Last fall, Infiniti estimated that its first-ever hybrid, the M35h, would get 25 mpg-city/30mpg-highway. It turns out, they underestimated. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced its official ratings for the vehicle; and they're saying it gets 27 mpg-city/32 mpg-highway.

That's a better rating than many of Infiniti M35h's closest competitors, including the BMW ActiveHybrid models, the Mercedes S400 Hybrid, and the BMW 335d diesel. Not too shabby for the automaker's first hybrid system. And, in instances where the M35h gets a lower EPA rating than other luxury hybrids, it makes up for it with superior power.

Equipped with a 302-horsepower (hp), 3.5-liter V6 matched by a 5-kilowatt electric motor, Infiniti's new hybrid is a bold blend of efficiency and 'oomph'. It offers a net 360-hp and pushes from 0-62 mpg in a mere 5.5 seconds - which is punchy for any car, let alone a hybrid. According to Infiniti, the new M35h is the only vehicle in the market to offer more than 350 hp and get more than 30 mpg on the highway.

We at Passport Infiniti in Alexandria are particularly impressed by the tests in which the new Infiniti M35h demonstrated deft ability to drive in electric-only mode for as much as 50% of the time on mixed routed. And, we love the fact that energy lost in deceleration or under braking is saved to help keep the batteries charged.

Infiniti doesn't skimp on safety either. The new M36h hybrid, available starting spring 2011, is virtually sound free in pure electric mode. To alert pedestrians of the vehicle's presence, it's equipped with an Approaching Vehicle Sound for Pedestrians (VSP) system, which emits a pleasing, non-abrupt sound that varies in pitch and volume at speeds up to about 19 mph.