Luxury brand Infiniti finally joins the gasoline-electric hybrid car market with the 2012 M35h that's rated 38 percent more fuel efficient overall than its non-hybrid, V-6-powered M35 sibling.
Drivers can get 9 more miles from a gallon of gas in city traffic and 6 more miles a gallon on the highway by driving the M35h rather than the regular M35, according to federal government estimates. And the M35h helps prod the driver to meter gasoline via an accelerator pedal that feels like it has a brick behind it whenever a computer in the car determines that the driver isn't being fuel-conscious.
This noticeably firm resistance as the accelerator is being pushed down comes only when the driver has engaged the car's eco mode. And, it's easily overcome with a bit more pushing on the pedal. But a driver can't ignore that some nagging is going on.
Starting manufacturer's suggested retail price, including destination charge, for the 2012 M35h with V-6 and electric motor is $53,595. The government fuel economy rating is 27/32 mpg. That compares with the $48,595 starting retail price for a non-hybrid, V-6 powered, 2012 M35 that's rated at 18/26 mpg.
But the M35h isn't the highest priced M sedan. The 2012 M56 with 420-horsepower V-8 has a $59,995 starting retail price and is not offered in a hybrid version.
Competitors to the M35h include the 210-horsepower Mercedes-Benz E350 Bluetec sedan, which has a starting MSRP, including destination charge, of $51,775 as a 2011 model and has a government fuel economy rating of 22/33 mpg as it runs on diesel fuel. Lexus' 2012 HS 250h, which is a luxury gas-electric hybrid sedan, has a starting retail price of $37,030 and had a 2011 rating of 35/34 mpg.
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