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Compact SUVs are typically doing pretty well all over. I think there is more wrong with the RDX than meets the eye. The gas mileage while still a 4-cyl, for one, really doesn't do it for me.
The EX35 will be much faster. Its truly a SPORTutility. It is a niche market, to be sure, and Infiniti doesn't plan on selling many, from what I've read. But, as far as I can see, there are no true competitors for it. 300hp, RWD, 25mpg, $32k with a hair of utility thrown in? I just see winner written all over this thing.
With loaded up CRVs now in the $27k range, I could see people easily stepping up to the premium segment for just a bit more jingle.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
You are kidding right. You are not going to find this car at anywhere near $32k. If you want an EX35 that will be available for purchase anytime soon, expect to buy quite a few options (whether you want them or not) and expect to pay much closer to $40k+ (ie. 50% more jingle).
Now the front seat is somewhat tight, the back seat doesn't exist, storage/trunk area is small, it cost some real jingle, motor trend cuv of the month or a day or two. Got to see this for myself.
If you want an EX35 that will be available for purchase anytime soon
well, I don't. It is certainly not my fault or Infiniti's if someone is in such a rush that they just HAVE to buy whatever is available. The starting price is what the starting price is.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
Automotive magazine has spent a couple of days with the ex 35, first evaluator thought it was comically small. Second evaluator thought the FX was small, but that the EX is borderline ridiculous....rear doors are small and rear door entry/exit is interesting and hard for even small adults. scary!
I went and test drove an EX Journey AWD today. It had the Premium and Navigation packages. The MSRP was $42,965.... ouch! Here are my humble observations.
Ride / Drive / Handling - OMG! This is one of the best drving vehicles I have ever experienced. BMW like handling with Lexus like ride. It hugged the winding road we were on yet took bumps without the jarring slams of the X3. SMOOTH!! Sporty! I was genuinely impressed. It rides better than my TL and feels as, if not more secure in the corners. The steering feel is excellent and the variable assist is great. It never felt artificial. I felt safe while driving. Very solid overall.
Interior Design - Gorgeous. Completely upscale. The best Infiniti interior to date. As upscale as any Lexus. Materials feel high quality. Fit and finish are EXCELLENT! It is very quiet inside too. They must have used extensive sound deadening materials. Much quieter than the G35 and definitely quieter than my TL. Road noise is not intrusive, yet the engine sounds come through and sound great!
Power - The Beach Boys' song Fun Fun Fun comes to mind. The six is SWEET! Powerful from any speed. Exhilerating thrust just like the G35. Very linear in its delivery. Infiniti has fixed the on / off feel of the accelerator. In the '07 G35 I remember having to concentrate on smooth take-offs without spinning the wheels. Not a problem in the EX. Very easy to take off slow or like a dragster if one chooses!
Front Comfort - The seats are extremely comfortable. Plenty of leg room. Not as much shoulder room as my TL, but definitely enough. The front cabin has an intimate feel, yet it doesn't feel too small and definitely did not induce clausterphobia. The leather seating is top notch. Soft and supple, yet supportive in all the right places. It's not sports car sportive and they don't hug you in place like the sport seats in the G35, but they are more comfortable and overall do a great job.
Rear Comfort - Despite the limited amount of room the seat was comfortable. Honestly... I didn't think it would be. I'm 6' tall and was concerned, but I set the driver's seat in a comfortable driving position and then climbed in the back. The leg room was a little tight, but the back of front seats have been designed with knee room in mind. It really was okay. The rear doors open wide to help with getting in and out. There are assist handles which helped also. The opening at the floor is tight, but I didn't have a hard time getting out.
Cargo Space - Definitely sufficient for the people this vehicle was designed for. The power folding feature for the split rear seats is WAY cool. There are buttons on either side of the rear of the cargo area that fold and retract the rear seats. There are two buttons in the center console up front that will retract the rear seats into their upright position. Not sure why you'd need to do that from the front, but it's kind of cool and it's standard on the Journey model. With the rear seats folded the cargo area is great for two people.
Exterior - The fit and finish are excellent. The paint colors I saw were gorgeous. (Black, Platinum, Silver, Blue Slate) I love the Blue Slate. I like it on the G, but it looks more luxurious on the EX.... richer for some reason. Maybe my eyes are going, but it's what I thought at the time. There weren't any uneven gaps in panels. Everything was solid. Doors closed with a high quality ker-thunk, similar to that of a Mercedes-Benz. I drove a new C350 yesterday and the solidness of the EX is similar.
Summary - I LOVE IT!!! It's the perfect size for me, does everything I could want it to do and more, and has everything I could want it to have and more. I don't know if I can justify the price though. ( The $6,000 price difference between it and the Acura RDX may lead me to purchase the RDX even though it is not as powerful or as luxurious and doesn't ride as nice. I can get an RDX at invoice which increases the price gap to $9,000! The RDX is roomier though. Infiniti calls this a "Personal Luxury SUV" and that's exactly what it is. Luxurious, sporty with some utility thrown in. What the hell... it's only money. I think I'll get one!
Thanks for the very comprehensive review! I fully expected all your quality comments regarding the ride, power, interior and exterior having driven an Infiniti since 2002. I still am concerned with front and rear 'comfort' and cargo space. My own road test will take care of that I'm sure. At $43K though, I'll may just wait for the 2009 FX! :confuse:
I have been waiting for this car to come out! I just test drove the EX yesterday. My own review lines up with Edmunds' test. For me, it is ALMOST the perfect car because I do not have children, do not need a back seat, need a hatchback, do not want or need a big top-heavy, SUV. It is like a 2 door SUV! If you need a back seat, don't even bother, the back seat has no leg room. I would probably just leave the seats folded down. A really cool feature is the remote control seat release. It drives like a car, the G35 to be exact, which is also very nice. My gripe (besides the cost, but it is a luxury car) is that the seat base it too high. I am only 5'4", and at the lowest seat level, I almost hit the top of the car with my straight, flat hair. This car was geared towards women - I have a copy of the Infiniti Sales papers - and possibly that is the reason they built the seat higher, but I believe that this willl be an issue for this car. I am going to go back and drive it again, and have my boyfriend check it out as he would be driving it also and see what he thinks, but he is 7" taller than me, so I don't see how it is going to work. Also, you have to pay sticker price for this car, there is no negotiations whatsoever per my sales person. So, for the Journey which includes navigation, it is $41 and some change, and the Journey with the 360 degree camera, it is $44+.
Yes, I am in IL - they had 5 on the lot. I drove one yesterday (I wrote a review today). They are only ordering Journeys which sticker for $41+ - The sales person said they are selling them at sticker price - there are no negotiations. I would assume all the dealerships are going to get the same - Journeys come with Nav and the back up camera and leather. My sales person told me they will not get the base which has cloth seats. I doubt if any of them will, but you never know. I saw the list of the cars they will be getting in the next 2 months (about 12) and all are Journeys $41+ or the Journey with the 360 degree camera - that on is $44+. You will not be able to get one under $41 and some change - I want to say it was $41,454.
I am in OH - the dealer in Cleveland had 5 - 3 are sold already and 2 more. The car is great. Very luxurious and handles great. Next to my 2005 FX, it looks a lot smaller than it feels when you are driving it. It is not a meant to be a huge SUV - it definitely meets my needs. I also drove the Acura RDX, and while that car was decent, there is no comparison.
Now, I know the sticker is pricey. However, if you work for a company that is part of the Infiniti VPP program, the EX model does qualify. The dealer was shocked (and probably disappointed) because he is now selling me the EX for $315 over invoice!!
Grubbs Infiniti in Euless, Texas has an EX on display. Today I played with all the dash controls and seat adjustments I could find.
We do not need a roomy back seat, but I did sit in them and they were adequate for our needs (5'9" and 5'5".)
The sticker was $40,000 and it had options and packages way beyond what I would find necessary. Anyway, I hope I hear more from those who have been fortunate to test drive one.
Give it 4-6 months and you will be able to buy an EX for well under MSRP and you will see some lessor equipped models. Our local dealer has a storage lot with 20+ FXs, probably like most dealers in the US. So you can bet Infinity's strategy of initially delivering a small number of loaded EXs is designed to help steer more people towards a discounted FX.. Nah they wouldn't go anything like that would they?
jmess is right on this one. The dealers may insist on sticker without negotiating now, but that will change quickly.
After seeing one in person, I see this car in the same league as the Lexus IS300 Sportcross. It's appealing to the small niche who like a smaller vehicle, don't care about a back seat or paying for it. Once the early adopters swoop in, Infiniti has to convince the mass market. But the very reason the early adopters like it are the reason it will be a hard sell to the mass market. America wants big and cheap. The dealers will be all to happy to negotiate and move cars here in a couple months.
MSRP is around $36 for the Journey. $44+ with all these options?? I mean that's a lot for a small SUV.. I do admire the interior, I mean I do like the 09 Murano which is coming out in January, but interior wise..the finish, the leather, the dash... it just no comparsion when we are talking about Nissan vs Infiniti.
Yeah, the EX 35 looked good, leather, comfortable seats (front), option list is loaded, the 297 hp was good, ride quality quiet and stable...I liked it, but I felt I was in a vehicle that was on the small side, like for the money and gas mileage maybe I should buy bigger with same mileage, somehow admitting that size does matter as extra value, and it always doesn't. Then the salesman seemed totally in a non bargain mood, like he was above negotiating. Why not sell a car and pick up a few thousand unless they are pushing the fx 35s. It wasn't as small as I was beginning to believe from previous evaluations
The one text I read (i believe it was autoweek ... i posted it here not long ago) claimed to get 25.6 with RWD. So I think 24 with AWD would be doable. We used to get 20-21 in our Honda Pilot. I'd be surprised if the new more powerful MDX would beat that. So I think the EX would prevail, personally.
BUT, having said all that, I can certainly understand folks having a problem spending this kind of money on this vehicle IF they are looking for an SUV. This is a sporty hatch, basically. It will run circles around the yota and acura. To me, that is its goal. Not to be a people/things hauler. So if that's what floats yer boat, I think you probably would be better off with one of the others, even if it did cost a mile or 2 more per gallon.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
My wife and I just test drove the EX during our marathon x-mas shopping day. She's been after a replacement to her A4 for some time now and we've driven almost everything under the sun.
I found your review spot on; the Ride / Drive / Handling (Ditto on the OMG!), Interior design is very nice and almost a softer spin on Lexus. Plenty of Power, I mean this thing moves!!! I'd still rate the G35X a 1/2 notch ahead. The G35X just feels better grounded (most likely the height difference between the two) but they are nearly identical in drive.
Breaking away from your format the car is a home run from the "B" pillar forward, the front seat room and cockpit feel suited us. The back seat absolutely kills this car from being a hit. I'm 5'11" and performed the usual test of setting the front seat to my driving position then sitting in the rear behind the driver. Once your in the vehicle there is room for someone my size or larger, the challenge is actually getting out of the car. You'll scuff the back seat and door each and every time you exit.
I think most consumer feedback pertaining to the back seat will eventually lead to some changes made by Infiniti (salesman agreed and stated he would not be surprised if a change was made within 12 months, more on that below). The rear seats are actually long, so they could shorten these for extra leg room. The rear seat is mounted to a platform that protrudes further forward cutting into leg room. I'm guessing the gas tank is below it, so this may not be an easy change for the next model year. If the back seat had a for/aft adjustment this rear seat room would be almost a non-issue, although I'm guessing they'll revise the seat before considering anything like this.
Our local dealership has about six or seven of these on their lot now. Our salesperson had two orders cancelled today due to the back seat or lack their of, another salesperson had one more cancellation. He revealed his great January may not be so great since he's nervous about five other pending deals where customers may pull back their deposits.
Now here's the kicker, their inventory is basically the same as described in other posts $42-$44.5. He stated if we wanted one he'd take $500 off the price. My jaw dropped, not due to the discount, but since it's basically day two this car has been out.
We spent over an hour at the dealership between the test drive and speaking with our sales rep. He disclosed that everyone at the dealership is extremely upset with this product. He's convinced that the production model differs from the pictures Infiniti distributed to them and the unit that toured the auto shows. He basically told us to wait 30-60 days as the dealership thinks an aggressive lease is eminent.
In summary after my anecdotal banter pertaining to mine and my salesman's feelings of what Infiniti should change, my wife and I still both like this vehicle and she's convinced her car will either be the EX (pending subvented lease specials) but more likely the G35 since it actually has more utility...or usable trunk and rear space.
That is extremely optimistic. I have never had a car yet that got better mileage than the EPA estimate (16-23 for the EX). My guess is that 20-21 mpg will be typical.
You only have to spend a few thouand dollars more to get a Lexus RX400h hybrid (with current Rx discounts). With current and future gas prices, the RX400h may very well be a less expensive car to own (not to mention a car with considerably more interior space).
I have never had a car yet that got better mileage than the EPA estimate (16-23 for the EX).
That's fine. You may very well only get 21. But to put that into perspective with my previous post ... if you get 21 with the EX, then I bet you'd get 18 in the MDX.
But everyone is different, of course. With the old EPA estimates, I too never exceeded them. But I do exceed the new, at least with my current ride ('06 Accord EXV6 6-spd that I get over 28 mpg with in mixed driving [new EPA is 27 highway]). And from many many posts I've seen around edmunds, alot of folks exceed EPA on a regular basis. And, like I said, if a magazine exceeded EPA, I think that says ALOT because they often get well below estimates thanks to their hard driving in the name of testing.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
I was talking to an Infiniti salesman in norther NJ today about an FX-35 and said I had also been interested in an EX-35. He told me that customers did not like it because the back was much too small.
I think most everyone who has checked the EX out feels if you need to put adults in the back seat this is the wrong vehicle unless everyone has short legs. From what I can tell a Honda CRV has more usable space. As I am in the market for a small wagon I checked out BMW 328 wagon. With the seats folded down the 328 appears to have more room in the back; rear seat leg room looks similar though.
I think Infinity has missed the market that would have made this vehicle a real success by about 6" behind the front seat. I have no kids or regular rear seat passengers so I am still in the game for this one. I would bet in about 60 days you will be able to buy them for invoice or less. They really got the interior finish right though, very nice.
I agree. I was in the market for a loaded ex35. I test drove it last week. Very nice car. Very small trunk space. and I realized it's gonna cost me over 45 grand. I might as well get a tech optioned X5 and would be driving a BMW instead of an infiniti. There are nice discounts on 07 X5s. If I can get a good deal on a X5, I'll pull the trigger. If not I'll go back to ex.
Have to agree with most being said here about rear seats, cargo space, and overall interior size of EX35. I'm 5'10" and on the skinny side [subject to change though ], so I felt Ok in the driver's seat .. but I got an impression that a bigger person would no be. Rear seats themselves are fine. Legroom is tolerable (for a person my size), but then I climbed in the 3rd row of our Odyssey (just for comparison's sake) -- there's so much more legroom and I can sit there in a much more relaxed posture (and that's what passengers like to do). What REALLY turned me off about rear seats is that the distance between the seat corner and the B-pillar is like 7", so one has to turn his foot 90 degrees in/out in order to get in/out of the vehicle. The cargo room is simply not there. If you're meeting somebody at the airport and that person has two large suitcases -- one of the suitcases will have to ride in the rear sit. If you're meeting two such people -- you'll need a different car. The salesperson wasn't very sure if the curtain bar in the cargo area could be removed (it appears it can, but that;d require taking out 4 screws) -- the thing is a major obstacle even if seats are folded flat.
How does infiniti design that back seat as such, no red flags came up on back seat room? That back seat design dept must be empty at infiniti, if anyone needs a job. I took another test drive before writing it off totally, and the back seat closeness does not allow you to move your feet, they are locked in under the front seat - restless leg syndrome in the back seat would be unbearable. And the lack of more behind-rear-seat room is another problem, but possibly could be overlooked if you had another five-six inches of legroom in the back seat. Otherwise, there was a lot to like in this vehicle,and for sure I would have bought one based on the rest of the vehicle. One other note, kind of wonder how well it will retain value, given the negativity.
Has anyone out there found a place to purchase all weather mats for the EX35? Because the car is so new, the dealers do not have them. I sure would like to save the wear on the carpeted mats. I tried my old FX mats but they were too big (although I temporarily have the back FX mats in the front until I can find some for the EX). The only thing I have found so far is a floor liner at www.weathertech.com. They are the only ones listing anything for the EX. They only sell one for the front row though. Has anyone found anything else?
The latest Road&Track has a first drive report and the reviewer says "plenty of space inside for 5 adults", "Rear cargo space is generous, as it will accommodate three golf bags".
Plenty of space for 5 adults? If they are under 5'5" maybe; most likely the reviewer isn't a big buy. There isn't anything new in the rest of the report. The 2WD version is the driver's car.
Also on another forum it was reported that towing a trailer isn't recommend; that is why Infinity doesn't provide any towing data in the owner's manual. This could be a real bummer for some.
Check out on you tube a video 2008 infiniti ex35, seats, where 3 girls sit in the vehicle, 2 front and one in back. Comical to some extent because the girls are scaling out at maybe 100, and I am speculating that the one sitting in the back probably was known for having very small feet (shoes). Despite my negativity, I liked the vehicle except for the back seat, where my black side does focus. Buying rugs or mats for this vehicle will save a guy 50 per cent, only fronts are needed. Take my anti-depression pill and I'll sign off.......
"That is extremely optimistic. I have never had a car yet that got better mileage than the EPA estimate (16-23 for the EX). My guess is that 20-21 mpg will be typical."
I drive a 2006 VW Passat 3.6L w/automatic. The EPA says I should get 26 Highway. I routinely get 32 @75 mph, and I have never gotten less than 30 no matter what the weather or road conditions.
Checked out the you tube video and ur absolutely right! I went for a test drive and loved the handling. It drove as I antisipated but can't fit the kids in it comfortably (6ft and still growing).
Grubbs Infiniti in Euless (one of the mid-cities between Dallas and Ft Worth) had four EXs this week. Some were stickered in the $40K and up range without AWD. This puts them above what I am willing to pay and in the low end of the ball park for a BMW X-3 with free maintenance, AWD, more cabin room and known high resale.
I have driven the Bimmer; I haven't driven the EX, but "on paper" it appears not to have the value. I will drive the EX and it may blow me away and I'll think it is worth every cent. I'll try to get a test drive in about a week.
One of the chiefs at the dealership says the official launch will be in February.
Got an EX35 on Tuesday prior to nationwide opening. This is a phenominal vehicle - back seat issue notwithstanding. I have bought 5 Infinitis over the past 12 years, so the dealership called me when the delivery truck arrived and they sold it to me at $2000 of MSRP. I took one right off the delivery truck - loaded with every toy on it!!! Here is a major problem with the vehicle: The new IPod's (touch screens) will not work with the car's built in system (and neither will the IPhone hook to the phone system). Infiniti has no answer for this, but it could be a major problem for them if they dont figure out how to software update the system. I assume that all their vehicles will have the same issue, as they all have the same technology. Anyone else find this issue on any of the new Infiniti's???
I have an iPhone with a bluetooth headphone and it works fine. I can even turn on the iPod and when the phone rings, it turns down the iPod and I can use the phone. Are you trying to use it with a bluetooth? I'd try to re-associate the phone with the car.
Sounds like you were lucky to get the dealer to negotiate. This is my third Infiniti but until I gave them the VPP authorization, I don't think they were going to come off the MSRP much. But with the VPP, I only paid $315 over invoice.
This is not a phone issue - I dont have the IPhone...My regular cell phone works wonderful with the bluetooth.... I have a new touch screen IPod, and it does not want to work - cant get any screen lists to come up and it wont play - just get a message that says no song available.
I'll test one tomorrow, but the Internet Leasing Dept. at Santa Monica Infiniti provides these numbers: On a "build your own" total MSRP (the website is now operative): Base MSRP $ 36250 + premium 2150 + wood trim 450 + cargo area protector 70 + destination & handling 815 = MSRP $ 39735. MF is .0022 and residual 56%. Nothing else to report until I drive. Looks like a rainy Sunday, good test for AWD if they have one to drive.
What are the requirements for VPP status (what does it mean?). I currently have a 2005 G35 leased from this same dealer.
So I finally got myself over to the dealer yesterday to see one in person. I didn't bother anyone to get a test drive, but just wanted to check out the space for myself. Judging by all of the comments I've read here, I was expecting it to be much smaller. So the backseat room and cargo area actually EXCEEDED my expectations. Imagine that!
On the negative side, that means its actually a bit larger than I might want. I was hoping for something a bit lower to the ground. I mean, I didn't even spot it at first because I was looking for something the height of a G35. The EX didn't seem to be all that much smaller than the FX to my eyes.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
Oh, it is smaller - I had the FX for 4 years and got the EX - it is quicker and smoother, not as "bulky"....Much easier to navigate and the toys on it are wonderful...Got 32.5 miles per gallon on a long Interstate Highway trip recently....Get about 20 in town.....I have no prob with the size of the backseats - not as bad as has been posted here....(We dont have kids, tho)
Comments
The EX35 will be much faster. Its truly a SPORTutility. It is a niche market, to be sure, and Infiniti doesn't plan on selling many, from what I've read. But, as far as I can see, there are no true competitors for it. 300hp, RWD, 25mpg, $32k with a hair of utility thrown in? I just see winner written all over this thing.
With loaded up CRVs now in the $27k range, I could see people easily stepping up to the premium segment for just a bit more jingle.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
You are kidding right. You are not going to find this car at anywhere near $32k. If you want an EX35 that will be available for purchase anytime soon, expect to buy quite a few options (whether you want them or not) and expect to pay much closer to $40k+ (ie. 50% more jingle).
Nope.
If you want an EX35 that will be available for purchase anytime soon
well, I don't. It is certainly not my fault or Infiniti's if someone is in such a rush that they just HAVE to buy whatever is available. The starting price is what the starting price is.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
Ride / Drive / Handling - OMG! This is one of the best drving vehicles I have ever experienced. BMW like handling with Lexus like ride. It hugged the winding road we were on yet took bumps without the jarring slams of the X3. SMOOTH!! Sporty! I was genuinely impressed. It rides better than my TL and feels as, if not more secure in the corners. The steering feel is excellent and the variable assist is great. It never felt artificial. I felt safe while driving. Very solid overall.
Interior Design - Gorgeous. Completely upscale. The best Infiniti interior to date. As upscale as any Lexus. Materials feel high quality. Fit and finish are EXCELLENT! It is very quiet inside too. They must have used extensive sound deadening materials. Much quieter than the G35 and definitely quieter than my TL. Road noise is not intrusive, yet the engine sounds come through and sound great!
Power - The Beach Boys' song Fun Fun Fun comes to mind. The six is SWEET! Powerful from any speed. Exhilerating thrust just like the G35. Very linear in its delivery. Infiniti has fixed the on / off feel of the accelerator. In the '07 G35 I remember having to concentrate on smooth take-offs without spinning the wheels. Not a problem in the EX. Very easy to take off slow or like a dragster if one chooses!
Front Comfort - The seats are extremely comfortable. Plenty of leg room. Not as much shoulder room as my TL, but definitely enough. The front cabin has an intimate feel, yet it doesn't feel too small and definitely did not induce clausterphobia. The leather seating is top notch. Soft and supple, yet supportive in all the right places. It's not sports car sportive and they don't hug you in place like the sport seats in the G35, but they are more comfortable and overall do a great job.
Rear Comfort - Despite the limited amount of room the seat was comfortable. Honestly... I didn't think it would be. I'm 6' tall and was concerned, but I set the driver's seat in a comfortable driving position and then climbed in the back. The leg room was a little tight, but the back of front seats have been designed with knee room in mind. It really was okay. The rear doors open wide to help with getting in and out. There are assist handles which helped also. The opening at the floor is tight, but I didn't have a hard time getting out.
Cargo Space - Definitely sufficient for the people this vehicle was designed for. The power folding feature for the split rear seats is WAY cool. There are buttons on either side of the rear of the cargo area that fold and retract the rear seats. There are two buttons in the center console up front that will retract the rear seats into their upright position. Not sure why you'd need to do that from the front, but it's kind of cool and it's standard on the Journey model. With the rear seats folded the cargo area is great for two people.
Exterior - The fit and finish are excellent. The paint colors I saw were gorgeous. (Black, Platinum, Silver, Blue Slate) I love the Blue Slate. I like it on the G, but it looks more luxurious on the EX.... richer for some reason. Maybe my eyes are going, but it's what I thought at the time. There weren't any uneven gaps in panels. Everything was solid. Doors closed with a high quality ker-thunk, similar to that of a Mercedes-Benz. I drove a new C350 yesterday and the solidness of the EX is similar.
Summary - I LOVE IT!!! It's the perfect size for me, does everything I could want it to do and more, and has everything I could want it to have and more. I don't know if I can justify the price though.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
Has anyone else seen one at an actual dealership for sale?
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
None in my area. Certainly none of the $32,000 ones
i'm just wondering if it hasn't been shipped to all areas yet.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
Now, I know the sticker is pricey. However, if you work for a company that is part of the Infiniti VPP program, the EX model does qualify. The dealer was shocked (and probably disappointed) because he is now selling me the EX for $315 over invoice!!
We do not need a roomy back seat, but I did sit in them and they were adequate for our needs (5'9" and 5'5".)
The sticker was $40,000 and it had options and packages way beyond what I would find necessary. Anyway, I hope I hear more from those who have been fortunate to test drive one.
After seeing one in person, I see this car in the same league as the Lexus IS300 Sportcross. It's appealing to the small niche who like a smaller vehicle, don't care about a back seat or paying for it. Once the early adopters swoop in, Infiniti has to convince the mass market. But the very reason the early adopters like it are the reason it will be a hard sell to the mass market. America wants big and cheap. The dealers will be all to happy to negotiate and move cars here in a couple months.
Such as?
are you talking AWD?
what's the epa ratings on it, anyway?
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
BUT, having said all that, I can certainly understand folks having a problem spending this kind of money on this vehicle IF they are looking for an SUV. This is a sporty hatch, basically. It will run circles around the yota and acura. To me, that is its goal. Not to be a people/things hauler. So if that's what floats yer boat, I think you probably would be better off with one of the others, even if it did cost a mile or 2 more per gallon.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
I found your review spot on; the Ride / Drive / Handling (Ditto on the OMG!), Interior design is very nice and almost a softer spin on Lexus. Plenty of Power, I mean this thing moves!!! I'd still rate the G35X a 1/2 notch ahead. The G35X just feels better grounded (most likely the height difference between the two) but they are nearly identical in drive.
Breaking away from your format the car is a home run from the "B" pillar forward, the front seat room and cockpit feel suited us. The back seat absolutely kills this car from being a hit. I'm 5'11" and performed the usual test of setting the front seat to my driving position then sitting in the rear behind the driver. Once your in the vehicle there is room for someone my size or larger, the challenge is actually getting out of the car. You'll scuff the back seat and door each and every time you exit.
I think most consumer feedback pertaining to the back seat will eventually lead to some changes made by Infiniti (salesman agreed and stated he would not be surprised if a change was made within 12 months, more on that below). The rear seats are actually long, so they could shorten these for extra leg room. The rear seat is mounted to a platform that protrudes further forward cutting into leg room. I'm guessing the gas tank is below it, so this may not be an easy change for the next model year. If the back seat had a for/aft adjustment this rear seat room would be almost a non-issue, although I'm guessing they'll revise the seat before considering anything like this.
Our local dealership has about six or seven of these on their lot now. Our salesperson had two orders cancelled today due to the back seat or lack their of, another salesperson had one more cancellation. He revealed his great January may not be so great since he's nervous about five other pending deals where customers may pull back their deposits.
Now here's the kicker, their inventory is basically the same as described in other posts $42-$44.5. He stated if we wanted one he'd take $500 off the price. My jaw dropped, not due to the discount, but since it's basically day two this car has been out.
We spent over an hour at the dealership between the test drive and speaking with our sales rep. He disclosed that everyone at the dealership is extremely upset with this product. He's convinced that the production model differs from the pictures Infiniti distributed to them and the unit that toured the auto shows. He basically told us to wait 30-60 days as the dealership thinks an aggressive lease is eminent.
In summary after my anecdotal banter pertaining to mine and my salesman's feelings of what Infiniti should change, my wife and I still both like this vehicle and she's convinced her car will either be the EX (pending subvented lease specials) but more likely the G35 since it actually has more utility...or usable trunk and rear space.
That is extremely optimistic. I have never had a car yet that got better mileage than the EPA estimate (16-23 for the EX). My guess is that 20-21 mpg will be typical.
You only have to spend a few thouand dollars more to get a Lexus RX400h hybrid (with current Rx discounts). With current and future gas prices, the RX400h may very well be a less expensive car to own (not to mention a car with considerably more interior space).
That's fine. You may very well only get 21. But to put that into perspective with my previous post ... if you get 21 with the EX, then I bet you'd get 18 in the MDX.
But everyone is different, of course. With the old EPA estimates, I too never exceeded them. But I do exceed the new, at least with my current ride ('06 Accord EXV6 6-spd that I get over 28 mpg with in mixed driving [new EPA is 27 highway]). And from many many posts I've seen around edmunds, alot of folks exceed EPA on a regular basis. And, like I said, if a magazine exceeded EPA, I think that says ALOT because they often get well below estimates thanks to their hard driving in the name of testing.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
I think Infinity has missed the market that would have made this vehicle a real success by about 6" behind the front seat. I have no kids or regular rear seat passengers so I am still in the game for this one. I would bet in about 60 days you will be able to buy them for invoice or less. They really got the interior finish right though, very nice.
Plenty of space for 5 adults? If they are under 5'5" maybe; most likely the reviewer isn't a big buy. There isn't anything new in the rest of the report. The 2WD version is the driver's car.
Also on another forum it was reported that towing a trailer isn't recommend; that is why Infinity doesn't provide any towing data in the owner's manual. This could be a real bummer for some.
I drive a 2006 VW Passat 3.6L w/automatic. The EPA says I should get 26 Highway. I routinely get 32 @75 mph, and I have never gotten less than 30 no matter what the weather or road conditions.
I have driven the Bimmer; I haven't driven the EX, but "on paper" it appears not to have the value. I will drive the EX and it may blow me away and I'll think it is worth every cent. I'll try to get a test drive in about a week.
One of the chiefs at the dealership says the official launch will be in February.
Here is a major problem with the vehicle: The new IPod's (touch screens) will not work with the car's built in system (and neither will the IPhone hook to the phone system). Infiniti has no answer for this, but it could be a major problem for them if they dont figure out how to software update the system. I assume that all their vehicles will have the same issue, as they all have the same technology.
Anyone else find this issue on any of the new Infiniti's???
Sounds like you were lucky to get the dealer to negotiate. This is my third Infiniti but until I gave them the VPP authorization, I don't think they were going to come off the MSRP much. But with the VPP, I only paid $315 over invoice.
I have a new touch screen IPod, and it does not want to work - cant get any screen lists to come up and it wont play - just get a message that says no song available.
What are the requirements for VPP status (what does it mean?). I currently have a 2005 G35 leased from this same dealer.
On the negative side, that means its actually a bit larger than I might want. I was hoping for something a bit lower to the ground. I mean, I didn't even spot it at first because I was looking for something the height of a G35. The EX didn't seem to be all that much smaller than the FX to my eyes.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S