Infiniti have made a real impression on the motoring world over the past few years with their eye-catching design, functional and ergonomic controls and world-class engineering.
When this marque first arrived on the scene, it proved a welcome new alternative in the luxury car market and has quickly built up an enviable following across the globe.
Driving Performance
The JX35 SUV doesn’t have the most interesting name in the industry. Models like the Range Rover, the Escalade and the Navigator have bags more personality than a string of numbers and letters.
But what the name lacks in character, the JX35 more than compensates for where it matters and we reckon the Infiniti is among the very best SUVs we’ve driven.
The JX35’s 3.5-litre, 24v V6 power plant produces 265hp which is more than enough grunt to keep you interested. The intelligent all-wheel drive along with continuously variable transmission maker cruising in town or on the highway a dream but if you fancy getting into Michael Schumacher mode for a whole, there’s a manual shift mode which gives you more control and a whole lot more fun.
Blind Spot Warning and Blind Spot Intervention is among the most impressive bits of technology. Basically, when you’re about to change lane, it detects when there is a vehicle in the space that you always struggle to see. First a light and then an audible signal warn the driver of the potential danger and the car even helps centre itself back in your lane.
It has a similar function that kicks in when you’re reversing, too. Should an object or creature wander into your path, if you don’t heed the warning sound, the car will apply its own brakes to avoid hitting whatever it is that’s in the way.
Interior
As far as SUVs go, this could be described as a beautiful car. With those enormous 20-inch split five spoke alloy wheels and the sort of sweeping lines and curves than are more akin to the world of sports cars than everyday practicality, it really is head and shoulders above some of its box-like rivals. And the interior scores just as highly in the style stakes as the exterior.
One of the first things you notice about the JX35 is the amount of space it offers. From the outside, it doesn’t appear huge but inside there’s plenty of headroom and legroom, while the trunk space is cavernous to say the least.
Our test car was the highest specification model, with an array of gadgetry and toys to enjoy both inside and out including the remarkably useful remote engine start, Bluetooth hands-free phone system, multimedia monitors, a moon roof and a Bose music system with a 9.3 Gb hard drive.
Verdict
It’s hard to imagine what you might do to this SUV to improve it. It’s certainly one of the best offerings from Infiniti thus far and the kind of car that almost anyone would be happy to part with their cash in order to get behind the wheel.
