There have been very few changes to the M35h since we last tested it in late 2011. It’s still essentially the same car inside and out, with its hearty 306hp 3.5-litre engine and effective but jerky hybrid system. It’s also still big on luxury and still promises an enticing mix of high performance (0-62mph in 5.5 seconds) and credible economy (40.9mpg) – so you’d never know the difference.
Infiniti, though, has fettled the engine’s thermal settings to make it more efficient during the warming-up stage, when petrol units are at their most polluting, which nudges it from its previous figure of 162g/km down to 159g/km, so it’s now eligible for the full first year’s capital write-down allowance.
With the allowance due to change from 160g/km to 130g/km in April 2013, the benefit is short-lived, but it’s a step in the right direction for a fledgling luxury firm that’s keen to increase its fleet sales.
Verdict: Still big, expensive and flawed, but the hybrid system is effective.
Score: 6/10
