What to take: a used Infiniti JX35 (7 seats), a new Duster, Capture or Creta? Why Infiniti wins.

GEAR HUNT

In my mind, I should have slowed down in front of the hunters, but, flying out of the trees straight into their car, I didn’t have time to do this. As before, I didn’t have time to react to large potholes that suddenly appeared under the wheels - they were simply lost in the shadows cast by the forest. But the Infiniti steadfastly and gently dealt with the blows raining down on its 20-inch wheels.

Slight confusion, and after another jump I picked up speed again to the whir of the 3.5-liter “six”, quickly brought to maximum by the variator, which is trained to imitate the steps of non-existent gears. This technique slightly dilutes the monotony of the sound track - it can be strengthened by manually selecting the “speeds”. The only pity is that closer to the maximum, the variator itself switches to a higher “gear”. Moreover, due to its specifics, it does it so imperceptibly that, approaching a turn, you count on the third one being turned on in advance, and on the display - bam! — the number 4 has already appeared.

Test drive Infiniti JX35: Chic for seven

Infiniti crossovers are quite popular in Ukraine, and with the release of the new 7-seater Infiniti JX35, our customers have more choice. At the same time, the crossover presents some absolute new products, and not only for the Infiniti brand.

Infiniti crossovers are quite popular in Ukraine, and with the release of the new 7-seater Infiniti JX35, our customers have more choice. At the same time, the crossover presents some absolute new products, and not only for the Infiniti brand.

Although the new Infiniti JX35 was tested in Hungary, the car will never go on sale in Western and Central Europe. The machine is intended for other markets - the USA, Canada, China, Korea, and the Middle East. And, of course, Russia and Ukraine.

First time for Infiniti

New details have appeared in the interior of the JX35, familiar from other Infiniti crossovers, and some of them are a first for this brand. For example, a 4.2-inch 3D monitor in the center of the instrument panel. The image from it is very impressive. There are also some highlights, for example, changing the body color of the virtual JX35 on this display. By the way, it will later appear on other new Infiniti models. The navigation system in the JX35 is equipped with maps of Ukraine and Russia, but there are some difficulties with Europe: a 40 GB hard drive is enough for detailed maps of the countries of the former Union. But the memory did not fit the address search, so you can find the desired object in Europe only by finding it on the map and clicking on the required point with the joystick.

Watch the video: Test drive: Infiniti JX35

A special feature of the Infiniti JX35 is an absolutely flat floor on all rows of seats, which makes moving inside the car much easier. I would also like to note the very spacious interior. There is enough space here even for large drivers. Getting into the third row does not cause any great difficulties. However, the passenger will face the usual problems for such a car: a low seat and little knee room. But people below average height or children feel comfortable here even on a long trip. They also have amenities such as cup holders and air ducts. The second row is spacious and comfortable for everyone, there is enough space both in the legs and above the head. In addition, the seat backrest is adjustable and there is a wide armrest. In addition, from the second row you can not only control the “concert” using the multimedia system with 7-inch screens built into the headrests of the front seats, but also customize your climate zone.

For the first time, not only for models of the brand, but also in the world, the car was equipped with a system that prevents collisions when reversing, which, if an obstacle is detected, can completely stop the car. This is a very useful thing, because when maneuvering backwards, the driver may get distracted for a second and not notice, for example, a child running up.

Alone in the field

Since the car is not intended for sales in Europe, a diesel engine is not provided for it. Only one power unit is planned for the Infiniti JX35 - a 3.5-liter V-6 with 262 hp. With. and a second generation XTRONIC CVT. I really liked the operation of the variator, it switches virtual gears quite quickly, but the manual mode, in my opinion, is useless. There are no steering wheel paddles for changing gears, and using the lever is deceiving yourself; the car is reluctant to slow down with the engine, despite its volume.

As for fuel consumption, it was a pleasant surprise. This is a great merit of the variator, in which friction losses are reduced by 40%. With careful driving, highway consumption dropped below 10.0 liters per 100 km. But even if you don’t deny yourself the desire to press the gas pedal to the floor, the average fuel consumption during the test was no more than 15.0 liters per “hundred”, which is not bad for a car weighing two tons and a 3.5-liter gasoline engine. Thanks to the i-Drive system, you can change engine control modes. There are four in total: winter - Snow, economical - Eco, regular and Sport for maximum potential. As representatives noted, the economy mode is not included. And we will try. The main change is in the response of the gas pedal, which becomes weak, practically unresponsive to small movements. And if you press the pedal more than required for economical driving, the resistance on it increases. But we are not talking about moments when the pedal itself pushes your foot, as in the Infiniti M37 sedan. Moreover, when you push it to the floor, the “brain” of the JX35 immediately forgets about the program and fulfills the driver’s desire (in this case, the fastest possible acceleration). In sport mode, the response is harsh at the slightest pressure on the gas. But only lovers of absolute comfort will not like this. And here the normal mode becomes the golden mean.

Priority - forward!

Let's also note the all-wheel drive system - after all, it is unique to the brand. It was the Infiniti JX35 that was the first in the history of the brand to receive an all-wheel drive system in which priority is given to the front axle. So, in normal mode, 100% of the torque is transmitted to the front wheels, and only if one of them slips, the torque is transferred back, up to a 50:50 ratio. And at each start, up to 10% of traction is transferred to the rear axle. With light off-road conditions, which we found in the vicinity of Budapest, the JX35 handles effortlessly. The electronics simulate the operation of differential locks, braking the slipping wheel and transferring part of the torque to the wheels that have better traction.

Already with us

The Infiniti JX35 is available to Ukrainian customers in four different versions. Prices for our not very rich Elite version start at 642,640 UAH, and for the “packed” JX35 you need to pay an additional 28,770 UAH. But it is in the top version that an innovation such as a collision avoidance system when reversing is available.

Summary

Evgeniy Sokur Photo by the author

The interior design style is the same as other models of the brand.

The interior design style is the same as other models of the brand.
The interior design style is the same as other models of the brand.

Alternately selecting the response mode of the gas pedal and transmission with a round shifter between “standard” and “sport”, I noted that in the latter the car predictably reacts more zealously to the gas. And the lower levels stay here longer. But there is no fundamental difference in these modes. In contrast to the next position - “eco”, when the car “shuts up” so much as if four of the six cylinders were instantly clogged.

Actually, a large seven-seater car doesn’t need any extreme sports. Even the location of the mode control knob clearly hints at its secondary importance - it is placed so awkwardly between the front seats that you don’t even see it. And after a while you completely forget about its existence. And that’s right, there’s no point in fooling around when there are five more people sitting behind you, buried in two monitors of the entertainment system.

A transparent roof over the rear of the cabin is provided to the two richest versions.

A transparent roof over the rear of the cabin is provided to the two richest versions.
A transparent roof over the rear of the cabin is provided to the two richest versions.

You immediately understand that the JX is a clear premium when you appreciate the wood trim on most versions (the base has aluminum-look panels) and the impressive list of standard equipment. Almost everything that you have to pay extra for on other models of this class (for example, the Audi Q7) is already installed here, and at a much lower price. For a Japanese crossover, created on the Nissan-Murano platform, in a minimal (but not at all poor) configuration, you have to pay 2,350,000 rubles. The cheapest German analogue is 400 thousand more expensive. The only criticism is that the cheapest JX does not offer an infotainment system with a large display. But leather trim, electric tailgate and seat adjustments, and full seven seats are always available.

August 25, 2013 11:08 Author: / Views: 3253

The Infiniti JX35 is a delight that you want to share. By the way, both with those who pay much more for the sometimes scarcer feeling of the drive, and with those who have never tried it yet, but have already set their sights on the luxury class in their dreams.

The Infiniti JX35 can easily be classified as an “entry-level lux class” in the range of tools for achieving automotive nirvana. Color matters. The test car was black, and therefore immediately made a first impression, which we never got rid of - this is a representative class car, of respectable size and sufficient height. Moreover, its owner can drive either behind the wheel or in the rear on the right - in this JX35 is much more versatile than the FX, where the owner’s place is only behind the wheel. The philosophy of the JX35 is not indifferent to those who are moving up the class ladder, understanding a lot about the accessories of success. It is also not alien to those who have already been at the forefront of automotive specializations and are now looking for refuge in a class where the best is collected, and due attention is paid to safety and comfort. Sufficiency is too relative a concept in the automotive business, and luxury is more the result of honing versatility.

The six-seat crossover will be the perfect member of a large family and the first family car in the luxury line from Infiniti. No, that's not a typo. It's a six-seater. There are three rows of seats. And why we insist that only two people can fit in the back is understandable. Five people can do it, but then why such a car? The driver is either the first passenger or the sixth - he also counts. This is either the owner of the car or a family member. They don’t carry strangers in such a car. When not in use, the third row of seats folds down to create a fairly spacious boot floor.

Climate control, music, navigation, bluetooth, cruise control and other equipment that has become standard for a long time are here, and work perfectly by default. Luxury features include a heated steering wheel and cooled seats - features that are destined to become standard very soon. The panoramic hatches in the rear of the cabin are a nice extravagance, but that’s why it’s an excess in order to make the resulting thrill even more sophisticated in the final instance. There is also a camera system - rear view, front view (depending on which gear is engaged at that moment), as well as a “top view” - an interesting angle, not so much useful as interesting.

The Infiniti JX35 is equipped with a 3.5-liter 6-cylinder V-engine capable of producing 265 hp. With. and 336 Nm of torque. All this equipment works in tandem with a CVT variator. In the context of the sweet life, this is quite enough to easily accelerate a car to 200 km/h, while consuming an average of 12-14 liters of gasoline per 100 kilometers.

Control of the transmission and suspension comes down to a convenient switch under the driver's hand, lying on the armrest, between ECO, Sport, Standard and Snow modes. The ECO mode is not suitable in the city - there is not enough throttle response. ECO is good to use on a country highway at a constant speed, not so much to save fuel, but to protect the environment. Sport mode improves the car's response to the gas pedal - but it feels like there's too much of it, and you want to go back to Standard. We’ll find out what Snow does in winter and we’ll definitely tell you.

Comments

BIG BROTHER

All-wheel drive here does not give the driver any opportunity to interfere with its settings. The torque is supplied back only when the front wheels slip, that is, the car is almost always front-wheel drive.

The suspension is also the most common, without any pneumatics. A crossover is always perceived as the same, since price variations are due only to “comfortable” options. The 262-horsepower engine, CVT and all-wheel drive are the only powertrain and transmission options. But by the end of the year they promise a hybrid version. However, given that the main drive here is front-wheel drive, the JX's driving style is safe and alert. And if anything happens, the stabilization system will almost imperceptibly work out the problem and, if necessary, help turn the car into a turn, adding torque back.

Technical characteristics of Infiniti JX35 in Russia

For Russian buyers, the Infiniti JX35 is offered with a gasoline engine. This is a V6 engine with a displacement of 3.5 and a rated power of 262 hp. With. The car is all-wheel drive. The engine is paired with a CVT gearbox. The machine is also available with a hybrid installation. It consists of a 2.5-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine with a rated power of 231 hp. With. and a 15 kW electric motor. A CVT gearbox is also offered here as a transmission. Such an SUV costs 2.2 million rubles in its basic configuration. But is the price justified?

CORRECTED BELIEVE

I have never written about a car whose name will be forgotten almost immediately after its debut. We're talking about the name; the car itself will remain. The emergency renaming of the entire Infiniti model line, imposed from above by the recently appointed management of the brand, threw not only me, but also the sellers of the premium brand into a stupor. The Infinity hierarchy has just settled down in the minds of the European and Russian public, where G means middle class, M is business class, EX is a small crossover, FX is a sports all-wheel drive, QX is a large all-terrain vehicle, and here it’s all over again for you. Now passenger models will be designated only by the letter Q, which was once worn by a large executive sedan that lost in foreign markets. And the QX designation will be given to crossover and all-terrain vehicles.