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The Infiniti EX35 compact crossover is now in its second year on the market, and it’s still a favorite of mine even though there seems to be no end to the arrival of new crossovers from all the automakers.
This is a fancier crossover than the Nissan Rogue I tested recently, and even though they are about the same size and from the same manufacturer (Nissan), they are not the same vehicle underneath. In other words, the EX35 is not just a fancy version of the Rogue the way the Acura MDX is a fancier version of the Honda Pilot. For those who like sporty cars and the fun they bring to the driving experience, the EX35 is sure to please, as it actually is built on the same chassis as the Infiniti G37 sedan, as its bigger brother, the Infiniti FX. The Rogue is a front-wheel-drive vehicle based on the chassis of the Nissan Altima sedan. Infiniti says the EX35 (base price $33,800 plus $865 freight) was aimed at women. I can’t argue with that. My first thought as I saw this vehicle for the first time last year was "Sassy!" It’s a vehicle that to me is just as much elegant as it is fun to drive. It has plenty of get-up-and-go under its curvy, feminine hood to satisfy even the fragile male ego. But ladies like some power, too, for safety reasons, and the 3.5-liter V-6 engine with 297 horsepower and 253 foot-pounds of torque delivered as promised. Power in a vehicle comes in handy for me as I leave the subdivision where I live and turn onto a country road traveled by large rock-haulers. I have to feel safe and confident in the handling of my vehicle, and the EX35 handles with grace and ease as well as power. The car’s five-speed automatic transmission comes with a manual shift mode, although that’s not something I use much while driving in city traffic. It can be fun out on curvy, sparsely traveled country roads. The transmission also includes a sport mode for better acceleration, and adaptive shift control, which tunes itself to the driver’s style. The EX35 comes with a four-wheel independent suspension, and it has speed-sensitive power steering. Included in the safety features are four-wheel antilock power disc brakes with electronic brake force distribution and brake assist, electronic stability control, and traction control. My car’s really pleasing interior was a combination of wonderful warm chocolate-brown leather trimmed with black lacquer and aluminum. The headliner was a lightly textured wheat tone. The EX35’s exterior is protected by Scratch Shield paint and the interior is protected by the green-tinted UV-reducing glass windows, including the power sliding moon roof with one-touch open/close and tilt feature, and, of course, a sliding sunshade. The exterior paint is designed to heal itself after a minor scratch, with the length of time it takes to accomplish this dependent on the exterior temperature – the warmer it is outside, the faster the scratch disappears. If somebody keys the car down to the bare metal, though, Scratch Shield is out of its league.
@Nyx.CommentBody@