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Auto Car Design and Review
Do not adjust your eyeballs. You have already seen this vehicle. Infiniti unveiled a JX concept in Pebble Beach in August, and as we wrote then, this L.A. production version is pretty much the same—right down to the color. Infiniti has now, however, confirmed a few of our hunches and added a heaping helping of additional details, including pricing.
The sole model, the JX35, is powered by Nissan’s ubiquitous VQ35DE V-6, here making 265 hp and 248 lb-ft of torque and mated to a CVT. The unibody underpinnings are derived from the same D platform used for the Nissan Murano, and front-wheel drive is standard. All-wheel drive is optional. (More derivatives may be on the way; Infiniti has trademarked other alphanumerics for the crossover, including JX25h.) Fuel economy is estimated to be 17 mpg city and 23 highway with either driveline.
A knob on the center console offers the driver a choice of Sport, Standard, Eco, and Snow modes, which variously adjust throttle sensitivity and transmission behavior. The CVT will mimic a traditional automatic when in Sport mode—CVT Sport mode: a contradiction if ever there was one—although no details were given on how many “ratios” it will step through.
Inside and Out
We discussed the styling in our previous story, but here’s the takeaway: It’s handsome, if somewhat derivative. There is little innovating left to do in the two-box, three-row arena. The wrapper, however, hides an attractive and well-thought-out interior. The second row of seats has 5.5 inches of fore and aft travel, offers a 60/40-split, and reclines. If you have a kiddie seat attached to the 40-percent side, the seat will still sidle out of the way to offer ample access to the third row without removing the child seat. The way back is split 50/50 and reclines, too. There are enough cup holders for Mom and Dad’s six pack of Chardonnay and two sparkling Welch’s for the kids, plus six bottle holders.
The JX offers more shoulder room in all three rows than the Lincoln MKT or the Audi Q7, and also beats both in front head- and legroom. The JX has them both beat in total interior volume, too, despite being some 11 inches shorter overall than the MKT and having a wheelbase four inches less than the Q7’s. The second row is only slightly below the roomy MKT’s in terms of leg and noggin space, while the third row looks to be as tight as most, even if it has more headroom than those of the Lincoln or Audi. Cargo space behind the third row is 15.8 cubic feet; Infiniti didn’t release capacity numbers with any seats folded.
Leather upholstery is standard, as are heated power front seats, keyless entry and start, three-zone automatic climate control, XM radio, a USB input, a rearview camera, and a power rear hatch. Exterior kit includes 18-inch wheels as standard and two 20-inch designs as options, plus bi-xenon headlamps and LED taillamps. Infiniti’s personal concierge service is included, too. There is, of course, an extensive list of available features, which you’ll read about in just a second.
Let’s Talk Money
The base front-drive JX will start at $41,400; it costs $1100 more to get a rear driveshaft. There are two standalone options—$1600 forged 20-inch wheels and $370 roof rails—and five available packages. The $4950 Premium package adds nav, the trick 360-degree Around View camera setup, a 13-speaker Bose stereo with subwoofer and Bluetooth audio streaming, dual front-seat memory, power-adjustable lumbar support for the driver, maple interior trim, a HomeLink-equipped auto-dimming rearview mirror, and a one-year subscription to Infiniti’s version of OnStar, called Infiniti Connection.
Once you’ve dropped that five grand, you unlock the right to purchase the $1700 Theater package and the $2200 Driver Assistance package. The former adds two seven-inch monitors, two sets of wireless headphones, a remote control, additional A/V jacks, and a 120-volt power outlet. The latter brings a bunch of nanny tech you don’t want and we won’t mention—except maybe blind-spot monitoring—plus a heated steering wheel and remote start. So if you have poor hand circulation or you simply like getting in a toasty car on winter mornings, you’re in for a whole hell of a lot of irritating beeps. The $3100 Tech package includes the Driver Assistance stuff and adds three more electronic nets. So you don’t want this bundle either. (In the interest of thoroughness, here’s the one piece of technology debuting on the JX: Backup Collision Intervention. It detects vehicles that might cross your path while you reverse, which isn’t new, but adds the ability to automatically apply the brakes and stop your vehicle if you haven’t taken appropriate action.)
If you’re smart and avoid the annoying technology, you can order the Deluxe Touring package. (But only if you first order the Theater pack, Mr. Moneybags.) It runs $2550 and includes a 15-speaker Bose surround-sound audio system with subwoofer, unique 20-inch wheels, a glass roof over the second and third rows, an upgraded HVAC system with air filtration, heated and cooled front seats, heated second-row seats, and rain-sensing wipers. Fully loaded, the JX will command just a hair shy of $59K.
The JX occupies a family friendly slot in Infiniti’s lineup left unfilled by the rest of the company’s SUVs and crossovers, which are too small, too sporty, or too thirsty for most buyers in the segment. The Tennessee-built JX arrives in dealers in the spring, at which point we presume it will be available in colors other than mossy green.
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