2009 Nissan Skyline 370 GT Crossover: Why An Obscure 15-Year-Old JDM Car is Perfect for 2024
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- čas přidán 12. 01. 2024
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Today I am driving the almost unknown Nissan Skyline 370 GT Crossover - a car from Japan that was equivalent to the Infiniti EX. I wasn't sure what to make of this, but having driven it - now I know.
#Nissan #Skyline #Infiniti
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The Nissan VQ37vhr has got to be one of the best naturally aspirated engines you can get in a normal car.
One thing I hate is that whenever we talk about post-R34 Skylines, north americans come screaming about the fact that they actually are Infinitis, failing to understand that these cars were originally designed as NISSANS first and then rebadged, and that the bad stigma about Infiniti drivers is only a north american thing.
As a person from the US, I agree with this entirely. While it is true that the stigma is well deserved bc of the horrendous driving habits but people who live here, we have to understand that it's not universal. It's a shame as well bc they are quick and really well sported cars.
Also it doesn't even apply to all Infiniti drivers in the US you are far more likely to see a US spec g37 or M37/56 driving erratically, than this SUV or any SUV from the Infiniti branded Nissans.
Americans, as dumb as we are, understand that Infinitis are rebadged Nissans.
@@MediumBluWonder The funny thing is, that the bad stigma against Infiniti drivers is exactly the same bad stigma that R series skyline drivers had here in NZ and Australia for the longest time. It's only now that they're prohibitively expensive for most people to own that that stigma is fading. But when they were cheap you could almost guarantee that every 3 out of 4 skyline drivers were a d*ckhead, or at least drove like one 😂
^this and the fact that some of them think they can take an awd one and drift it without snow XD
Not quite. The Infiniti EX35 was introduced in 2007 and _not_ sold in Japan. It wasn’t until 2009, when the EX37 was introduced, that Japan got the car as the Skyline Crossover.
I must admit, back in the day, post-R34 Skyline models seemed a cynical butchering of the Skyline name (Gran Turismo 4 then taught me about the history of the badge), but now, having an affinity for the slightly odd ball choice, I like it. Plus that V6 has always been an engine I adore. Clarkson was 100% when he criticised the noise, it sounds glorious.
That wheel tire combo rescues that car
I had never heard of this car before and i like to think i am decently knowledgeable about this era of cars, funny seeing the American viewers perplexed over this being an average sight over there and the British viewers excited to see something different 😂
Yeah this is a used car here
We got those in the UK, just that no one ever bought them
That is one good looking crossover! Especially from the back. And I usually never say this about crossovers. On top of that, having a reasonable and practical interior, that great V6 engine and being an oddball, this is something I'd actually like to own.
Love to see a review of an Infiniti FX50S. Something really worthy of the Skyline 'sporty' image.
Not having a sun roof is positive for me, not a gripe. They start leaking and failing when older. Also, I am pretty tall and sun roofs bring down the ceiling by an inch or two.
Same here. Being 6'4" a sunroof usually just gets in the way.
@@vibingwithvinyl , yup I am 6'4" too and there were several cars in my past I really would have loved to own but could just not fit in.
Every Nissan sunroof I've experienced all leaked.
Yup, they are nice in a car like this when they are new and covered by a warranty - otherwise no thanks - also they add weight and reduce stiffness.
@@vibingwithvinyl I’m 6’6 and thinking of buying a car with decent legroom and enough space at the back for a passenger even moving the driver seat all the way back, Any suggestions?
Not a crossover fan at all, but this is definitely peaking my interest with the engine underneath!
Cheers for sharing James!
Plus it’s the only rwd based platform crossover coming out of Japan from that era onwards. Really the only other options are bmw and Mercedes, and audi using full time awd.
@@slowspecv69 ahhh didn't know it was rwd only!! That sells it even more haha!
All those wet roundabouts when the family isn't in the car 👌🤔😂
Piquing, not "peaking". Unless it genuinely arouses your gentleman parts, I guess.
@@AlastairMaw haha! Well as a family man these days, my gentleman parts have definitely done their job! But after owning a couple of other jdm rwd legends, this is doing the job for me too! 😂
@@ChrisHib01 they aren’t all rwd but they can be had rwd or awd, but unlike the Acura and Lexus counterparts, it’s a rwd bias awd system instead of fwd. which is still a plus as well. I would be inclined to have the rwd one also. I’d love to lower one (since it’s never gonna hit offroad) and find a way to put the limited slip diff in from the g37/skyline sport sedan.
Literally got a 2014 one of these on a boat coming over as we speak! Exciting!
How and where did you get one curiously?
Great vid sir
Great to have these unknown cars well done
Thank you for reviewing this Jay Emm I've been looking for a review of one of these, I want to put chevys ls motor in one, although I've seen swap kits for the 370z for a late model hemi too cheers from the states
I’ve always kinda wanted one of these. It seems like a good compromise sport daily. Its not even all that heavy for a crossover at 3800 lbs.
Hey, it’s lighter than an M3!
The Ferrari Purosangue clearly got some influence from this lol.
And the Maserati Levante and Alfa Romeo Stelvio.
@@longtailgt It was ahead of it's time clearly
I have a 4wd Infiniti EX37 which is lovely if getting a bit tatty in parts. Sounds terrific too in my view
The wingmirror camera is a Japanese gov mandated curbside cam. The button to activate should be the top right button in the main button cluster near the screen. (The one with the Japanese characters inside a box.)
370 GT so powerful VQ inside 😊
Thanks for recommending this. I want a 370Z and would even settle for G37 sedan, but there's no way I'd talk my S/O into me buying sports car or even a sports sedan as 1 car solution. Now that I know the EX37/QX50 is basically the same chassis with CUV body, I can get him to go along with it 😂
It is basically a low spec JDM "Infiniti EX 35".
An excellent description of the confused car-buying couple - that’s why so many cars on the road are oversized awfulness!
Very bold to assume you're so above us mortals that you assume we are so dumb and don't know what we want
Edit mostly joking. But people are very aware what they like and dislike
@@baronvonjo1929 I didn’t mean that any individual is confused - in the sense of mental impairment - rather that two people wanting different/conflicting attributes end up settling on a very confused car that is intended to be an excellent compromise, yet is not very good at anything.
As described in the video. Big but also small. Fun but also practical. Premium but also cheap. So the roads are choked up with horrible bloated cars. ‘Small’ SUVs. ‘Crossovers’. Huge vehicles that restrict visibility for following cars, tickle the driver with a sense of achievement from an elevated seat, yet actually have little space inside! And the bigger cars get, the bigger cars get in order to be bigger than the other big cars.
If you pull the gear-stick to the right (to where you can manually shift-up/down, but don't shift) then it activates DS mode on the automatic box, with the 'S' meaning Sport.
At least it does on mine, and makes a noticeable difference to performance.
Being similar to a 1st/2nd gen Nissan Qashqai this thing is miles ahead in terms of creature comforts and novelties!.
It's not similar to the Qashqai in the slightest. They're both Nissan's and CUV's, but that's where the similarities end.
I had the Infinity version of this. The engine is fantastic, the drive is good, the gearbox meah. But I really hated the electronic assistants. There were constantly annoying.
This would be a hidden gem like the Cayenne GTS 6MT if Nissan had thought to offer it with a manual
I own it and I love it than the crown athlete I had earlier, and sure that's how it drinks 😂
As per your review of the 370GT, the steering is a bit... wierd. I bought a 350GT and completely understand what you were on about!
They switched from hydraulic to electronic steering in '07, so yeah it would feel weird, earlier cars had really nice firm steering
@@nathanchildress5596 That explains a lot. I had been driving an '08 350GT and then picked up a cheap '06 350GT at auction the other day and instantly noticed how different the steering was. I assumed it was because of the narrower tyres on the '06 but that's really interesting to know they actually use different steering systems.
I got the Infiniti QX50 variant. The only negatives for me are the small luggage space and the ride over crapy roads.
wow ,, looks like an F pace ,, great looking car.
I think you should start a few new series: Ugly & Interesting, All show and no go!, Underrated Classic & Modern, Practical & Practically Useless
Nissan/Infiniti lost themselves along the way, but this early 2000's they made great cars. I have an 04 Skyline coupe (G35) and I love it! Very reliable and it hurries up much more expensive cars down the road. You want to get one from '05 to '07, that's when they had the upgraded engine but still had good hydraulic steering.
Hmm...I didn't know this was rwd based. Worth considering for a daily.
That cam in your mirror has a button on to left button under screen and there's a company in Christchurch nzl who for about 145 pounds will convert the screen to english I have had this done and can vouch for it
Nice package 📦 😜
Ever thought of doing a hubnut and travel to Aussie or NZ and line up some different cars?
Come try my Tourer V….its your insignia wagaon (2019) but with. 325kw 3.6 v6 and 4wheel drive. Normal car here, but might be someone new for someone used to 4cyl ones also. Got 13 cars here, come take your pic (been told I have issues 🤪)
It's definitely on my mind
Tons of Infiniti EX around here, very cool cars. I looked to buy one, but apparently there's some costly engine fault with internal seals.
You mean the oil galley gaskets?
No he means the oil GALLERY gasket, 2007 to 2012 only. 2013+ are bulletproof, been driving one for 7+ years now.
The VQ engine is pretty reliable actually, especially the early DE. Plus parts are cheap since Nissan used them in everything.
Interesting that you mention that it's bigger than the Qashqai. I've seen the infiniti variants irl a couple of times and they always came across as bigger than a Qashqai. I just looked up the dimensions and though the Skyline/EX/QX has a longer body, the Qashqai does indeed seem to atleast have a bigger boot. Is all that length (Almost 30cm??) mostly in the bonnet then?
There's an infiniti qx50 3.7 on auto trader. Same car!
Weirdly enough there wasn't a JDM equivalent of the Japan manufactured qx70/fx
you didnt mention the most important point.. zero to hundred km 6 second.. that equal to cayyene S from the same era! faster than the currnt macan.. and its one of the only back wheel drive suv from Japan .. all lexus line up SUVs are front wheel drive!
Fantastic vehicle same engine, same transmission as a 370Z , not as quick being bigger, classed as, an estate or SUV, lightweight bonnet and rear hatch. Rated at 143 to 1 power to weight. Infiniti is around 125 to 1, 5.8 seconds to 100km. RWD or 4X4. A sleeper....definitely. Surprisingly good on fuel .
16mpg round town . Ouch !. Nice to be different but those Wheels . Oh dear.
Styling wise- it all goes wrong at the front - still awesome though
Who among you can remind me of the almost never seen Nissan crossover sold in the UK that had the 350Z engine in it?
Very good looking, except for the BBS wheels.
an fx37 with a VQ37VHR or something, probably consumes as much gas as an fx50 :/ not sure i get it
Having had the FX50S.....no. Lol, no it doesn't. Close. But 9-12 mpg on premium for my FX50S.
Some wierd stuff out there from a few years ago. Murano V6 I saw in a hospital carpark looks like an oversized Quash. VED will kill them off
“We used to see engines like this all the time, now you wouldn’t see anything more than a 4 cyl turbo”
14 mpg….
An of course it’s ULEZ complaint, a 5 year old diesel that does 60mpg is not though?!
Surely they should consider CO2 *and* MPG?
Is this not branded as Infinity in the rest of Europe?
I should have waited an extra minute to type this remark LOL
I love these japanese imports
thats decent
Unless your mates are all virtual, I think them may figure out you're full of it when you pick them up in a school mum's car.
AS A BIG JDM FAN, I CAN HONESTLY SAY I'VE NEVER SEEN THIS CAR IN MY LIFE.
That's crazy, they're all over the place in America.
Side profile and Front are very Porsche Cayennesqe when squinting
2 liter engines in Nissan are exotic today - new X-trails are driven by 1.3L turbo gasoline moped engines.
So half the Infinitys we got in the US ~15-20 yrs ago were Skylines somewhere else? Hmm.
All of the g35 g37 and the like were badged as skylines in Japan before being rebadged for the US market as Infiniti's.
Does that thing need new chains?
It mist certainly does not. Oil gallery gasket & water pump before 120K miles, that's it she's good for 300K miles+.
Infiniti EX--sorry, Skyline 370GT Crossover is... weird. I've never taken into its styling, much prefer the FX instead.
Specifically the FX50S. Even better if it's the FX50S Sebastian Vettel Edition.
This is the housewife’s G35 😂
Sir what size wheel and tites
Japanese Macan?
I can't wrap my head around people owning that in the UK. I kinda get it over here in Canada, where it was sold as an Infiniti. Gas (petrol) is cheaper here, so people care less about how much fuel something uses. But I struggle to make sense of something that thirsty, and so uncool, ever being desirable. For an S65 AMG, a Flying Spur Speed, a 760li, or whatever, I get why someone would buy one of those in the UK. But that? That thing isn't worth it.
Some people like weird cars, and I don't think that's a problem.
Except for PT Cruiser. That's against the law of nature.
What are these other options lol. All 3 of those were several times more expensive than the 370GT new, and would be more expensive old for both the used price and maintenance. Its not hard to imagine why its desirable; its a Fairlady Z with a backpack.
none of those are practical though smdh
@@BadaBing.UCF30Sedans aren't practical?
Its more like 10km/l (i owned one for about 4 years)
Porsche Macan size for small money!
My nissan armada 2015 naturally aspirated V8 makes 320 HP. wat
W836 WCK
I think you got your fuel economy wrong James. These average more like 10-10.5 litres per 100km
This was a massive failure in Japan, far worse than in US. Problem was they only offered with VQ37, and since it’s over 3,500cc it costs ¥66,500 tax annually. Anyone who wanted Skyline 370GT didn’t cared about crossover back then, and anyone who wanted crossover SUV didn’t want to deal with such a high running cost.
VQ25 option could’ve saved the sale a lot.
Definitelly much better looking than Nissan Joke. Nissan Murano has probably longer gears, roomier cabin due to classic SUV shape and also softer suspenssion. Nevertheles this Skyline is very interestingly sportier than most other SUV of this class and generation.
Love this channel for, if nothing else, sheer randomness.
Yesterday a Ferrari, today a Japanese crossdresser.
Thanks JM 🤗
TIL a drug dealers infiniti is a quirky JDM car in England
A Juke, a Qashqai and and 350Z go to a pub.............................
I get that its practical and all, but it doesnt help the fact that its still butt ugly like most crossovers. Rather buy a station wagon for practicality but thats just me.
it's an old Infiniti QX50 there's nothing special about it
That’s what I thought.
It's special if British market never got that model. I would have preferred to see a FX45 or FX50 V8 review.
Problematic mechanics too. Recemtly was in service with my car. One of disassebled fellas there was exactly this one. Regular for Nissan overheating and electric problems. I asked the garage boss - sorta my friend - for how long this Nissan has been hanging in the air. He said around a month, he still waits for parts. But it's not even the part. The job itself is very time consuming due to bad Nissan engineering - they don't engineer cars to be maintained, they engineer them to be put together as fast as they can. The diagonstics and disassembly took 3 days, like wtf. Another bad boi waiting for repairs was Merc SL. Almost a month repairing it's gearbox and electics. Wtf with these cars and their electrical problems?
That's the point
Exactly.
Everything about this car is mechanically pleasing. What a shame it’s so damn UGLY. Seems to be a speciality of Nissan. Basicaly it’s a big, powerful Nissan Puke. What a shame.
14 mpg, really! Come on, fine for the F12 but just no. Pointless car would have to give much much more to be a Sunday only and 1000mile a year you did to that mpg! No average person would entertain that for more that a few months. £500/m on fuel looses its sense of humour pretty quickly!
A civic sportstourer is far funkier (& better) looking than this, dezpite being a cheesewedge
Daaammmnnn is that thing ugly, especially the front! So let's see... an ugly, gasoline engine, automatic transmission... the answer is: no.
Those wheels are not attractive
No! The engine alone does not make this a good car. There is nothing special about this incredibly boring and failed crossover.
It’s funny that these are called skyline outside of the US which is weird. This just a nissan murano or infiniti qx50. Why does it have the skyline name? Nothing sporty about it
Muranos are FWD/AWD, these are a completely different architecture. If you actually watched the video he explained that.
you've never driven one, or else you wouldn't spout the "Nothing sporty" nonsense bullshit
You don't know your shit bud, Murano platform is completely different. The world doesn't revolve around the US, these things weren't called Skylines up here in Canada either.
Nissan Skyline is an actual line in Japan now. Skylines were around in California in 2000. As in Infiniti looking cars.
James…I’m not sure where your channel is heading? You are a superb investigative reporter and make many superb videos taking manufacturers to task…..but these imported obscure Far Eastern cars that very few will ever own or drive is getting a bit….ummm…check your analytics perhaps.🤔🤔😨
Speak for yourself.
Yeah love these way more than unrelatable Ferraris