AUDACITY AND HOPE
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Published on Sat, Feb 7, 2009
By: The LACar Editorial Staff
AUDACITY AND HOPE
The Infiniti EX35 AWD Journey might be the Obama
of the crossover genre. It offers high expectations and perhaps a healthy dose
of hope. But will it deliver the goods once it gets rolling? The EX tries real
hard to offer something for everyone and pulls it off, err, nine times out of
ten.
In my mind this is what a cross-over should be. As we Angelinos know, the
off-road adventures experienced by the average driver in the greater L.A. County
area are all but nil, the idea of getting dirty is absurd. (This is not to say
that there aren't an abundance of off-road possibilities in the greater L.A.
County, there are, it's just that the average L.A. County SUV never leaves the
safety and comfort of the pavement.) So, the real meaning of sport in this neck
of the woods means on-road fun. Freeways and streets are the destination, and
the transportation should be created for that purpose. The new Infiniti does
address this need far better than one would expect.
This vehicle feels fast. The 3.5-liter V6 feels far larger than it is. I would
actually go so far as to say that the EX35 embarrasses most other SUV's with its
blend of speed and handling. Those behemoths of the roadway are sloppy in nearly
every way, albeit there have been some big strides made compared to just several
years ago. The nimbleness and speed that the EX provides is really the death
blow to the SUV.
The EX does however give up seating to those behemoths. Four average size humans
are the total that can be squeezed into the Infiniti without crushing anyone.
The cargo area is nicely trimmed, but it too is not as plentiful as the bigger
transports. Well, maybe the SUVs do have a reason to exist after all.
The EX35 does get moving in a hurry. And at the cost of burning a few more
natural resources than may be necessary, it is able to provide a good dose of
fun. You sink into the seats with a quick stab at the accelerator pedal. Without
too much effort, the EX bests the typical SUV in handling, but this is not to
say that we are talking about sports car handling. The EX35 does try really hard
, and while the 297 horses do tease and tempt the driver, 3,953 pounds is just
too much weight. Sporty yes, sports car no.
The higher ride height does prevent the EX35 from being able to negotiate a
slalom in a flat manner. At the same time, the Infiniti should get some credit
for not being too wobbly either. Independent suspension front and rear is one of
the reasons why. One of the clever features that assists in keeping the EX
between the lines is the Lane Departure Prevention/Warning Systems. This baby
beeps when it senses the driver drifting out of the chosen lane. The vehicle
handles well enough that any warning is more than likely attributed to user
error. The system is a bit jumpy though, so the beeping does get a bit annoying.
Fortunately it can be turned off.
Handling well enough is fine for most, however this is supposed to be a notch
above the rest. The original equipment tires, Dunlop Sport 7000 All-Season
aren't really the performance rubber needed to wring out the most from the EX35.
The tires do offer a blend of smooth driving over road imperfections, and
ability to handle less than optimal weather conditions, but this feels like a
compromise in the performance department.
The Dunlops reside upon some elegant 18" factory wheels. These get high marks in
terms of both design and finish. Styling is always a tough call as everybody has
a different opinion, just like ice cream. Chocolate or vanilla, which is better?
Nevertheless, the rims are hard to fault.
The exterior design is a little bolder, and a bit sophisticated in the graceful,
flowing shapes. The feeling of the hood is organic and not easily confused with
other vehicles. And best of all, this looks the part. This is refined, and also
has a dynamic, physical appearance that one takes seriously. Infiniti seemed to
have a particular goal in mind when developing this, and took the necessary time
to achieve it. It seems that the final product was a result of continuous
refining.
The interior is a different story. The layout is functional, but it doesn't
reflect the same care that the exterior exhibits. The shortcomings range from a
smallish overall cabin size and feel, mismatched interior material colors, no
mute on the steering wheel, the short iPod cord, plus the plug-in doesn't
properly recognize iPhones, and the use of squarish looking buttons in a vehicle
that is emphasizing an organic look. The glove box is all but useless, and it's
easy to accidentally have pieces fall behind the back panel of the box. It
should be mentioned that the otherwise nice sunroof is for the most part behind
the driver's head, unless the driver has the seat very far aft. More
importantly, the mirrors obstruct too much visibility, which are a fashion no-no
and a minor safety issue.
Infiniti does offer the multiple packages that refine the EX even further.
Features include a step up in audio and memory for most of the major
electrically operated components from seats to steering. A very welcome feature
is the Bluetooth hands free phone system. The Luxe Package is the upgraded
leather accents, Bi-Xenon headlights and Adaptive Front Lighting System (AFS),
plus 18-inch rims. The Navigation Package as one would guess encompasses a hard
drive based nav, voice recognition for HVAC, audio and navigation. Additionally,
a 9.3 gig music box and rearview monitor are part of the deal.
And in a quest for something unusual Infiniti provides the Around View Monitor
(AVM), a 360-degree overhead camera. This near bird's-eye view does offer a
complete view of the surroundings, however I can get almost the same result by
turning my head so that I can look over my shoulders. Have we really gotten this
lazy? I have to wonder if this will be an example of just how ridiculous our
society has become. I do applaud the ability to scan or sense objects that might
be hard to otherwise see, but I just hope this isn't an excuse to abandon good
driving habits.
The AVM is just one part of the Technology Package that also includes the Lane
Departure Prevention System, and Lane Departure Warning System. Intelligent
Cruise Control also is part of the package at a mere $1,950.00. A bevy of
standard features include outside power folding mirrors, one touch power tilt,
and slide sunroof with sunshade. The interior holds price appropriate features
like 8-way power seats with manual lumbar for the driver (4-way for passengers),
aluminum trim (wood optional), full color 7" information system, trip computer,
auto climate control, and rear heating ducts. Other niceties include cruise
control, steering wheel mounted controls, and Infiniti Intelligent Key with
push-button ignition system. Standard safety systems range from airbags to
belts, and zone body construction to front-seat active head restraints.
The deep cup holders that hide away are welcome to anyone who enjoys a real size
beverage for the road. This is comfortable if nothing else. The high driving
position and ergonomics make this enjoyable as well as comfortable. In spite of
the interior issues, the EX does offer up all of the bells and whistles that
Infiniti is known for. The cup holders are standard fare, but the other options
take the sticker from a moderate 36K to a tick over 45K.
The EX35 Journey does offer all manner of tricks to keep us entertained. Some of
this works, and some just don't. Is it better to have high expectations, but
fall short, or is it superior to have more realistic expectations and exceed in
every respect? I think our new President might just say, one hopes for the best
of everything!
SUMMARY JUDGMENT
The crossover that offers something for everyone, but lacks a singular purpose.
For LA Car's review of the rear-wheel drive EX35, click
www.lacar.com
Find more at www.infiniti.com
SPECIFICATIONS
Name of vehicle:
Infiniti EX35 AWD Journey
Price: Base $36,250, as tested $45,015
Engine type:
VQ35 DOHC, 24-valve, aluminum-alloy block and head, V6
EPA mileage estimates City/ Highway: 16/23
Horsepower: 297 @ 6.800 rpm
Torque: 253 lb.-ft @ 4,800 rpm
Drive configuration: Front engine / all-wheel drive
Transmission type:
5-speed, electronic controlled automatic overdrive transmission with manual
shift mode and Downshift Rev Matching
Suspension:
Front: Subframe-mounted independent double-wishbone, aluminum-alloy upper and
lower links, high-performance dual-flow pass shock absorbers, stabilizer bar
Rear: Independent multi-link design, aluminum-alloy upper and lower links and
axle housing, high-performance dual-flow pass shock absorbers, stabilizer bar
Wheels and tires:
Front: Standard: 17-seven spoke aluminum-alloy with metallic finish, 225/60R/17,
Optional 18" 8-spoke aluminum-alloy, 225/55R/18
Rear: 17-seven spoke aluminum-alloy with metallic finish, 225/60R/17, Optional
18" 8-spoke aluminum-alloy, 225/55R/18
Brakes:
Front: Vented discs 12.6" x 1.1"
Rear: Vented discs 12.1" x .6"
Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist (BA), 4-channel,
4-sensor, 4-wheel ABS
Overall length: 182.3"
Overall width: 71"
Overall height: 61.9" w/o racks
Curb weight: 3,953 lbs