3
0
Premium midsize car; Built in Japan
  • 4-door sedan
  • longitudinal front-engine/rear-wheel drive
Good condition price range: $1,400 – $3,300*


1993 Infiniti J30t


1995 Infiniti J30t


1996 Infiniti J30


1997 Infiniti J30t


1997 Infiniti J30t

Pros:
  • Acceleration
  • Antilock brakes
  • Steering/handling
Cons:
  • Automatic-transmission performance
  • Fuel economy
  • Passenger and cargo room

A fine car overall, blending luxury extras and a somewhat sporty personality, the J30 simply fails to stand out among luxury 4-doors. All told, it lacks the polish and refinement of such rivals as the front-drive Lexus ES 300.

Overview

Introduced as an early 1993 model, the midpriced rear-drive 4-door sedan from Nissan’s luxury division occupied a niche between the big Q45 and the entry-level G20. Sole powertrain was a dual-camshaft, 210-horsepower, 3.0-liter V6 driving a 4-speed automatic transmission. Driver- and passenger-side airbags were standard, as was all-disc antilock braking. An optional Touring package added Super HICAS 4-wheel steering, a firmer suspension, rear spoiler, and high-performance tires on forged alloy wheels, giving the car a “J30t” badge on the trunk.

Yearly Updates

1994 J30
Heated front seats became standard this year, and a crimson exterior and black interior became available. Audio tweeters were added to front roof pillars.
1995 J30
A new full-width taillight cluster was installed, with subtle vertical ribbing behind the lens.
1996 J30
Except for new exterior colors, nothing was new for the J30.
1997 J30
Despite $4000 price cuts, sluggish sales caused Infiniti to drop the J30 after 1997.

Engines

longitudinal front-engine/rear-wheel drive

All I30 sedans came with the same powertrain: a 3.0-liter V6 engine with dual camshafts, producing 210 horsepower and driving a 4-speed automatic transmission.

dohc V6
Engine Size (liters/cubic inches) 3.0/181
Engine HP 210
Engine Torque (lb-ft) 193
Avail. Trans. EPA MPG (city/hwy) MPG avg. as tested
4-speed automatic

 18/23

 20.1

Road Test

With a 0-60 mph time under nine seconds, the J30 is competitive among luxury sedans in its price range. On the whole, you get smooth, quiet running (except for an automatic transmission that shifts gears too often at in-town speeds). In hard acceleration, though, the engine gets surprisingly loud. Gas mileage also is somewhat disappointing. We reached 24 mpg in highway driving, but dropped below 16 mpg when traveling through urban areas.

Unlike some Japanese luxury sedans, the J30’s suspension is firm enough to give plenty of road feel and spirited cornering. Yet, it’s supple enough so the ride is never harsh. Handling is a tad more balanced than most front-drive rivals, courtesy of the car’s rear-drive layout.

The cozy cabin is practical only for four adults, in fact. The combination of transmission hump and narrow interior make the J30 too tight in back for a third adult. Otherwise, the cabin is richly appointed and ergonomics are first-rate. Negative points are few, led by the marginal adult-size head/leg room (especially in back) and a minimal-size trunk.

Ratings

Model Tested: 1996 Infiniti J30

Ratings values are on a 1-10 scale, with 10 being the best. With the exception of Value, these numbers reflect how the vehicle compares against the universe of vehicles, not just against rivals in its class.

Performance

Acceleration - 4
40%
Fuel Economy - 4
40%
Ride Quality - 4
40%
Steering/Handling - 5
50%
Quietness - 5
50%

Accommodations

Controls/Materials - 5
50%
Room/Comfort Front - 5
50%
Room/Comfort Rear - 3
30%
Cargo Room - 2
20%

Other

Value - N/A
N/A0%

Total: 37

Specifications

4-door sedan
Wheelbase (in.) Length (in.) Width (in.) Height (in.) Weight (lbs)
108.7 191.3 69.7 54.7
Cargo Volume (cu/ft) Payload Capacity (cu/ft) Fuel Capacity (gal.) Seating Capacity
10.1 19.0 5
Headroom Legroom
Front Rear Front Rear
37.7 36.7 41.3 30.5
Safety Ratings

Model Tested: 1997 J30 4-door sedan

NHTSA

(5 is the highest rating)

Front Impact Test

Driver Injury - 4
80%
Front Passenger Injury - 4
80%

Side Impact Test

Driver Injury - N/A
N/A0%
Rear Passenger Injury - N/A
N/A0%

HLDI

(A score of 100 is average. Lower is better)

Collision 155
Injury 88
Theft 261

Trouble Spots

Climate control
Description: The automatic climate control occasionally blows hot air for no apparent reason. There are about five different fixes. (1993)
Audio system
Description: The Bose amplifier causes interference on cellular phones requiring a filter on the phone-antenna cable. (1993)
Rough idle
Description: Varnish buildup on the throttle body can make throttle difficult to operate smoothly and lead to an unstable idle. (1993-97)
Check-engine light
Description: The check-engine light may come on and indicate a transmission problem. This is due to a faulty throttle position sensor. (1996-97)

Recall History

1993-95
Description: Harness-connector protector near seatbelt pretensioner can ignite when device is triggered.

Equipment Lists

Equipment lists are only viewable on larger screen sizes.

Pricing

Used-car pricing varies widely depending on local market conditions. Therefore, we recommend visiting websites that list used cars for sale to get a better idea of what a specific model is selling for in your area.

More about Tom Appel
Written by: Tom Appel on July 16, 2014.
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