Infiniti M35h hybrid (2011) long-term test review
By the CAR road test team
Long Term Tests
Time to service the Infiniti M35h
Word of warning to high-mileage executive types: Infiniti is stuck with decades-old servicing intervals. Our M requires maintenance every 9000 miles, comparing badly with the German rivals it's aimed at whose variable servicing typically doubles that for M-way-pounding types.
This took me so much by surprise that we were actually a little late getting the M35h booked in for its first service, 11,856 miles showing up on the odo. Woops.
Bearing in mind how well built the M is, the quality of modern lubricants and Nissan's reputation for reliability, I can only imagine the shortened service intervals are a business decision to increase turnover at dealerships. And with a small pool of Infinitis in the UK at present, that must be imperative for the fledgling network.
So we booked in at Infiniti Centre Birmingham. Thankfully they still come and collect your car for you - a godsend, as I work 83 miles away. Will they still do this when they have a 40-strong dealer network in the future? I doubt it. But then I'll have less far to travel.
There's no doubting the experience at Infiniti Centres though. A friendly chap arrived at my office, picked up the keys to our M35h and left us with an EX30d. Not your average courtesy car - I was half expecting a Micra. And that was it. No hassle. No waiting around. They simply turned up the following morning with our pristine hybrid, collected the courtesy crossover and it was job done. All this was normal customer experience - we weren't booked in as journalists (although our car's number plate is a bit of a telltale).
When I ran CAR's BMW 530d Touring last year, I paid £247 for the first oil change service at 17,000 miles. Which makes the Infiniti roughly double the cost to maintain, bearing in mind its shorter intervals. But our M35h came back with a clean bill of health and I'm left feeling it's bulletproof. The hybrid's battery is in near 100% state of health (encouraging bearing in mind our fears over battery degeneration in the long run) and a very clear service report found 'no faults on any vehicle systems'. The winter tyres still have a chunky 8mm of tread at the front and 7mm at the rear. (We're about to change those back to summer rubber though).
And there you have it. Probably my easiest, least painful dealer service experience ever. All I had to do was dial a number and everything else was done for me. But you do pay for the privilege...
By Tim Pollard
Long Term Tests
Time to service the Infiniti M35h
Word of warning to high-mileage executive types: Infiniti is stuck with decades-old servicing intervals. Our M requires maintenance every 9000 miles, comparing badly with the German rivals it's aimed at whose variable servicing typically doubles that for M-way-pounding types.
Bearing in mind how well built the M is, the quality of modern lubricants and Nissan's reputation for reliability, I can only imagine the shortened service intervals are a business decision to increase turnover at dealerships. And with a small pool of Infinitis in the UK at present, that must be imperative for the fledgling network.
So we booked in at Infiniti Centre Birmingham. Thankfully they still come and collect your car for you - a godsend, as I work 83 miles away. Will they still do this when they have a 40-strong dealer network in the future? I doubt it. But then I'll have less far to travel.
There's no doubting the experience at Infiniti Centres though. A friendly chap arrived at my office, picked up the keys to our M35h and left us with an EX30d. Not your average courtesy car - I was half expecting a Micra. And that was it. No hassle. No waiting around. They simply turned up the following morning with our pristine hybrid, collected the courtesy crossover and it was job done. All this was normal customer experience - we weren't booked in as journalists (although our car's number plate is a bit of a telltale).
When I ran CAR's BMW 530d Touring last year, I paid £247 for the first oil change service at 17,000 miles. Which makes the Infiniti roughly double the cost to maintain, bearing in mind its shorter intervals. But our M35h came back with a clean bill of health and I'm left feeling it's bulletproof. The hybrid's battery is in near 100% state of health (encouraging bearing in mind our fears over battery degeneration in the long run) and a very clear service report found 'no faults on any vehicle systems'. The winter tyres still have a chunky 8mm of tread at the front and 7mm at the rear. (We're about to change those back to summer rubber though).
And there you have it. Probably my easiest, least painful dealer service experience ever. All I had to do was dial a number and everything else was done for me. But you do pay for the privilege...
By Tim Pollard
Categories:
Infiniti M35h hybrid,
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