2008 Infiniti EX35 RWD Journey

Retail Price as tested: $41,215.00

The adaptive lighting on the EX35 is similar to the BMW but not as responsive when you turn the steering wheel. The EX35 also comes with the “Intelligent Key” which is a feature that I really enjoy and wish all car makers were using it. It eliminates the need to take the key fob out of your pocket, bag or purse. Just walk up to the car and push the unlock button on the door handle or on the rear hatch and your set. Get in the drivers seat and push the start button and your off. Its seamless and makes fumbling around for a key obsolete. The EX 25 is a great “crossover” and gets my vote. I would recommend that for $1,500 more you get the AWD version as it still snows in Colorado in the winter and a RWD in the snow even with traction control would be useless.

The interior is very nice and the front leather seats are very comfortable. Infiniti has done a good job of making the Ex35 feel luxurious while at the same time being very sporty. The drivers seat is very comfortable and adjusts 8 ways. It has all the amenities of a high end luxury car like heated seats, automatic temperature control for both driver and passenger, rear seat heater ducts for the rear passengers, and steering wheel controls for audio and cruise control.

The Infiniti EX35 is Infiniti’s High Performance Cross Over, at least that’s how Infiniti describes it. I would describe it as a high performance wagon. The one I drove was a RWD model but it also comes in an AWD version. The RWD model handles any corner you throw at it with ease. It’s really a G35 under all that “wagon” sheet metal. It has room for 4 passengers or 2 passengers with a lot of room for cargo. Under the hood it has a 297 hp “VQ” V-6 engine that makes the EX35 run extremely well. It has a great sound system and fine leather seats that are extremely comfortable. The EX35 rides and drive like a small sports car but has room to carry 4 passengers with room for cargo.

3.5-litre 297-hp V6 Engine

The EX35’s fourth generation VQ engine was named one of “Ward’s: 10 Best Engines for 14 straight years. This makes it one of the most reliable engines on the road today. Air is fed through a high-flow dual intake to help the engine breathe more freely. Performance enthusiast will enjoy the dual chrome exhaust tips.

Engine and Transmission

The 297 hp engine has plenty of power to make the EX35 feel like a sports car. I was not expecting it to have as much performance as it delivers. Its has plenty of low end torque due to the way its induction system is designed.  The transmission in the EX35 downshifts when you need compression braking as well as adjusts automatically to the way the EX35 is being driven. As you drive it more aggressively it responds by shifting later and becomes more crisp. It can be shifted manually to give you even more control over the way it drives and handles. The dual exhaust has some “tone” to it and looks great coming out at the rear corners of the EX35. I averaged 22 mpg while driving around town over 400 miles.

Interior

John Rush - Host

Gearhead Radio & Drive Radio

For a audio version of my review - please visit www.gearheadradio.com.

For more details on other features and options on the Infinite EX35 click here.

5-speed Automatic Transmission

The EX35 comes with a 5-speed Automatic Transmission with Manual Shift Mode and Downshift Rev Matching. A sophisticated learning algorithm adapts to your individual driving style and shifts to optimise engine performance. Select manual shift mode and take complete control of the five precisely matched gears. When downshifting, the engine automatically adjusts engine speed output to smooth out shifts.

The rear seats are “adaptive” and can be configured in a variety of ways depending on your needs at any given time. The rear seats can also be folded down with the touch of a button from the inside rear of the vehicle. The back seats do not have a ton of leg room and would be uncomfortable for adults over a long period of time.

Lighting & Misc

Communications, NAV, Sound System & Driver Controls

The EX35 comes with a BOSE 11-speaker sound system with XM radio and 6 disc cd changer that sounds great. It has 2 sub-woofers along with an iPod interface that worked fantastic. I don’t know why all cars do not come standard with this feature. It has voice recognition for the HVAC, Audio, and Navigation. The Navigation also has a 9.3 gig “Music Box” Hard Drive to store songs. You can load the songs through a “compact flash” slot in the dash. It has dual zone climate control for both the driver and passenger. At first I had a hard time running all the systems but I had just jumped into it from BMW’s iDrive. They are not the same so it took some getting used to. Once I had it mastered it worked well. It has a dial and/or you can touch the screen to change the setting you want to control. The NAV Screen also has an optional “Around View Monitor” which shows you what is behind you and where you are backing according to where the steering wheel is positioned. Its sort like “backing up for dummies”.  It’s really a cool feature and one you find handy in a lot of parking situations. The EX35 also comes with U-Connect - one of my favourites for using your cell phone hands free. This has to be one of the greatest inventions of all time. I really like using it as it makes driving while on the cell phone so much safer.