didn’t get any seat time when it was in the Cars.com fleet. Luckily, Joe Wiesenfelder gives us a thorough look at Lincoln’s latest.

Joe’s been a busy guy, as he also posted his review of the new 2007 Infiniti G35 last week. His take on the updated luxury sedan is right in line with my thoughts in the recent Urban DINK post, after I spent some time with the G35x in snowy Chicago.

2007 Lincoln MKX Review
2007 Infiniti G35 Review

The Urban DINK: 2007 Infiniti G35x

At a wedding not too long ago, a fellow Urban DINK started quizzing me about the new BMW 3 Series and if it was worth the money. The new 3 Series is a great car, but if you have to ask “is it worth the money,” a car like the G35 is probably a better choice. Not because their prices are astronomically different; the 328 starts $1,500 higher than the G35, and the 335 and its larger engine are roughly $7,000 more.

No, it’s because, after a week in an all-wheel-drive G35x, I realized this car is almost as good as a 3 Series on equal footing. Sure, we beat the two together last fall, but on its own, with an automatic, I enjoyed the G35 almost as much as the 3 Series (the 335 with the new twin-turbo is just too amazing to beat out).

2008 Infiniti G35: In Sketch Form

Infiniti won’t say much about its new G35 coupe, shown above in a sketch the company provided. The automaker won’t even let us tell you what auto show it will debut at — though only the Chicago Auto Show in February and the New York International Auto Show in April remain on the docket. We do know it will greatly resemble the revised 2007 G35 sedan in terms of interior and exterior styling and content, and will most likely have the same engine.

Related:
Cars.comparison: Luxury Sport Sedans
All-New 2007 Infiniti G35 Sedan Same Price as 2006
2007 G35 Horsepower Revealed: It's 306

All-New 2007 Infiniti G35 Sedan Same Price as 2006

We got some early seat time in a new G35 a few weeks back and were expecting a slight bump in price over the outgoing model. Infiniti, though, bucks conventional wisdom and is offering the 306-hp sedan for exactly the same price as the outgoing 2006, starting at $31,450. To top that, they’re offering the most popular model and trim combination — called the G35 Journey — for $31,900 — $700 less than in 2006. That package also adds a new Bose premium stereo, bi-xenon headlights and a keyless ignition system, none of which were in the 2006 version. A $700 destination charge is not included.

Mike Hanley raved about the G35’s performance and pointed out how the value aspect is nothing to overlook. The BMW 335i sedan starts at $38,700. Full G35 pricing is below.

Head to Head: 2007 BMW 335i vs. 2007 Infiniti G35

The Cars.com editorial staff got to check out dozens of upcoming models at a rally in suburban Chicago on Friday. There was a ton to cover, from semi-exotics like the Jaguar XKR to the least expensive compacts on the market, like the Hyundai Accent. There was little doubt, though, that two of the models we were most interested in were the new BMW 335i, with its twin-turbo six-cylinder engine, and the redesigned Infiniti G35. Now, for a true comparison these both should be sedans, but only the 335i coupe was on hand. David Thomas and Mike Hanley had to make do as they ran the two through their paces.