2010 Infiniti EX

• Overall
• Prices
• Performance
• Exterior
• Interior
• Safety
• Reliability

Interior - What the Auto Press Says

The EX35's cabin is luxurious and high-quality. "Infiniti has made a concerted effort to improve its interiors in recent years and the EX is among the best yet," writes New Car Test Drive. "Rich, soft-touch materials abound, and there is a general feeling of quality and sophistication." Don't expect to find too much space however -- many reviewers complain that its second row seats are cramped and its cargo capacity is disappointing for an SUV.

• "The interior is cozy with plenty of luxury and style, from the attractive layout of the dash to the tasteful use of optional leather." -- Road and Track
• "Just as the EX35 looks and drives like a steroidal sport luxury sedan, its 5-place [seat] interior also boast a premium level of amenities. The cabin style is 100-percent Infiniti, with clear readouts, high-end materials, and hardly a straight line in sight." -- Motor Week
• "To properly impress and assist the buyer, a premium vehicle must have some exclusive techno-wizardry and this Infiniti does not disappoint." -- The Family Car
• "Thanks to its low roofline, the EX35 feels decidedly snug inside compared with competitors like the BMW X3, although the actual interior width is impressive." -- Car and Driver
• "The cabin is intimate, which is to say small: sports-car small in front and locked-in-a-steamer-chest small in the rear. "Rear-seat legroom is well nigh vestigial." -- Los Angeles Times
• "Top-notch cabin assembly. Soft-touch surfaces abound. Luxe Elite package's plush leather is accented by wood trim throughout the cabin and imparts a classy look and feel." -- Consumer Guide

Seating

While the Infiniti's leather-appointed front seats are comfortable, most find its rear seats cramped and too small for adults. On the plus side, the rear doors open a full 80 degrees for easier rear-seat entry and exit. Still, many of the EX35's competitors, including the BMW X3 and Acura RDX, offer more spacious rear seats.

• "If there's anything not to like about the 2008 Infiniti EX35, it's the small rear seat and cargo areas. Compared to rivals like the Acura RDX, BMW X3 and Land Rover LR2, it has anywhere from 7 to 9 fewer inches of rear legroom." -- Edmunds
• "Rear-seat legroom, at 28.5 inches, pales to the 37.7 in the RDX." -- Motor Trend
• "Room up front is good, but taller drivers will want more head room, especially if the optional sunroof is ordered. The back seat also offers decent room, but things get a bit tight with the front seats all the way back." -- New Car Test Drive
• "The back seat is roomy enough for two, although adult-size shoes must be twisted to clear the narrow door openings." -- Automobile Magazine
• "Headroom [in the rear] is ample, but legroom is tight even if the seats are not set far back. Bolstered seats are supportive and comfortable." -- Consumer Guide

Interior Features

The EX35 has a superb fit and finish and comes loaded with premium standard features, especially in the luxurious Journey trim. For 2010, the EX gets even more hi-tech options, including a USB port; navigation system updates such as real-time traffic and weather information; and a two-Gigabyte hard drive for music storage (only for models without the navigation system). A downside is that a rear entertainment system isn't available. Though this is surprising considering the EX's luxury status, it's also a testament to the fact that the EX isn't meant to be a family SUV.

• "Seeing that luxury is an inherent reason for buying a luxury crossover, the EX Journey (Base versions get standard cloth seats) comes equipped with arguably the richest interior in its segment, certainly when fitted with the optional Luxe Elite Package (as in our tester)..." -- Motor Trend
• "Standard equipment includes eight-way-power driver's and four-way-power front passenger's seats with cloth upholstery and a manual tilt/telescoping steering wheel." -- Cars.com
• "The center stack juts out to make every control very easy to reach. Its central component is a seven-inch screen that comes standard with or without the optional navigation system. ... The unique layout takes some getting used to, but it works well." -- New Car Test Drive
• "The good feelings continue into the cabin, where the EX sports an attractive, dual-cowl dash design fashioned in high-quality materials and two-tone color schemes." -- Edmunds

Cargo

Cargo capacity is the EX35's greatest weakness. The Infiniti's 18.6 cubic feet of cargo volume (with all seats in use) just isn't enough for reviewers who expect more out of a compact SUV. By contrast, the Acura RDX provides 27.8 cubic feet and the Audi Q5 provides 29.1 cubic feet.

• "Small items storage is only so-so. The center console is nicely sized and there are two cupholders in front of it, but there are no small cubbies to hold keys, cell phones, and other miscellaneous items." -- New Car Test Drive
• "The cargo volume behind the backseat, at 18.6 cubic feet, is larger than that of the BMW 328 wagon and Volvo V50, but smaller than the SUVs discussed. Also, once you fold the seats flat, all of the SUVs and wagons beat the EX in maximum cargo volume." -- Cars.com
• "For shoppers who require genuine utility in a small luxury SUV, the EX is unlikely to fit the bill." -- Edmunds
• "[T]he meager...cargo volume (only 3.3 more than that of a G35) is down by a couple of Miata trunks compared with the Acura's 27.8." -- Motor Trend