The G37 Coupe led the way in 2008 as Infiniti pumped up its compact ride with a hefty new 3.7-liter, 330-horsepower V-6 engine, leaving the former G35 line in the dust.

A sedan and hardtop convertible joined the lineup for the 2009 model year, along with an all-wheel option and smooth seven-speed automatic transmission. 2010 brings a few tweaks to interior trim as well as new navigation and climate-control technology.

The G37 is a sweet ride whether you choose the coupe, sedan, or drop-top. It combines performance and driver comfort in a stylish package starting at $36,765. Personally, I prefer the sedan's practicality to the coupe, even with its more aggressive styling. The look just doesn't make up for the trade-off in backseat accessibility and cargo room the way it did in the original G35.

That said, testing the coupe this week still was an absolute delight. Even my editor stuck in the backseat raved about its handsome interior. And those looking for a performance-oriented luxury coupe today have limited choices.

The BMW 3 Series is the most direct competitor and tough to beat when it comes to performance. Mercedes-Benz CLK and Audi A5 are more expensive. The Volvo C30 is less expensive, but really is not comparable in finesse and performance.

The G37's 330 horses reflect a jump of about 25 over the G35, and it's quite noticeable—and equal to Nissan's 370Z sports car. A six-speed manual transmission also is available, but the automatic is standard on the base model. The all-wheel-drive G37x tops the line starting at $39,565, including destination charge.

With larger wheels, the coupe rides a bit rougher than the sedan, but it still is a fine choice for commuters, as long as they don't carpool with more than one passenger on a regular basis.

All cars include side airbags and curtains, stability and traction control, antilock brakes, first-aid kit, and tire-pressure monitor. But while the sedan scored mostly perfect fives in government crash tests, the coupe has yet to be tested. Options include headlamps that curve into corners with you, four-wheel-steering system, rearview monitor, and intelligent cruise control that preps the brakes for sudden stops.

The base coupe comes with a nice lineup of standard features: push-button starter, remote locking, leather seats, eight-way power driver's seat with lumbar support, folding rear seats to expand cargo room, CD player and MP3 playback, and automatic climate control. Also new for the 2009 model year is Infiniti's Scratch Shield paint, which magically repairs many of those nicks and scratches that mortify new-car owners.

Like the G35 before, the G37 is a blast to drive and easy on the eye inside and out, whether you choose the coupe, sedan, or convertible. Acceleration is fast—think zero-to-60 in a little more than five seconds—and cornering is sharp.

As an alternative, you can buy dressed-up coupes outside the luxury circuit. The Honda Accord, for example, is a winner in the looks department with quite a bit of room to boot. And Nissan Altima looks sharp and has some gumption when outfitted with the larger 252-horsepower V-6.

None, however, match the G's performance, which also outpowers the RX-8, Mazda's sports car that gives way to some practicality with its swing-out rear door.

The new Camaro and Mustang are too rough to be considered competitors, but I would consider the G37 an alternative to buyers who dream of a Jaguar XK, but balk at the nearly $80,000 price tag.