Cars.com Reviews the 2008 Infiniti EX35

Senior editor Joe Wiesenfelder had the tough task of figuring out what exactly Infiniti was thinking when it built the all-new EX35. Sure, on the surface it seems to be a BMW X3, Acura RDX, Land Rover LR3 competitor, but underneath the sexy skin rests a performance vehicle, not a utility one. Check out his full review to learn exactly how that happened.

2008 Infiniti EX35 Expert Review
2008 Infiniti EX35 Videos

Recall Alert: 2009 Nissan Murano, 2008 Infiniti EX35

Two major new products from Nissan are being recalled due to a software glitch that could cause passenger airbags to fail during a crash.

The recall affects 11,511 2009 Nissan Muranos, which went on sale just this month, and 4,854 2008 Infiniti EX35s, which went on sale in late 2007. Nissan will reprogram the software to fix the problem; it should be an easy fix to a potentially dangerous problem.

First-year models often have growing pains with problems like this, but sometimes news of a recall can sway potential buyers of a new model.

Owners can contact Infiniti at 1-800-662-6200 and Nissan at 1-800-647-7261 for more information.

Nissan Recalls Murano, Infiniti SUVs for Airbag (Bloomberg)

Infiniti EX35 Named Top Safety Pick

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety added the Infiniti EX35 luxury SUV to its list of Top Safety Picks for 2008. In order to qualify for the award, a vehicle must have top ratings in front-, side- and rear-impact crash tests and be equipped with electronic stability control.

IIHS has added 13 vehicles to its list this year, as manufacturers have introduced new models or improved existing ones, and the EX35 is the most recent to make the list. Other SUVs named Top Safety Picks include other luxury SUVs like the Lincoln MKX, Mercedes M-Class and BMW’s X3 and X5, both of which were also added this year.

2008 Infiniti EX35 Priced Less Than $32,000

Infiniti's entry-level crossover SUV will have a starting price of $31,300 for the base, rear-wheel-drive model, which puts it below competitors like the Acura RDX, BMW X3 and Land Rover LR2, all of which feature standard all-wheel drive. The EX35 hits dealerships Dec. 21. Here's a pricing breakdown by trim level:

• EX35 RWD: $31,300
• EX35 AWD: $32,700
• EX35 RWD Journey: $34,850
• EX35 AWD Journey: $36,250

Even the most expensive version of the EX35 is almost $2,000 less than a BMW X3, and it features a more powerful six-cylinder engine that produces 297 hp. Additional standard features include a five-speed automatic transmission that has a clutchless-manual mode, 17-inch alloy wheels, aluminum trim in the cabin and an eight-way power driver's seat.

The Journey version adds a power moonroof, leather upholstery, a power-folding second row, automatic headlights, and front and rear parking sensors.

The EX35 has received much attention lately for its Around View Monitor system and Lane Departure Prevention, and those features are included in a $1,950 Technology Package that also includes adaptive cruise control. A full list of options follows.

Video: 2008 Infiniti EX35 Tech Features

So we’ve talked about our initial driving impressions of the new Infiniti EX35, and shown a video of it as well. Now, Kelsey Mays walks you through three of the more interesting technology innovations on the compact SUV. Because Infiniti is using the EX35 as a launch pad for these systems, expect to see options like the Around View Monitor and Lane Departure Prevention system added to other models in the near future. For now, check them out in action above.

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Video: 2008 Infiniti EX35 (KickingTires)
First Drive: 2008 Infiniti EX35 (KickingTires)

First Drive: 2008 Infiniti EX35

Recently, a few of us from Cars.com were lucky enough to spend some time in Infiniti’s new EX35 compact SUV. While we didn’t have enough time to develop a full review — expect one closer to the car’s on-sale date — we did have some initial thoughts on the driving experience.

• The weird thing about the EX35 is that it truly handles like a car, more specifically, it handles a lot like the Infiniti G35, right down to the roughness you would expect from a sports sedan, not an SUV. The Acura RDX has a similar ride, so you can’t really dock points there. The interior is really nice. Infiniti is going with an opulent look with lots of detail in the upholstery, which is unusual. Tech features like the Around View Monitor and Lane Departure Prevention worked the way you would want them to and were surprisingly natural to the driver.
  
  The real downside of the EX35 is the lack of SUV-ness. It doesn’t ride like an SUV and the cargo area is tiny and not too utilitarian, even when the rear seats are folded. I’m left thinking Infiniti built a nicer-equipped and finished G35, not a great small SUV.  — David Thomas

Video: 2008 Infiniti EX35

Above is the first of two videos we recently shot of Infiniti’s entry in the luxury compact-SUV market, the EX35. Kelsey Mays walks you through the styling and interior features of the company’s answer to the BMW X3 and Acura RDX. We’ll be following up with a video on the car’s tech features, including the around-view monitor and lane departure correction system, as well as some initial thoughts from our reviewers. Enjoy.

First Look: 2008 Infiniti EX35 Compact SUV

• Competes with: BMW X3, Acura RDX
• Looks like: A lifted G35 sedan
• Drivetrain: 290-hp, 3.5-liter V-6, with five-speed automatic; all-wheel drive
• Hits dealerships: Winter 2007

The luxury compact SUV market is a small one and Infiniti is entering the fray with a bang. The all-new EX35 will sport the same engine as the new G35 sedan but with less horsepower, an estimated “290-plus” hp. That’s quite a bit of power for a small utility vehicle, but having a power advantage over the Acura RDX and the BMW X3 immediately gives shoppers a reason to wait for the EX35 to arrive at dealers.

The list of features on the EX35 is long but a few of the niftiest toys is a “scratch shield” paint that is self healing and can repair light scratches over time. There’s also an optional Around View Monitor system that shows the driver a 360 degree representation of the vehicle and surrounding obstacles. A lane departure warning system will also be optional.

We’ll have more information, prices and photos on the EX35 as more information becomes available. You can find a few more photos, including one of the interior, below.   

Infiniti's New Around View Monitor

When Infiniti announced its new EX yesterday, it mentioned it will be the first vehicle to offer a new technology they’re calling the Around View Monitor. We didn’t know all the specs then, but we do now. The system includes four cameras mounted on the front, rear and both side mirrors. A display screen on the dash actually shows a sky view of the vehicle and its surroundings. It’s a bit extreme in our mind; we'd rather perfect our own parking skills rather than rely on technology, but this might become more common place.

Click below for a video of the system in action. You won't believe where the front camera is.

2007 New York Auto Show: Infiniti EX Concept

Infiniti is calling this new compact crossover a concept, but the EX will reach production this year and the final product will look remarkably like this when it arrives at dealerships before the end of 2007.

Infiniti isn’t revealing much about the engine, but we’re guessing it will be a version of the 3.5-liter V-6 found in the G35 sedan, though producing much less power. There could also be a highly tuned four-cylinder like the one in the Nissan SE-R, but we don’t want to speculate too much.

What we do know is there will be two technological gadgets in the EX. One is a lane-departure warning system so you don’t wander into another lane of traffic. The other is much more interesting: Called the Around View Monitor, it uses cameras on the front, side and rear of the car to allow the driver to see more of the blind spots in parking situations.

We’ll learn more about the EX next week at the New York Auto Show, but from the initial image and the fact that this will be out soon, we’re pretty excited as of now.

Click here for a larger image.