Insuring an Infiniti

Infiniti is Nissan's answer to luxury divisions like Lexus and Acura. Although it got off to a somewhat rocky start, the make is really making a name for itself in the luxury car sector. One thing that really makes these vehicles stand out is their affordable price tags. Although they are laden with superior features and boast gorgeous designs, they manage to be relatively affordable too. In addition to looking and feeling great, these cars typically boast exceptional power and performance too. They aren't cheap in the scheme of things, but they are affordable when stacked up against other upscale brands. One area in which Infiniti falls short is the price of insurance. These vehicles are not cheap to insure. The average annual premium is $1,996.30, which ranks it 31st on a list of 36 makes.

Brief History

The Infiniti marquee has not been around for very long. The brand was mostly developed as a way for Nissan to compete with the Acura line and Lexus line. By the time this brand was launched, those other brands were dominating the market. The brand was launched in 1990, and it hardly hit the ground running. In fact, the brand struggled along for some time. It wasn't until 2003 and the debut of the G35 that the company finally started to get noticed. These days, the automaker produces upscale SUVs, sedans and other cars with sporty edges and exceptional style.

Strong Safety Ratings Balance Out Insurance Rates

Although it's expensive to cover these vehicles, it would be even more expensive if the brand didn't have such a strong reputation for safety. These vehicles generally perform quite well in crash tests by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and the national government. In IIHS tests, for instance, the EX35 earned perfect "Good" ratings from the IIHS across the board. The IIHS also awarded a long string of "Good" ratings to the G37, although a few "Marginal" ratings were thrown into the mix as well. As a whole, this brand is a safe choice.

These Vehicles aren't Popular Targets for Thieves

Cars that are popular targets for thieves cost a lot more to protect. After all, the insurer is exposing itself to more risk by covering a vehicle that is stolen frequently. The good news for owners is that these vehicles are not hot targets for thieves. In fact, none of Infiniti's vehicles show up on top-ten lists by the National Insurance Crime Bureau. The NICB also publishes individual top-ten lists for the fifty states, and there's not a single model on those lists either.

Mid-Range MSRPs Drive Up Policyholder Costs

So-so safety ratings don't help when it comes to protecting these automobiles. The price of the average model drives up policy prices too. Although the G37 has a somewhat reasonable starting MSRP of $32,600 and the EX35 has a starting MSRP of $35,800, those prices put them well beyond the reach of many average drivers. The QX56 has a starting MSRP of $59,200, which highlights why these vehicles tend to be pretty expensive to protect. With that being said, these MSRPs are far lower than the average prices for many other luxury vehicles.

The typical cost to insure various offerings is as follows:

• EX35 6-Cylinder - $1,400.00
• QX56 8-Cylinder - $1,577.00
• G37 6-Cylinder - $1,561.00