BACK IN MARCH 2002

, when Infiniti introduced its new small luxury sedan, it might well have named the model the "Wannabe 3." That's 3 as in the BMW 3-series, which was then and remains the acknowledged leader in small luxury sports sedans. The new sedan, which Infiniti actually named the G35, was aimed squarely at BMW's bestselling model. The first G35 was a pretty good car, but it didn't come close to the 3-series. Acceleration was good but not great. Steering and handling were okay, but nothing like the taut tuning that makes the 3-series seem somehow one with the road. And worst of all, the G35's interior had way too much tacky plastic and other cheap materials for a luxury car, even if it was "near luxury."

Nowadays the story is different. The new Infiniti G35 comes awfully close to equaling the 3-series in just about every way except price. The G35 costs as much as $6,500 less than the comparable 3-series, depending on the version you choose. Take the interior, perhaps the worst feature of the old G35. The new G35 retains Infiniti's signature analog clock on the instrument panel. But the panel's plastic looks and feels much more solid yes, even luxurious.

The centerpiece of the instrument panel is an inset screen and a panel with electronic controls for the key functions: audio, heating and air conditioning, etc. The controls could be simpler, though they aren't bad, and the touch-sensitive screen requires a bit too much reach for easy use. The G35's ride and handling are significantly improved. The car's body is stiffer than the old G35's, and Infiniti has improved the four-wheel independent suspension. Steering is a lot more precise, and there's a better feeling of balance and control, especially in the G35 Sport version.

In fact, when you're doing, say, 80 mph in this car, you feel more like you're doing 40 which comes close to the feeling of effortless control you get when driving a 3-series. The G35's 3.5-liter V-6 engine now produces 306 horsepower, versus the 287 in the original car. That's enough of a power boost to get from zero to 60 mph in a plenty-quick 5.8 seconds with the six-speed manual transmission that comes standard on the Sport and Sport 6 MT versions. One disappointment: The standard transmission on all other versions of the G35 is an automatic with only five speeds; six would have been better.

Besides the basic G35 sedan, Infiniti offers the G35 Journey, the G35X, the G35 Sport and the G35 Sport 6 MT. But in truth, there's not much variety here. The G35X has all-wheel drive the other models all have rear-wheel drive but other differences are mostly in the trim. The basic 3-series sedan is the 328i, with a base price of $33,095, versus the base-model G35 sedan at $32,150. (All prices include destination charge.) But to get horsepower comparable to the G35's, you have to step up to the BMW 335i sedan. The 335i's twin turbochargers boost its output to 300 hp, but its base price gets a hefty boost too to $39,395, versus $32,950 for the comparable G35 Sport 6 MT. So the question becomes: Is the BMW mystique worth the extra $6,500?

Only you and your wallet can answer that question. Nonetheless, the G35 is far less "wannabe" than it used to be, and it's definitely worth a look.