1992 Infiniti J30 (Nissan Leopard/Y32) - MotorWeek Retro Review
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- Nissan Leopard J Ferie Y32
The Infiniti J30, marketed as the Nissan Leopard J Ferie in Japan, was a rear wheel drive luxury car. The J30 went into production on April 7, 1992 as a 1993 model to replace the M30 (which was a coupe), and was launched in the United States after its competitors, the Lexus GS and Acura Legend. The car was sold in the mid-size sedan segment between the smaller G20 and the larger Q45, both by size and price. The small interior resulted from its rounded styling uncharacteristic of the crowded executive car class, which is now considered an early variant of a four-door coupé.
In the United States, Infiniti unveiled the J30 in Chicago on February 5, 1992.[19] By early March, prices were set at $30,000 and $34,700 for the 1993 model year J30 and J30t, respectively; there were no available options and the first cars were scheduled to be in dealer showrooms by the end of the month.[18] The car launched at $33,000 for the base and $34,700 for the touring models; by 1995, the base model had risen to $39,000, and the J30t was $2,000 more.[20]
The J30 remained nearly unchanged through its production period. Heated seats became standard equipment in the 1994 model year. For 1995, the J30 received subtle vertical ribbing in the tail light lenses, an automatically-dimming rear view mirror, and a power lumbar support control for the driver's seat;[15] in '96 the diagnostic system was upgraded to OBD-II. Otherwise, the J30 received only minor alterations between 1993 and 1997 model years.
All J30s were built in Tochigi, Tochigi, Japan. Over its lifetime, approximately 70,000 were sold in the United States (more than 20,000 per year for 1993 and 1994; 17,899 in 1995; 7,564 in 1996; and 4,594 in 1997)[21] and less than 8,000 were sold in Japan.[22] Production of the J30 ended on June 18, 1997, replaced by the Infiniti I30 (introduced in 1996).
RETRO ROAD TEST'S & CAR REVIEW'S
#j30
#infiniti
"We're glad to have you with us." Me too, John. Me too.
I am too
Same story with me.
We are also.
This car's exterior design has aged like fine wine! This car easily looks 10 years ahead of its time.
Absolutely agree 💯
I've owned my J30t for 30 years. It's still on the road in the summer months and earns a little $$ on movie/streaming content sets, of productions set in the 1990s. These cars (pre 1995 non-decontented models as result of Nissan's Bankruptcy) where over engineered like most Japanese cars of that era and as a result have outstanding reliability.
I loved this design when I was a teen. The J30t was my favorite. Rest in peace to Gerald and Sean Levert who were singing (Baby Hold on to Me) in the Bose radio testing. The 90s hold alot of great memories for me through it's cars and songs.❤️❤️❤️
Isn't that something haunting right? Gerald Levert gone too soon like so many others we had the pleasure and privilege of being exposed to there will never be another Vesta,Teena,Michael,Whitney and so many others to name but not enough space.
@@kellyvariste4831 absolutely 💯
I rewinded it a couple of times, I initially thought it was Luther, but knew it was 90’s R&B. 😊
@@lmars 90s R&B has a distinguished sound for sure! I miss their rich voices so much! Have a great Friday!👍🏾
Good ear!
The J30 and the GS300 were my favorite cars from the 90s.. so legendary
I have the 1st Gen GS, but you know the J was more fun to drive lol
@@xFactoryUSA im ab to trade my 1st gen gs for a j
One of the best looking cars from thé 90s, loved it!
There used to be two of these on my street growing up as a kid. I always thought it was a super cool car, there was nothing like it back in the 90s.
This is actually quite modern looking. Ahead of its time in exterior design.
I still think this car looks modern.
The rear looks like the ioniq 5. I distantly remember this car
I got teary-eyed as a kid when this car was crushed on Good Burger. I also know where Nissan got the parts to make my mom's 95 Altima from back in the day. I still miss that Altima😓
Especially since Sinbad drove it in that movie.
I did admire the looks of the J30 when these came out, not exactly groundbreaking, yet it was original and far from boring
Infiniti MUST bring back the old names fast.
True. The "Q/QX" naming scheme can be quite confusing.
A polarizing design of a car you just don't see anymore. It's a 4 door coupe (300zx) before there was such a thing. It even has true dual exhaust and VLSD rear end. I own one myself and it makes me miss old Nissan. The build quality is top!
IMO the USDM should've received the V8 model (J41?) as well, which also included TCS (V-TCS). Too bad that didn't happen......
@@vampyrelycan99 Agree. I imagine Infiniti did not want any model to overlap with their Q45
Nissan fell so far...
I liked mine so much that I bought an N/A 300ZX, too.
@@vampyrelycan99They should've offered it with a Manual transmission!
As cool as the V8 model would've been I agree, it would've killed q45 sales (but perhaps the VH platform would've gotten the kudos it deserved)
This and the original Q45 were the shiznit. Imagine this with twin turbos and a manual gear box.
Manual transmission, yes. Twin Turbos? Maybe not but im pretty sure these could be had with a VG30DET. (Single turbo) in the Leopard.
Now you have me picturing a J30 SE-R, just another thing Nissan could have done so easily but didnt.
Its sad to think what Infiniti could've made itself into if it would've stayed the course as a Japanese luxury performance brand (a la Japanese BMW).
Though it would've been even cooler if it had the VH45 AND a manual. The VG30DETT is nice as an exclusive Z32 item.
I loved these old reviews... It didn't feel like today's where they are trying to sell you the car.
My middle school English teacher won a Buick Park Avenue in a raffle and traded it in for one of these.
I owned a j30t. Black with black interior. Tinted windows and larger 17 wheels made me feel like I was in a spaceship.. especially at night
Every time I see or hear j30 I think of the one in the movie good burger
New genesis taillight design shows resemblance in this car
I always loved the J30. The rear end was what made it.
Such an dramatic & intimate car for its day.. one of my favorites from the 90s.. this competed directly with the 929
I have a 929 and had a J30, the 929 was more refined and a more stylish. Fun fact though, they both use the exact same transmission and that turned out to be the weak point for both.
Looks quite good. Much better than what they produce currently. Very clean.
I owned one for 7 years. I bought a 1997 model in 1999 and owned it for 8 years. While I loved the styling and handling of the car, it did not have the reliability of Japanese cars. I don't know how much I had to spend on repairs in the last 2 years of the ownership. It would still catch my attention on rare occasions of seeing one on streets. If Infiniti bring back a sedan or a crossover of the same concept, I would definitely consider.
Yeah I didn't have much luck with Infiniti reliability either. Bought a black 96 J30T in 99 as a 20th birthday present to myself, traded it in 2003 with somewhere around 80k miles with a leaking sunroof, half the warning lights lit up on the dash, no A/C, and noisy hub bearings in the front from what I can remember. Bought an 01 Acura CL to replace it which needed a transmission while it was still under factory warranty, then another trans less than 2 years later. Dumped that junk and leased a new 07 Lexus IS350 and have been a Lexus customer ever since, although I also have an old Dodge Durango that I use to pull my camper.
I am surprised because I had heard nothing but good about Nissan and Infiniti, but that was the early 90s.
Yea, the 1996+ models were definitely less reliable. Something about Nissan and then heading for bankruptcy, leaving pretty much every car in their lineup with shitty build quality and the cutting of many, many corners.
I love this car. Definitely one of the most unique cars of the 1990's. I almost bought one in the mid-2000's. A luxury sedan placed on top of a sports car. Very ahead of its time. I wish they sold the V8 here like they did in Japan.
Another classic example of the Japanese keeping the hottest engines for themselves
@@roddydykes7053 Which was a strange move considering the popularity of V8 engines in the US.
As someone who's never ridden in one, never drove one, never sat in one, never even got close enough to peek in one of these, I've always found this little jelly bean of a car to be interesting looking. They were around, but admittedly I didn't see many of them on the roads, had no idea it was a luxury car. Looking at it now through my adult eyes and able to really see what this car offered in this video, compared to what I know about early 90s cars, this thing was way ahead of its time and looked really, really snazzy inside! I owned a 1993 Ford Escort and it's interior looked like a dinosaur compared to this car's interior! This car looks like something from the early 2000s at least. Funny he called the placement of that parking brake "odd" when so many cars and trucks across most makes and models after that adopted this idea.
I had a '94. Black with tan interior. My favorite car EVER. Regret trading it to this day. I loved the sloped trunk---elegant. And the most comfortable seats of any car I've ever owned. Thank you for posting.
I owned this car. Gorgeous to look at, fun to drive but holy cow did it love to drink gas
I know they are completely different vehicles, but all I see now is the jellybean Altima. I could never warm up to that azz.
yes thats how me and the fam moved up to the maxima after that! Stanzas were cool but the altima's back was not great
Wow what a rare 90's nouveau automotive gem you don't see these on the road anymore.
They weren't very common during it's run. They were good cars.
@@chriscornelius2518 That's so true.
I remember my j30 that was the best car I ever owned, I miss it🥺
The CLS of the 90s?? The J30 and Q45 are my favorite Infiniti's from the 90s. I remember Sinbad driving a J30 that was struck by Kenan in Z32 300ZX in the movie Good Burger. #90skid
They were underrated cars.
You can see where the new Ioniq 6 got it's inspiration from
Cool cars. My Q50 is so similar to this car, almost the same interior design and dimensions inside & out. Still shares drivetrain with Nissan’s Z car. Love INFINITI! Thanks for sharing.
I love the humming noise its a unique car when normal traveling
this is one of my favorite cars ever amongst many others you've uploaded, thank you so much for uploading these reviews 🙏
I owned a ‘94 J30. This was and always will be my favorite car. Infiniti was b4 it’s time with this design. I wasn’t ready for Gerald Levert “Baby Hold On To Me” when he turned on that radio. Lol.
i like the early Lexus ES300 and Acura Legend design better than this
For me I love early legends lexus gs300 and ls400 and maximas and iits still a classic if it's nice and clean.
Loved my 1997 J30. Drove great. That 300Z engine was a jem.
Such an bizarrely designed car. Buick in the front, Nissan in the back.
LOVED the styling on this car. Its the 90's oval design done right IMO. Wish they had offered something hotter under the hood, like the twin turbo V6 from the 300zx or the V8 from the Q45. The V6 is a bit pokey and would get absolutely smoked by a Northstar powered Cadillac Seville. The Germans would also beat it with the straight six powered Benz E320 and BMW 535i. Still I think its a radical and interesting piece of design.
Bought this for $500 as my 1st car and had 75,000 miles. Replaced the MAF sensor and ran strong. Never left me stranded. Had to sell it because I got a Honda Accord. Still planning on buying a J30T to relive my 1st car era.
My dad had one of these, but his was a T and had a tiny spoiler that complimented the weird rear end well. I was so enamored by that car.
This rear end is like the ancestor of the new Hyundai Ioniq 6. The lightbar and teardrop rear end remind me so much of it.
My first car back 2011, I loved it.
I loved the look of the J30. Would buy this car today if Infiniti released one.
I really like this in 2022, if that's it real sound it sounds awesome for a V6 sedan.
I always thought sales of this car was hurt when Nissan released the way too similar looking first gen Altima. Toyota must've been killing the segment because it seemed like the Lexus ES300 was everywhere.
My dream car back in the day
I remember when these were new and thought they were so interesting. Such a classy design even if not particularly practical. It’s kind of like a Japanese version of my Jaguar XJ6 that way.
Probably my fav Infiniti along with the I30 and I35
Never liked that rear, but amazing how much it looked like the Altima!
This car was my first infiniti. Been an infiniti fan ever since. Now I own a G35 and a FX35 😁
Pre Renault era INFINITIs are absolutely beautiful‼️
This car always reminded me of the movie “Good Burger” 🤣🍔
This was my favorite Infiniti back in the 90s. It was a distinctive and beautiful luxury car. That pearl cream color or the dark green metallic were my favorite color options.
Love these cars. Design is amazing.
We're glad to have you with us.
So beautiful...
I had a 93. Loved that it was rear wheel drive. This makes me miss that car
4:52 Good lord, it's Hans Gruber! "I am an exceptional thief, Mrs. McClane. And since I'm moving up to kidnapping, you should be more polite."
So this inspired the Hyundai Ioniq 6
always thought it looked like a larger version of nissan altima that was out at the same time. Loved my maxima with that V6
Golden age of Infiniti
Ioniq 6
This gives me nostalgia, and I wasn’t born until a decade later😭😭
Ioniq 6 design team.. You're welcome
This car has aged very well.
It always cracks me up how the Nissan design team in La Jolla design this car, which was also sold in Japan as the leopard
The Infiniti J30 was in the Heat Movie. Al Pacino's character was the driving the car to meet up with Rob deniro for a cup of coffee.
One of my favorite scenes.
1995, time flies 🙈
the year i was born seeing this makes me feel old
Nope - 30 years later it still looks like a drooping butt. Much like the 96 Taurus (but not quite as bad!), it dind't work then, it doesn't work now. Had to talk an ex out of one - somehow under the delusion that this was a bargain Jag. "Oh that clock!" Ha. Ended up with a fully loaded SHO for about 3k less - not as 'classy' maybe but more fun. And a stick, so I got to drive it most of the time :) Paid for it with the next car though, when I wanted the S70 T5 stick and had to bow to something more 'luxurious' - the vaguely feminine, sexy and utterly boring ES300.
U were the shit if u had these back then..dont seen them on the road anymore
I had wanted one of these back in the day
Gorgeous car. Ahead of its time.
And welcome the 2023 Ioniq 6 from 1993
*1992
My great aunt had a J30 Touring was silver color used to love these cars it was the Altima's cousin only thing rear was different as front end of Altima. I had a '97 ALTIMA similar to J30 believe when first generation Altima came out was available with a V6 in 95-97 had 4 cylinders wish was equipped with V6 throughout the years. The J30 even sounds like it's cousin Altima two cars I loved to death.
The first generation Altima never offered a V6, at least not in the US
Please bring back stylish cars like this!
great looking car
I owned a '95 for quite a few years, green. The jellybean 90's. It could scoot, but handling was decidedly on the sluggish/cushy side. Which was fine, I bought it to freeway commute in as my Porsche became a bit much on my 2+ hour round trip. And my poor leg couldn't do a heavy clutch for very long in bumper-to-bumper. I think more people got upset when Nissan decided to bring a similar rear end to their Altima, way to dilute the brand guys. Between that and the Oldsmobiles, its unique qualities were short lived. IIRC this was the first of the analog dash clocks - I remember a friend with a Lexus commenting on it. Just a couple of years later it would be ubiquitous in all Lexus cars. I eventually got a 2006 Infiniti M45, which I still have to this day as my big 4-door.
This type of design still look modern buy today standards. Those boxy cars from the 1980s (Chevrolet caprice, Nissan Sentra, Ford ltd, Chrysler s k cars etc...) all looked dated and old in 1992/93, same era as this car.
Yep, but idiots who weren't there won't get. Rounded vs boxy told you if a car was newish or not.
I miss my J30. I had a 1997 unit; regret selling it to this day.
I can't even believe how nice this car is. I have to figure out how to find one of these
Wonder what the staff who didn’t like the styling were into. Probably foxbody mustangs
coupe like styling way before it was popular. I think the car has aged well.
Infiniti was designed some of the most beautiful cars in the 90s.
Designed in the 80s...
5:35 , i agree with both. It has a cool, sleek design but with an rear end that doesnt fit well
Most didn't last long. Electrical gremlins? Parts availability problem? Regardless, nice effort.
I own an u13 Altima an the shape is just like it
Fun fact- the EPA rated this car as a subcompact because it had such little interior space even though it had mid-sized exterior dimensions.
This is when luxury cars looked like luxury cars...
Ah yes, the bubble but Maxima.
Front end looks like a Buick, while the back looks like a late 90s Oldsmobile.
Not a bad car, I just don't find the styling very appealing, then or now.
Did I just here (baby hold on to me) 🎶🎶😊
I thought this was such an ugly design back then. Compared to the more squared off lines of cars at the time, this looked like it had melted a bit. I preferred the more subtle rounding of the then new Camry.
The guy sounds like hanks hill of king of the hill 😀
John Davis sure went to the dogs after That’s Incredible.
The cars back then compare to cars now a lot of changes
Crazy to think this costs about $70k in 2022 dollars!
I liked this and was glad someone was doing something different. They weren't as good as Lexus, but Lexus styling in that era was so boring and bland.
Attractive car, coulda sworn it was FWD. Its both faster and slower than I would expect
That was a nice looking car back then. It is terrible looking now. Alien