2013 Infiniti JX35 AWD Review – Video

Available with two drivetrains, the FWD at $40,650 and the AWD at $42,050, fuel economy is rated at 18/24-mpg and 18/23-mpg respectively.

Under the hood, the JX35 houses a 3.5L V6 engine with CVT transmission making 265-hp and 248 lb-ft of torque. Hitting the throttle on our tester, the results were less-than-impressive. Infiniti, after all, has a reputation for driving performance in the luxury set that’s just shy of BMW. Then again, perhaps our expectations were too high for a 4,200 lb family car.

With no major performance frills power is, however, adequate. And with the twist of the Drive Mode Selector, with options like Standard, Sport, Eco and Snow, the JX can accommodate most any driving style and road condition. The system simply adjusts throttle response and “shifting” on the CVT transmission to maximize the vehicles performance. It’s hard to recommend anything but the Sport mode, even for daily driving.

Though Infiniti’s new entry into the market looks like an SUV, the truthful feeling is that of a souped-up mini-van. Adding to the luxuries of standard keyless entry and a push button start, the interior is laid-out to accommodate seven passengers in luxurious leather with easy access to the third row thanks to a 2nd row passenger seat that can slide and tilt forward, even with a child seat attached.

Combining upscale cabin comfort with updated touchscreen technology, the JX35 is a product that spares no cost at affording best in class features for its buyers. Whether it’s the end of the day at the beach or gearing-up for a few runs down the mountain, for an additional $350 a Remote Engine Start System can accommodate interior warming and cooling, allowing JX owners to make their ride just the way they like it.

The brand has also added other ambitious items like a standard power rear-liftgate as well as second and third-row moonroofs. However, for passengers in the 3rd row, there might be a real a sense of claustrophobic discomfort because of the cagey space. Better than many rivals, if there’s any one reason not to call the JX a minivan, it’s this.

Packed with safety aids, a feature on our tester that might be some salvation for frequent “road-texters” is the Distance Control Assist (DCA), which uses a combination of laser sensors as well as the throttle and brake actuators, alerting the driver to ease off the throttle while applying braking in slowing traffic. While the JX won’t do all the driving for you (as tempting as that might be), these aids do come in handy in the most unexpected driving scenarios.

Backing out of the driveway just got safer too, with the help of Infiniti’s Backup Collision Intervention (BCI) system, which detects crossing vehicles and objects behind the SUV. And if necessary, the BCI will apply the brakes to avoid a collision. The downfall of this system, however, is that it’s more intended as an alert, prompting you to apply the brakes yourself, because if you don’t, after a second the car will begin to naturally roll backwards again.

Perhaps most handy for day-to-day chores is the Around View Monitor (AVM) with Moving Object Detection. When the JX35 is getting ready to roll or back up into a spot, the system shows a full 360-degree view around the car and can even detect moving objects crossing the front or rear of the vehicle, delivering visual and audible warnings to the driver.