2008 Infiniti EX35 AWD Journey

Miles to date: 27,312 miles
Months in fleet: Ten

Another month meant another bushel of miles for the Infiniti EX35, which looks all but certain to pass the 30,000-mile marker before it finishes out its year with us.

Longtime contributor Ronald Ahrens was the latest to discover the EX35's appeal as a long distance tourer when he drove some 600 miles to the Kentucky Speedway and back. Like most of us, Ahrens quickly determined the EX was not a crossover at all, but rather, a "tall sedan with hatchback versatility." Despite some having some issues with the busy interior, he heaped praise on the Infiniti's comfortable ride and sharp handling, which remain clear strengths for the EX35 despite its high mileage.

Later on, copy editor Rusty Blackwell borrowed the EX for the weekend. Several of our child-toting editors have complained about the car's cramped rear seat and lack of cargo space, but Blackwell found that his nine-month old daughter's new, slightly less cumbersome car seat fit without any issues. "There's now even a bit of room for the passenger seat to be moved back so that my (five-foot-one) wife's knees are no longer jammed up against the EX's glove box," he reported.

During a brisk drive out to a wedding in Augusta, Michigan, he discovered the Infiniti's more compelling attributes:

"My wife and I left Ann Arbor much later than planned, but the EX35 was able to transport us to the wedding on time. The EX35's small size, quick-responding powertrain, easy-to-drive demeanor, and conservative looks help it excel at high-speed blasts."

The Infiniti did make its first unplanned visit to the dealer recently, as some editors complained that the brakes were pulsating, but the technicians could not find anything out of spec. Other than that, the EX has required little attention aside from its scheduled oil changes.