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- 18,098 below average suv 68,443 gasoline automatic
2010 Infiniti EX35 Review This car review is specific to this model, not the actual vehicle for sale. Small luxury crossover drives like a car. IntroductionThe Infiniti EX35 is a crossover SUV, smaller than the Infiniti FX. It strikes a balance between sportiness and luxury. The cabin boasts rich, soft-touch materials and a stylish design. All of the controls are within easy reach. The EX35 is brimming with technology. For example, the Around View Monitor shows obstacles 360 degrees around the vehicle, there's a hard drive available with 9.3 gigabytes of storage space for music files. Both rows are easy to enter and exit, thanks to the EX35's ride height, which is higher than a sedan, but not as high as most SUVs. Cargo room is plentiful thanks to the hatchback design, though many SUVs offer more space. An power-folding second row eases the process of loading items in the back, and they can be brought back up from the driver's seat, handy when pulling up to the curb to pick up passengers. Under the hood is Nissan's superb 3.5-liter V6. It makes 297 horsepower and is mated to a five-speed automatic transmission that has a manual shiftgate but no paddle shifters. We were pleased by the EX35's ready power. Fuel economy is an EPA-estimated 16/23 mpg city/highway. We found the EX35 drives like a sports sedan with a slightly elevated ride height. The EX35 comes with a choice of rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive. The AWD is meant for on-road use and is very beneficial in foul weather. We found the handling responsive, and the brakes and steering feel natural and inspire confidence. The EX35 rides more smoothly the larger FX, and it isn't as firm as the BMW X3. Even with the available 18-inch wheels, the EX35 smoothes out the bumps without jolting passengers. With its carlike handling, powerful engine, and useful cargo room, the Infiniti EX35 is a fine alternative to larger, more cumbersome SUVs. The smooth ride and rich, classy interior add to the appeal. Every EX35 is powered by a 297-hp 3.5-liter V6. For 2010, a Bluetooth hands-free phone system with steering-wheel mounted controls is standard. The Navigation Package (no charge) includes XM NavTraffic, XM NavWeather, and Zagat restaurant guide; plus voice recognition for audio and navigation, 9.3GB Music Box, in-dash single-disc DVD audio/video drive, and streaming audio via Bluetooth. Options include the Bose Around View Monitor Package ($2,150). The package includes front and rear sonar park assist, a Bose premium audio system with 11 speakers (including 2 subwoofers) and 2.0GB Music Box hard drive, and an Advanced Climate Control System with auto-recirculation, grape polyphenol filter and Plasmacluster technology. The Premium Package ($1,750) adds a memory function for the driver's seat, steering wheel and outside mirrors (with tilt-down in reverse); eight-way power front passenger's seat; driver's seat power lumbar support; xenon headlights with AFS; HomeLink Universal Transceiver; premium stitching on the instrument hood; power remote rear seat; headrest coat hangers; and aluminum roof rails. The Technology Package ($2,250) includes active safety features including Lane Departure Warning and Lane Departure Prevention, Intelligent Cruise Control, Distance Control Assist, and Intelligent Brake Assist with Forward Collision Warning. High-performance P225/55VR18 all-season tires on eight-spoke aluminum alloy wheels ($500) are available. Aluminum roof rails ($250) are a stand-alone option on any model. Dealers can install aluminum roof rack crossbars ($240) and a cargo organizer ($150). Safety features that come standard on all models include dual front airbags; torso-protecting, seat-mounted front side airbags; head-protecting curtain side airbags; LATCH child seat anchors; active front head restraints; antilock brakes with brake assist and electronic brake-force distribution; traction control; electronic stability control; and a rear-view monitor. WalkaroundThe Infiniti EX35 is more car-like than SUV-like. It looks like a coupe crossed with a wagon. It sits lower than a typical crossover, and has a sporty, swept back appearance. The cat's-eye headlights have been subtly reshaped for 2010. From the front, the EX35 looks strikingly similar to the Infiniti G37 sedan. In the rearview mirror, it's hard to tell the two apart, with their similar grilles and fascia. Its slightly raised stance and larger side mirrors are good indicators that the sporty vehicle behind is the crossover, not the sedan. Also distinguishing the EX35 and G37 are the different shapes of the air intakes in the front fascia. Like that of the G37 sedan, the EX35 front end has curvaceous, organic shapes that flow into body sides marked by prominent wheel openings pushed to the corners. But while the cross-section of the sedan is a single, unbroken curve, the EX sports a graceful character line flowing from front to rear, dipping in the middle and sweeping up at the back to give the crossover a sporty rake. The greenhouse appears to be pushed back, and the roof line sweeps down at the rear in a coupe-like manner. This brings the top of the rear hatch forward to almost the rear edge of the rear doors. The EX35 looks most like an SUV from the rear, mostly due to the rear hatch and high-set taillights. In fact, the EX35 shares its basic structure (code-named FM) with the G37 and FX. The EX is nine inches shorter overall than the FX and rides on a 3.4-inch shorter wheelbase. The EX is also lighter than the FX by more than 300 pounds. Scratch Shield paint is available that uses a clear coat developed to maintain the paint's luster longer. Infiniti says it is self-healing. The softer clear coat heals scratches by flowing back to a smooth finish over time with the help of heat. It works quicker in the summer and in hotter climates. InteriorRich, soft-touch materials abound inside the EX35, and there is a general feeling of quality and sophistication. The rounded shapes create a dual-cockpit design with flowing lines that are a natural extension of the exterior. The instrument panel features a large tachometer and speedometer, flanked by the water temperature and fuel gauges. Its central component is a seven-inch screen that comes standard with or without the optional navigation system. The screen has some touch-sensitive controls when ordered with the navigation system, but thankfully doesn't absorb the basic audio or climate controls. Large buttons are laid out below it to move between navigation and audio screens, among others. Infiniti's radio also has A, B and C presets instead of AM and FM presets, another trait that some may find a bit confusing. The center console is nicely sized and there are two cupholders in front of it, but there are no small cubbies to hold keys, cell phones, and other miscellaneous items. The EX35 boasts several unusual technology features. The available navigation system is teamed with a hard drive with 9.3 gigabytes of space to store music files. Music can be ripped directly from CDs. For 2010, models with th.
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