The EX files

It's a no-brainer to call the crossover segment a competitive one; this category has become so large and so varied as to verge on the absolutely amazing. As a result, any carmaker who's considering to enter this niche had better put together something that stands out.

Well, the EX35 does just that. It looks good, has a wonderful interior and combines useful cargo space with a compact exterior and surprising driving dynamics. But it's the engine that should get top billing here. While this Nissan/Infiniti 3.5-litre V6 is familiar – powering everything from Altimas to the M35 Sedan – the engine seems to be a perfect fit in this sleek new crossover.

If the EX35's nearly 300 bhp rating doesn't seem out of the ordinary, the numbers become irrelevant on the road. The engine's 343 Nm of torque at 4,800 rpm give away its high-revving nature but you wouldn't know it from the way the car responds to a floored throttle from a stop.

Highway passing manoeuvres are a breeze, indicating that there may be more torque available at lower revs than the specifications initially suggest.
It's just about perfect, allowing buttery-smooth take-offs. The brakes feel soft at first, but their response is nicely linear, meaning smooth stops are not a problem.

The steering feels well weighted, and surprisingly communicative for this type of vehicle. Road noise is muted, but the sound that does make it into the cabin tells the driver a lot about the road surface. Combine this with easy turn-in and handling, and the EX feels a lot more driveable than its crossover profile suggests it should be – low-slung though it is.

However, even though the EX35 is geared towards driving enthusiasts, the test car was fitted with a number of features that can totally spoil a driver.
The technology package includes Infiniti's Around View Monitor system, which uses four cameras – one each at the front and rear, and one in each outside mirror housing – to keep an eye on what's around the car. It's particularly useful when reversing in parking lots.

Those side cameras are also used by the lane departure warning (LDW) and lane departure prevention (LDP) systems. This is where things get interesting. LDW merely beeps at you when the system senses the car is getting too close to one side of a lane. LDP, however, uses the brakes to actively nudge the car back on track when that happens. The lane-departure system is intended to keep distracted or drowsy drivers from causing accidents.

It might seem invasive or obtrusive to some, like an invisible backseat driver constantly telling you what you're doing wrong and intervening when it thinks a collision is imminent. Keeping just such drivers in mind, the manufacturers have included an option whereby these systems can be disabled.

Not that such systems aren't useful, particularly given how prevalent poor driving has become. (The lane departure prevention system doesn't work on roads with worn or non-existent lane markings.)
A five-speed transmission in a luxury crossover seems stingy when six-speed automatic systems are becoming the norm in less-pricey segments, but you won't miss the missing gear. The ratios are well-matched; you won't catch the EX flat-footed.

The transmission's lubricity is almost unbelievable. It slips between gears like a well-oiled machine. Few drivers make regular use of the manually shiftable automatics offered in many cars today, but the EX's rev-matched downshift feature is a reason to start.

The car's Intelligent Cruise Control is a great feature on long runs. It maintains a preset distance from the vehicle ahead and will apply the brakes if that vehicle slows, then speeds back up to a preset speed when traffic ahead starts to move more quickly. It can also apply the brakes if another vehicle moves unexpectedly into the lane.

That's all fine and good, but what about the inside?
The EX's interior is gorgeous; the look of the dash appealing. The only thing was that though I am a little short of 6 feet, I found my head grazing the roof whenever I stretched up a bit.
The cabin feels high-tech and has flowing shapes and surfaces. Instrument gauges with white-and-violet illumination are easy to read. Pinhole-sized LEDs mounted over the centre console provide ambient lighting. The instrument panel has a 20-cm colour display with a knob controller for the trip computer and additional vehicle information.

An available navigation system offers 9.3 GB of storage for MP3s and other digital data. Programming the navigation system and using the Bluetooth system that wirelessly links the car's electronics with mobile phones will however take some time.

A premium 11-speaker Bose six-CD music system offers good value. It's MP3 compatible, too.

Getting in and starting the EX35 is made easier thanks to a key fob you can leave in your pocket. The vehicle senses its presence and will unlock, then let you use the push button starter to fire up the engine without inserting the key in the ignition.

The front seats are remarkably comfortable and offer good side bolstering too: a handy feature when you're taking advantage of the EX's handling abilities.
If road noise is minimal, wind noise is near non-existent.

That the car is quiet at idle is expected; what's not is how well the doors and windows seal out external noises.
The cargo area isn't huge because of the EX's sculpted rear. The space is wide, however, and the rear seats fold almost perfectly flat. Power folding rear seats are optional. This places seat controls just inside the cargo opening, plus buttons on the centre console to raise the seats electrically.

Other options are a power moonroof, auto-dimming rearview mirror, front and rear parking sonar sensors, and automatic headlights.
The premium package includes dual-zone climate control, hands-free phone system, eight-way power passenger seat (a four-way seat is standard), two-position memory driver's seat,
18-inch wheels and auto-levelling Xenon headlights.

The car also features dual-stage front airbags that deploy
at different levels depending on the size of the occupant; driver and
front passenger side-impact airbags, roof-mounted side curtain airbags
for front and rear seat head protection, and a tyre pressure monitoring
system. Phew!
All this for around Dh200,000. As attractive as many of the extras are in terms of convenience and comfort, the EX would be a pretty nice machine even in base form.

Crossover, anyone?
Shiva Kumar Thekkepat is
Feature Writer, Friday