Infiniti's EX35 compact luxury crossover returns for 2012 with a starting price of $35,600 (plus $895 freight) for the base rear-wheel-drive model and $37,000 for that model with all-wheel drive.
The premium-level Journey model begins at $37,900 with rear-wheel drive and lists for $39,300 with all-wheel drive.
A universal garage/gate opener has been added as standard equipment on the Journey models for 2012, a feature that previously was available only as part of the Deluxe Touring Package.
Introduced for the 2008 model year, the five-passenger EX35 is Infiniti's entry-level crossover — and also is one of the brand's best-selling models. Above it in the lineup are the five-passenger midsize FX35 and FX50, and the eight-passenger full-size QX56.
The EX offers sporty performance in a car-based chassis that has SUV-style seating and cargo-carrying capability.
Built on the same architecture as the Infiniti G sedan, the EX35 competes in a crowded class of vehicles that includes the Acura RDX, BMW X3, Volvo XC60, Cadillac SRX, Land Rover LR2 and Audi Q5. It also goes up against sedans in the entry-premium segment.
It's essentially a smaller version of the FX crossover and has essentially the same engine as the FX35, the V-6 model. Starting price is about $7,000 less, however. The EX does not offer a V-8 engine, though, like the FX50 model has.
Standard on the EX are leather seats, a rearview camera, automatic climate control (with rear vents), cruise control, 18-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, power windows/mirrors/door locks, remote keyless entry with keyless push-button start, polished aluminum roof rails, heated outside mirrors, automatic headlights and a USB port for iPods.
The all-wheel-drive models have heated front seats.
It's powered by the same engine used in the earlier G35 sedans, a 297-horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6. EPA ratings are 17 mpg city/24 highway with rear-wheel drive and 16/23 with all-wheel drive.
Unlike many of its competitors, the EX has standard rear-wheel drive that helps give it a sporty driving experience. It's also the only vehicle in its segment with a choice of rear- or all-wheel drive.
The intelligent all-wheel-drive system is useful in snow and rain, but it helps guide the car through curves on dry pavement, as well. But it's not intended for serious off-road driving.
Last year, the EX35 was upgraded with a new seven-speed automatic transmission and the 18-inch wheels, and more high-tech equipment was made available. Dual-zone automatic climate control also became standard, and there is now an option for 19-inch wheels and tires.
Also last year, the instrument-panel lighting was changed to white, and three exterior colors were added: Arctic Blue, Midnight Garnet and Graphite Shadow.
The EX35 earned the “Top Safety Pick” designation from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, getting the top score, “Good,” in separate front-, rear- and side-impact and roof-strength tests conducted by the institute.
Standard safety features on the EX35 include electronic stability control with traction control, dual-stage/dual-threshold front air bags with seatbelt and occupant-classification sensors, roof-mounted side-curtain air bags for both rows of seats, front seat-mounted driver and passenger side-impact air bags, and front-seat active head restraints.
It also comes with rear child-seat anchors and tethers, tire-pressure monitoring and four-wheel antilock disc brakes.
There is a long list of optional safety equipment as well, although the Top Safety Pick designation was not based on any of these extra-cost features. Those include the Infiniti lane-departure-prevention system, intelligent cruise control, distance-control assist and intelligent brake assist with forward collision warning.
Another option is a blind-spot warning system, which signals the driver with a light if another vehicle is detected in the blind-spot area on either side of the car.
If the driver activates the turn signal with another vehicle in the blind spot, the indicator flashes and a warning tone sounds, as well.
The blind-spot warning system is included in the Technology Package ($2,700), which also brings the lane-departure warning and prevention system, intelligent cruise control with distance-control assist, and intelligent brake assist with forward-collision warning.
A Premium Package ($2,700) adds a navigation system and Bose audio system, along with the cool Around View Monitor, which gives the driver a bird's-eye view of the car on the navigation screen.
It's a great help when trying to park or maneuver in tight spaces. The system has four cameras — in the grille, on the rear above the license plate and on the side mirrors — producing a view similar to looking down on the car from above.
Also available is the Deluxe Touring Package ($2,200), which adds the 19-inch wheels; P245/45R19 all-season performance tires; adaptive, auto-leveling, high-intensity-discharge xenon headlights; dual-occupant memory system for the driver's seat, outside mirrors and steering wheel; entry/exit assist for the driver's seat and steering wheel; outside mirrors with reverse tilt-down feature; two-way power driver's seat lumbar support; a coat hanger on the driver's seat head rest; eight-way power passenger's seat; and a power folding second-row seat.
Versions with the Bose premium audio system and without the navigation system have a 2-gigabyte hard drive for onboard music storage.
The lane-departure prevention system, which goes beyond the lane-departure warning systems on some other luxury vehicles, detects the vehicle drifting out of its traffic lane, then engages the brakes slightly to give the car a gentle push back into its lane.
The EX also has Infiniti's Scratch Shield exterior paint, which self-heals small scratches — such as those from fingernails under the door handles. The process can take from a day to a week, depending on the outside temperature and the depth of the scratch.
This is possible because of a special soft elastic resin in the clearcoat paint. It can't fix severe scratches, though.
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