2008 Infiniti EX35

In the past ten years it has become fashionable for car companies to create unlimited stratifications in their model lineup in order to wedge as many different vehicles within the same general category as possible. SUV’s and crossovers are a perfect example of this type of marketing behavior. It seems that there are large SUV’s, small SUV’s, mid-size SUV’s, mini-SUV’s and of course, an SUV to fit in between each of these categorizations. Since many of these vehicles only have a size difference of a few inches in between them, and are mostly powered by the same range of engine options, it can be tedious and confusing to differentiate one from the other and know which is the best buy.

The Infiniti EX35 takes the same platform used by the G35 sedan, jacks it up, adds all-wheel drive and brands itself a crossover. Why exactly the executives at Infiniti felt that the market was screaming for an off-road version of their popular sports sedan is unclear, but here it is. The front end of the EX35 is an almost dead ringer for the car it is based on, but the rest of the vehicle’s styling is suggestive of the Acura RDX, one of the most bland SUV’s currently on the road. Unlike the attractive FX35, which is the SUV positioned one segment above the EX, this smaller sport utility vehicle does not seem to really have much visual personality. The rear of the vehicle suffers from being a mishmash of the FX and the Nissan Murano, and all told, the 2008 Infiniti EX35 is an anonymous automobile at best.

Under the hood, however, things get a little more interesting. The EX makes use of Nissan’s corporate V6, a 3.5 liter engine that produces 290 horsepower. Mated with a 5-speed automatic transmission, this provides more than enough motivation to make the EX fun to drive. The excellent driving dynamics are aided and abetted by the fact that the G35 platform has been essentially unchanged, allowing for a ride that is a lot more exciting than an SUV really should be. However, this use of an identical setup also limits the ability of the crossover to actually perform any kind of off-road duties. Even with the increased ride height, taking the 2008 Infiniti EX35 onto a trail would be an exercise in caution and frustration. It is simply not designed to plough through the wilderness.

To make up for these inadequacies, drives are given plenty of toys to play with. Like many trucks and SUV’s, the EX has a rear-mounted bumper cam which displays a view behind the car when shifted into reverse. However, Infiniti takes things an extra step further with their ‘Around View Monitor’, which gives a split-screen view that also includes the right side of the car, which can often be difficult for the driver to see. The EX also comes with a lane-departure warning system, a unique ‘self-healing’ paint that uses nano-technology to repair scratches and nicks, and all of the luxury goodies that can be found in the G35.

The 2008 Infiniti EX35 is a vehicle which has no real shortcomings, but neither does it have any unique or special attributes with which to recommend it. As an SUV, it is not capable of towing a heavy load or hauling a lot of cargo, and as a crossover, it merely uses the extra ride height to make it a bit more difficult to park than the standard Infiniti sedan. With the FX35 being a much more attractive, larger and useful vehicle, it is difficult to see where the 2008 Infiniti EX35 fits into the Infiniti lineup.






Images were reprinted with permissions from original author Rod Brito! Content was written by Benjamin Hunting for www.sport-cars.org only and you MAY NOT copy, distribute or use this page's content for any commercial or non-commerical purpose without written permission of this site owner and photos authors!
June 25, 2008, 9:04 am