NOTE: Pricing based on data collected February 2011. Costs of hybridization and forced features are UCS estimates based on information available on manufacturer websites.
See full Hybrid Scorecard methodology
Vehicle Summary
Nissan, the parent company of the Infiniti brand, developed the all-new M Hybrid for model year 2012. It is the first independently developed hybrid drivetrain by Nissan, as the Altima Hybrid was developed using Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive technology. This luxury brand’s first hybrid is part of the M line that was redesigned for model year 2011. A five-passenger luxury sedan, the Infiniti M hybrid gets a combined estimated fuel economy of 29 miles per gallon (mpg).(1) Nissan notes that this fuel economy is equivalent to its Versa subcompact car (though one version of the Versa does get 30 mpg). The 3.5-liter V6 engine combined with the electric motor delivers 360 horsepower, 30 horsepower more than that of its conventional counterpart, the M37. The Infiniti M Hybrid is a full hybrid, offering electric-only operation under certain conditions, idle stop/start, power assist, and regenerative braking.
Environmental Improvement Score
The Infiniti M Hybrid achieves a 28 percent reduction in global warming emissions over the conventional M37. In comparison with other luxury hybrid sedans, the M Hybrid is in the middle of the pack, behind the Lincoln MKZ and the Lexus CT 200h and HS 250h. All of these vehicles, however, put its primary focus on increasing efficiency and reducing global warming emissions. Though the M Hybrid is a “muscle” hybrid, it achieves a greater reduction in global warming emissions than some other luxury muscle hybrids. For example, the M Hybrid achieves more than double the emissions reduction improvement of the Lexus GS 450h (13 percent), the Volkswagen Touareg Hybrid (10 percent), and the BMW ActiveHybrid X6 (11 percent).
Unfortunately, a poorly performing tailpipe emissions-control system severely compromises the smog-forming emissions performance of the Infiniti M Hybrid, earning it an EPA air pollution score of 6. This score, the lowest given to any hybrid, is surprising given the Nissan Altima Hybrid rates a 9. This tempers the Infiniti M Hybrid’s overall Environmental Improvement Score, bringing it to a 5.5. Infiniti should capitalize more on the fact that hybrid technology and modern emissions-control systems offer the unique quality of providing a “no compromise” vehicle that does not trade smog-forming emissions for global warming emissions, and vice versa. Improved smog-forming emissions could make Nissan’s hybrid technology a truly valuable niche within the hybrid spectrum, providing a path for more muscular hybrids to still realize genuine environmental benefits.
Scorecard Environmental Improvement Score methodology
Hybrid Value
Infiniti is charging $6,000 for its hybrid technology, putting it at the more expensive end of the range. However, this high premium is counterbalanced by substantial reductions in global warming emissions unlike many other luxury hybrid models. As a result, the Infiniti M Hybrid merits a Hybrid Value score of “Good.” Interestingly, it has the same rating in this category as its competitor, the Lexus GS 450h, which charges half as much for a hybrid system but gets half the global warming emissions reductions.
Scorecard Hybrid Value methodology
Forced Features
Infiniti is a luxury brand, and consumers expect high-quality features from its vehicles. All models in the Infiniti M series have an impressive array of these features, but Infiniti has wisely avoided adding any additional ones to the M Hybrid that aren’t standard on the conventional model. As a result, the Infiniti joins several of its competitors in the luxury hybrid market with a Forced Features rating of “None.”
Scorecard Forced Features methodology
Hybrid Scorecard Home
Additional Info
Visit the Who’s Got Hybrids section to read comments and stories from actual hybrid owners.
(1) Fuel economy was calculated from data available on the manufacturer’s website. EPA estimated fuel economy data were unavailable as of May 24, 2011.
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