The Infiniti EX35 is a different type of compact luxury crossover. It isn’t the roomiest, but it may be the best handling and best looking of the bunch.
The EX35’s looks are one of the things I like most. No “family truckster” looks here, no sir. The EX35 looks “fast and ready to go” inside and out. The interior is upscale and delivers on comfort and quietness. The instrument panel is cockpit style that wraps around the driver and fades into a wide center stack a large NAV screen, audio, and climate controls. The gauges are elegant and refined, and the wood and leather have matte finishes.
The EX35s 297-hp, 3.5-liter V-6 pulls strongly, and the seven-speed automatic shifts flawlessly. It is so smooth that it almost feels like a CVT transmission. Endowed with RWD and plenty of power, performance is brisk. Luckily, handling is good, borderline extraordinary, for a CUV.
While the EX35’s looks good, those sexy lines take a little away from interior space. Front seat room is good, but the back seat is pretty short on head and legroom.
Safety wise, the EX35 earned top pick from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, and the NHTSA. The EX35 comes with a ton of safety features such as: Airbags everytwhere, Lane Departure Warning and Prevention, Blind Spot Warning, 360-degree Camera Monitoring, and backup Cameras.
While the EX35 may not be perfect for bigger families, for someone like me it works great.
Style: Compact Crossover Utility Vehicle (CUV)
Engine: 297HP 3.5 Liter V6
Transmission: 7 Spd AT
Highest MPG City/MPG Highway: 17/24
Trim Designations: RWD and AWD
Base Price: $37,900 $46,395 as tested
What I Liked: MPG and Handling
What I Would Change: Better and more cup holders.
Star Rating: 1-5 My take is: 4.
