The 2011 Infiniti EX35 gets a new transmission. Available safety features include ABS, traction control, antiskid system, curtain-side airbags, and front-side airbags. Standard on the Journey are a power tilt and telescopic steering wheel, heated front seats, sunroof, wireless cell-phone link, and hard drive for storing digital-music files. Lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, power-folding rear seat backs, and a navigation system are among the options offered on the Journey.
COMPETITION
Premium-Compact SUVs are luxury SUVs that are compact in size.
With rear-wheel-drive and a more wagon-like profile, the EX35 isn’t your average people and cargo hauler. if Goldilocks drove, she might consider it just right. North America sees the EX in 3.5-liter trim (hence EX35), but Europe and Japan get a zippier EX37 with Infiniti’s larger V6, while China gets an EX25 with Infinit’s smaller V6.
For the 2011 model year, the Infiniti EX35 finds itself grille to grille with some of the brightest in the business.
Any breakthroughs?
Then there are the other techno-fab pieces like the Lane Departure Warning, and Lane Departure Prevention systems, Full-speed Intelligent Cruise Control, Distance Control Assist, and finally the Blind Spot Warning system.
When you compare the EX with big brother FX, you get the impression that the EX came out on top when the genetics were being sorted out. With our Infiniti and its rear-wheel-drive setup (all-wheel-drive is optional), we didn’t even make an attempt at some of the rough terrain that is South Florida.
Chrome trim strips frame the greenhouse, and blacked out B, C and D-pillars help to minimize the size that comes with adding various safety items like air curtains and seat side-curtain airbags. The overall look is finished off nicely with 19-inch split-spoke wheels mounted with Bridgestone Potenza sport tires. The liftgate is equipped with a curved expanse of glass covered by a rear window shade. Once again, Infiniti shows that it is at the top of its game as far as interior design is concerned. Infiniti has managed to avoid going to the spinning control dial as seen in Mercedes-Benz, Audi, BMW and, yes, Hyundai vehicles. Large, living room chair-style front seats kept us firmly tucked in during our tracking through twisties. Cargo space in the “way back” was accommodating for 18.6 cubic feet with the 60-40 split seats in the upright and locked position. Following Infiniti’s (and Nissan’s) economy of scale, the EX shares underpinnings with its sistership, the G sedan. But with the EX 5.6 inches shorter in overall length at 182.3, than the G’s 187.9-inches, it is able to bring forth a sporty car feel that actually makes it a fun driver.
Our EX RWD weighed in at 3,795 lbs., and according to the EPA, managed to tick off 17 city and 24 highway miles per gallon during government testing. From a handling standpoint, the EX is equipped with a subframe mounted double-wishbone setup that has high-performance dual-pass shock absorbers with a 26mm stabilizer bar in front. A speed-determined variable-power assist handles steering.
The EX was quite the performer throughout our week of constant cruising. Once again, the thought “Infiniti G wagon” came to mind.
Infiniti’s 2011 EX35 captures the spritely feeling of a small car with the luxury and technology of a land yacht.
Lumping the Infiniti EX35 in with other “small cars” is a bit of a stretch. The Infiniti EX35 is not exactly small, since it measures about 15 feet long and weighs 3,764 pounds. Like the Infiniti M37x, the EX35 has that cocooning cockpit feel. You slip in and the car just feels right. The lighting inside, especially the “electroluminescent” gauges, have that extra luxury look that makes the car worth the higher price tag (our test car is priced at $46,605 but the base price is $35,150 – or much closer to the X3.)
The exterior styling is not as pronounced as the M37x we tested.
Pick a speed, any speed
We’re jumping right to the driving experience here, because that is the real draw with this sporty hatchback. It now has a 7-speed transmission. Truth be told, switching from a 5-speed to a 7-speed might be a technical improvement. The real reason the Infiniti EX35 begs you to drive fast is due to the cockpit feel.