3
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Premium compact SUV; Built in Japan
  • 4-door wagon
  • longitudinal front-engine/rear- or all-wheel drive
Good condition price range: $8,900 – $33,700*


2008 Infiniti EX35 Front


2008 Infiniti EX35 Rear


2008 Infiniti EX35 Interior


2008 Infiniti EX35 Rear

Pros:
  • Acceleration
  • Handling/roadholding
  • Interior materials
Cons:
  • Rear-seat room

With its smooth, powerful engine and well-appointed cabin, the EX35 is a sporty, more luxurious alternative to Acura’s RDX. If you’re impressed by the G35/G37 sedan’s comfortable, posh interior, sporty performance, and available all-wheel drive but need more cargo utility, the EX35 is worth a close look.

Overview

The 2008 Infiniti EX35 was a new premium compact sport-utility vehicle from the Japanese automaker. In 2013, the model name was changed to EX37 and in 2014 yet another name change resulted in QX50. This four-door wagon seated five and shared its platform and powertrain with Infiniti’s G35 midsize sedan. Powered by a 297-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 coupled to a five-speed automatic transmission with manual shift mode, EX came in base and Journey trim levels. Both were available with rear-wheel or all-wheel drive. The AWD system included a snow mode that locked in a 50/50 front/rear power split. Standard safety features included antilock brakes, traction control, an antiskid system, curtain side airbags, and front side airbags.

Options included a navigation system, rearview camera, sunroof, leather upholstery, 9.3-gigabyte hard drive for storing digital music files, plus two Infiniti firsts. Around View Monitoring used four cameras to show the driver the entire circumference of the exterior on the navigation screen. All the angles could be viewed separately on the navigation screen, or together as one cohesive image of the whole vehicle. If the driver got too close to a stationary object in any direction, a warning sounded. The second new option was Lane Departure Prevention, which gauged where the vehicle was in relationship to the lines on the road. If it sensed that the vehicle was going out of those lines at above 45 mph, a warning signal sounded and the vehicle’s stability control system was activated to bring it back to the correct side of the line. With its EX35, Nissan’s luxury division competed against the Acura RDX, BMW X3, and Land Rover LR2.

Yearly Updates

2009 EX35
Several content changes marked the 2009 models. The base model now contained standard leather-appointed seating, a RearView monitor, rear climate-control vents, and polished aluminum roof rails. The Journey edition added a standard six-disc CD changer, power tilt/telescoping steering column, coat hanger on the driver’s headrest, and dual-zone automatic temperature control.
2010 EX35
Among the newly available features on the 2010 EX35 were a USB port for connecting digital music players; real-time traffic, weather, and restaurant information as part of the navigation system; and a 2-gigabyte hard drive for storing music files on models not equipped with navigation.
2011 EX35
The 2011 Infiniti EX35 got a new 7-speed automatic transmission to replace the previous 5-speed automatic.
2012 EX35
There were no changes of note to the 2012 Infiniti EX35.
2013 EX35
As its name suffix change indicates, the 2013 Infiniti EX traded its 3.5-liter V6 engine for slightly larger and more powerful 3.7-liter unit. Other than that, that model was basically carried over from 2012.
2014 QX50
Infiniti revamped its model names for 2014; all Infiniti cars carried a “Q” prefix and all SUVs started with “QX.” The 2014 QX50 was formerly known as the EX37, and was not significantly changed other than its new name.

Engines

longitudinal front-engine/rear- or all-wheel drive

Only one engine was available for the EX35: A 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 297 horsepower. Early models had a five-speed automatic transmission that was replaced by an 7-speed for 2011. The EX37 and QX50 were powered by a 325-horsepower 3.7-liter V6 mated to a 7-speed automatic transmission. Rear-drive and all-wheel-drive models have been offered.

dohc V6
Engine Size (liters/cubic inches) 3.5/213
Engine HP 297
Engine Torque (lb-ft) 253
Avail. Trans. EPA MPG (city/hwy) MPG avg. as tested
5-speed automatic
7-speed automatic 		16/23
17/24 		21
dohc V6
Engine Size (liters/cubic inches) 3.7/226
Engine HP 325
Engine Torque (lb-ft) 267
Avail. Trans. EPA MPG (city/hwy) MPG avg. as tested
7-speed automatic

 17/25

Road Test

With either the five-speed or new-for-2011 seven-speed automatic, acceleration is a high point. EX35 is strong from a stop and executes passing maneuvers with ease. An AWD model with the five-speed automatic reached 60 mph in 7.4 seconds, but it feels even stronger than that figure suggests. The EX35’s automatic transmission is generally smooth, with prompt downshifts.

Fuel economy is reasonably good for its class considering the EX35’s available power. A 2WD with five-speed automatic averaged 21.2 mpg versus 20.8 mpg for an AWD version. An AWD with the seven-speed automatic averaged 14.7 in mostly city driving. The EX35 requires premium-grade fuel.

Ride quality is another bonus. EX35 is smooth and stable on its standard 17-inch tires. Small pavement imperfections are absorbed well and only larger bumps jar appreciably. Tested vehicles had the available 18-inch wheels, which extract a small toll in overall ride comfort.

Overall handling is car-like, as the EX corners well and exhibits only slightly more body lean than the company’s G35 sedan. A relatively tight turning radius helps low-speed maneuverability. Brakes are smooth-operating and strong. The helpful optional Lane Departure Prevention system uses subtle braking impulses and beeps to alert the driver of potential wandering at speeds above 45 mph, and then corrects the vehicle’s direction.

EX35’s cabin is fairly well isolated from tire and wind noise, though modest road noise can be heard over coarse surfaces. The engine emits a gratifying, brawny growl during brisk acceleration.

Both models have a 7-inch dashboard screen (whether or not a navigation system is installed), and many functions work through controls mounted horizontally below the screen. Infiniti’s navigation system itself is refreshingly easy to use, and many audio and climate functions are separate from it. The optional Around View Monitoring system displays four views of the vehicle on the navigation screen and is easy to use. Optional Lane Departure Prevention turns on and off via a steering-wheel-mounted button. Models with the power-folding rear seat feature two power-fold buttons: One on the center console and one closer to the hatch.

Cabin assembly is top-notch, and soft-touch surfaces abound. The Luxe Elite package’s plush leather is accented by metal trim throughout the cabin and imparts a classy look and feel. If installed, a fold-down coat hanger behind the driver’s seat is a nice convenience feature that should have been standard all along.

Front-seat headroom and legroom are good for average-sized drivers, but taller folks may need more space. The comfortable driving position is enhanced by a slightly elevated ride height and supportive, bolstered seats. Huge side mirrors help rearward visibility, which is badly hampered by the small, raked rear window and second-row headrests.

Rear-seat headroom is ample, but legroom is tight even if seats are not positioned far back. Bolstered seats are supportive and comfortable. Wide swinging doors help ease entry/exit through a small, narrow opening.

Cargo space scores highly. The EX35’s wide-opening hatch and fairly low height aid in loading cargo. The optional power-folding second row creates a nearly flat load floor with ease. EX35’s cabin features a large glovebox and deep center console, but has shallow door pockets.

Ratings

Model Tested: 2009 EX35 Journey w/AWD

Ratings values are on a 1-10 scale, with 10 being the best. With the exception of Value, these numbers reflect how the vehicle compares against the universe of vehicles, not just against rivals in its class.

Performance

Acceleration - 7
70%
Fuel Economy - 4
40%
Ride Quality - 6
60%
Steering/Handling - 7
70%
Quietness - 7
70%

Accommodations

Controls/Materials - 7
70%
Room/Comfort Front - 7
70%
Room/Comfort Rear - 4
40%
Cargo Room - 7
70%

Other

Value - 8
80%

Total: 64

Specifications

4-door wagon
Wheelbase (in.) Length (in.) Width (in.) Height (in.) Weight (lbs)
110.2 182.3 71.0 61.9
Cargo Volume (cu/ft) Payload Capacity (cu/ft) Fuel Capacity (gal.) Seating Capacity
18.6 20.0 5.0
Headroom Legroom
Front Rear Front Rear
40.5 38.4 44.3 28.5
Safety Ratings

Model Tested: 2008 EX35 4-door wagon

NHTSA

(5 is the highest rating)

Front Impact Test

Driver Injury - 4
80%
Front Passenger Injury - 4
80%

Side Impact Test

Driver Injury - 5
100%
Rear Passenger Injury - 5
100%

HLDI

(A score of 100 is average. Lower is better)

Collision N/A
Injury N/A
Theft N/A

Trouble Spots

Doors
Description: Intelligent key may not lock or unlock doors. (2010-11)
Fuel pump
Description: A buzzing noise may come from the fuel pump which may be damaged by some types of fuel and there was a campaign to replace the pump. (2008)
Heater core
Description: A tapping noise from behind the dash, which changes with engine speed, is likely due to debris in the heater core which must be back flushed. (2008)
Rear axle noise
Description: A clicking noise may come from the rear axles requiring fresh coat of grease on the axle flanges following cleaning. (2008-09)
Electrical problem
Description: Damaged brake wiring may cause slow brake performance and poor acceleration. (2012)

Recall History

2007-08
Description: Sensor in passenger seat cushion may fail, preventing the air bag from deploying in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
2008
Description: Due to incorrect software programming, airbag control unit may cause passenger airbags not to operate as intended if battery becomes significantly discharged.
2008 w/Continental Automotive Systems occupant classification system control unit:
Description: Control unit under passenger seat cushion may be out of specification; under certain conditions, passenger airbags could be suppressed in a crash.
2008 EX35 with power tilt/telescopic steering wheel
Description: A bearing in the upper steering column could fail resulting in extra play or loss of steering.
2008-10 EX35 w/aftermarket Curt trailer hitch
Description: When hitch is loaded to maximum rating, bumper structure of vehicle may pull away from vehicle frame.

Equipment Lists

Equipment lists are only viewable on larger screen sizes.

Pricing

Used-car pricing varies widely depending on local market conditions. Therefore, we recommend visiting websites that list used cars for sale to get a better idea of what a specific model is selling for in your area.

More about Tom Appel
Written by: Tom Appel on April 21, 2016.
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