2008 Infiniti EX35 Review

PROS  Powerful and smooth engine, Top-notch interior fittings, Nimble

CONS  Firm ride, Cramped rear-seat leg room, Smallish cargo area 

New-car sales in the U.S. are expected to reach about 15 million this year. That's down about two million from just a few years ago but still a shockingly impressive number. With so many sales, there's a car, truck, or SUV for just about every buyer.

Take the all-new Infiniti EX for example. Technically it's a compact SUV with premium appeal and a luxury price tag. It competes with vehicles like the Acura RDX, BMW X3, and Land Rover LR2, looking to carve out a market with shoppers looking for a luxury SUV without all of the bulk.

You may ask, "Wasn't that the mission of the Infiniti FX?" It was introduced in 2003 and heralded by Infiniti as the perfect blend of sport and utility without all of the excess baggage. Seems as though Infiniti thought there were enough shoppers who consider the FX too much and wanted something smaller.

How much smaller you ask? While sharing the same chassis, the EX is two inches in shorter in wheelbase, five inches narrower in width, and seven inches shorter overall than the FX. The biggest differences inside is in rear-seat leg room, which shrinks seven inches, and cargo capacity, which drops by a whopping 17 cubic feet.

Like the FX and its luxury-compact SUV competitors, the EX seats five on two front bucket seats and a three-place rear bench seat. It comes with rear or all-wheel drive in two models, Base and Journey. Both are powered by a 3.5-liter V6 that makes 297 horsepower. The sole transmission offering is a five-speed automatic with a separate shift gate for manual manipulation of the gears.

Standard safety features on all models includes antilock four-wheel disc brakes with brake assist, stability control, front-seat active head restraints, tire-pressure monitor, and dual front, front-side airbags, and curtain-side airbags. Journey adds a front- and rear-obstacle-detection system. Optional on the Journey is a Technology Package that includes adaptive cruise control, Around View Monitoring (AVM), lane-departure warning, and Lane-Departure Prevention (LDP).

AVM, which utilizes four small cameras, displays a top-down view of the outside of the vehicle while parking. LDP takes lane-departure warning a step further by utilizing the brakes to nudge the vehicle when it senses inadvertent lane departure.

The Base rear-drive model lists for $31,300. It comes with automatic climate control, tilt-telescope leather-wrapped steering wheel with radio controls, cruise control, cloth upholstery, eight-way power driver seat, four-way power passenger seat, split folding rear seat, aluminum interior trim, power mirrors, power windows, power door locks, keyless entry, keyless access and starting, AM/FM/CD/MP3 player with digital-media player connection, satellite radio, theft-deterrent system, fog lights, rear spoiler, and 17-inch alloy wheels.

The rear-drive Journey is priced at $34,850 and adds leather upholstery, power-folding split rear seat, sunroof, automatic day-night rearview mirror, compass, universal garage door opener, and automatic headlights.

Not intended for severe off-road use, the all-wheel-drive system adds $1,400 to the price of the rear-drive models. Included with all-wheel drive is a locking center differential.

All options are limited to the Journey model. They include power tilt-telescope steering wheel, memory system, iPod adaptor, Bluetooth cell-phone link, steering-linked adaptive headlamps, and navigation system. The navi includes voice recognition, music storage hard drive, rear-time traffic information, and rearview camera.

All EX models are built in Japan and have a $715 destination charge.

Get Up and Go  The EX's 3.5-liter V6 is easily the most powerful engine in the class. With 297 horsepower it has 37 more than the X3, 57 more than the RDX, and a stunning 67 more than the LR2. It's a difference that really shows on the road as the EX jumps away from stoplights and boasts equally impressive highway passing punch.

The V6 is quite smooth and mates happily to the slick shifting five-speed automatic transmission. For the enthusiast, the gear shift has a manual mode that allows individual gears to be held when rounding corners.

As in so many crossovers and "soft-road" SUVs, the EX's all-wheel-drive system is not intended for real off-road use. Rather, it's a security measure for buyers looking for the sure-footed grip of all-wheel drive on icy or snow-covered roads.

EPA estimates for the all-wheel-drive model are 16 mpg city and 23 mpg highway. Though shockingly low compared to a mainstream compact wagon, the EX fuel economy is actually on par with its competitors. In routine driving it's easy to average about 21 mpg and that's actually quite impressive given the engine's available power output. In straight highway driving expect to average close to 25 mpg. Infiniti says that the EX engine requires premium-grade gasoline.

On the Road  The EX rides like a refined sports car, and it should considering it evolved from the same chassis as the Infiniti G37 coupe. The 17-inch wheels and sport-tuned suspension do a good job of filtering out small pavement blemishes without inducing too much bounce or float. On bumpy roads or scalloped freeways with lots of expansion joints the ride can grow a bit tiring.

Step up to the optional 18-inch wheels and the ride grows a trifle too busy on the Midwest's frost-heaved roads.

The EX's firm steering and reassuring brakes offer a perfect match to the sport-tuned suspension to offer a level of handling that's nearly unmatched among small crossovers. About the only competition is the BMW X3, but even it feels a little "soft" when compared to the EX.

Infiniti is heavily promoting its Lane Departure Warning and Lane Departure Prevention systems. They work as advertised to gently remind the driver of proper driving etiquette and should reduce inadvertent roadway departures, which Infiniti claims is responsible for 55% of all traffic fatalities. Both systems can be disabled at the touch of a button.

Though there's little wind noise inside the EX, there's a fair amount of tire rumble-likely due to the firm suspension. It grows worse with the optional 18-inch wheels. The engine cruises silently and emits a hearty and expensive growl in hard acceleration.

Behind the Wheel  The EX's interior befits a luxury vehicle costing thousands more. Nearly every surface is covered in a soft-touch material, and the Elite package adds top-line leather and wood trim. There are also a few nice touches like an available pop out coat hanger and power seat retractors.

The dashboard design is typical Infiniti, that's to say it offers a pleasing mix of shapes and curves. Both models come with a seven-inch video screen that displays audio and climate control information. It's also the home for the optional navigation display. Beneath the screen, the audio and climate controls are arranged in a pleasing and functional manner.

The optional Around View Monitoring system utilizes the video screen to display a 360-degree view of the area immediately around the vehicle. This system only operates in reverse and is designed to help the driver when parking or backing up. It's a neat innovation and will likely catch on with other luxury automakers.

The front bucket seats offer excellent leg room and adequate head room. They are heavily bolstered, so large adults may feel a little squished. Thankfully, they're very comfortable on long trips. The driving position is not quite as high as in other compact crossovers, yet higher than a traditional sedan. The benefit is a good view of the road ahead, without that tippy feeling that's common to many higher vehicles. View to the rear is hampered by the smallish rear window, though extra-large side-view mirrors help out a bit.

The rear seats are nicely padded and head room is good. Sadly, leg room is extremely tight. That's too bad because it effectively limits this crossover to being a two seater with occasional room for four. I guess those wanting a more realistic rear seat can opt for the larger Infiniti FX.

Another area where the EX falls short of its competitors is in cargo area. The maximum cargo space comes in at a scant 47 cubic feet. That's larger than any sedan, but falls well short of most other compact crossovers and wagons. At least the hatch is fairly wide and the load floor is flat. The power folding seats are a nice touch, but aren't necessary in a vehicle this small. Interior storage is good, highlighted by a large, nicely finished glove box and a deep center console bin. Door map pockets are narrow.

Bottom Line  Infiniti hopes the EX will appeal to the growing legion of empty nesters that have both disposable income and the need for a flexible utility vehicle. In that role the EX is superb. It is refined, fast, and comfortable for two adults. It's also loaded with the latest technology and safety features.

As a cost-effective and practical compact SUV, the EX falls short because of the cramped rear quarters and limited cargo space. Thankfully, Infiniti isn't building the EX for this audience. Prices start at a reasonable $32,000, well below its direct competitors and that makes the EX a "must see" for shoppers in this market.