2013 INFINITI EX Review

The 2013 Infiniti EX receives a larger and more powerful V6 engine. Infiniti Personal Assistant, a phone-based concierge service, is also new.

The 2013 Infiniti EX is one of the most engaging small luxury crossovers and the price is right, too. Just don't expect it to haul people and stuff like its roomier rivals.

If you wish Infiniti made a wagon out of its athletic G37 sedan, you're in luck. The 2013 Infiniti EX, while technically a crossover SUV, delivers the superior driving dynamics and confident road manners that will convince you it's a sport wagon.

For 2013, the EX receives a new 3.7-liter V6 that produces 325 horsepower, 28 hp more than last year's 3.5-liter V6. The bigger six-cylinder further bolsters the EX's sporty mission, which is complemented by sharp handling, responsive steering and strong brakes.

The EX's appeal continues inside, surrounding occupants with impressive luxury trimmings, soft leather upholstery and genuine wood trim. An array of cutting-edge technology is also available, including a 360-degree parking camera system and adaptive cruise control with collision warning.

But the 2013 Infiniti EX isn't as spacious or practical as you might hope from a crossover. Compared to some direct competitors, the EX's backseat is cramped and the cargo area yields slightly less space. The EX is more practical than a G sedan or other entry-level luxury sedans, however. Think of it as a wagon without the wagon stigma.

If you favor passenger and cargo room over dynamic qualities, the 2013 Audi Q5, 2013 Mercedes-Benz GLK and Volvo XC60 are compact luxury crossovers that cover the EX's shortcomings. The 2013 BMW X3 is another athletic choice that offers more room and features, but at a higher price.

The 2013 Infiniti EX offers a choice of rear-wheel or all-wheel drive. Replacing the previous 3.5-liter engine, a 3.7-liter V6 now produces 325 hp and 267 pound-feet of torque. A seven-speed automatic transmission is standard. Based on testing of an EX with the previous engine, we expect the 2013 EX to accelerate from zero to 60 mph in about 6 seconds, which is very quick for a compact luxury crossover.

Fuel economy estimates for the rear-drive EX are 17 mpg city/25 mpg highway and 20 mpg combined. The AWD model earns 24 mpg highway.

Standard safety features on the 2013 Infiniti EX include antilock disc brakes, traction and stability control, front-seat side airbags, side curtain airbags and active front head restraints.

The optional Technology package adds Forward Collision Warning (which uses the adaptive cruise control radar system to alert the driver of an impending collision), Intelligent Brake Assist (which automatically engages the brakes when the driver ignores FCW) and the lane-departure warning system (which alerts the driver when the car starts to veer into another lane). In performance brake testing, the EX stopped from 60 mph in 118 feet, a very good result for this class.

In testing by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the EX earned a top score of "Good" in the frontal-offset, side-impact and roof strength crash tests.

If your tastes run more toward sport sedans than SUVs, you're bound to like driving the 2013 Infiniti EX. Even with its tall profile, the EX delivers above-average handling, responsive steering and strong braking. Engine and road noise seep into the cabin more than you'd like in this class of car, but the ride quality is quite good, even with the standard 18-inch alloy wheels. The V6 under the hood delivers impressive acceleration to create a package that's nearly as much fun to drive as its G sedan sibling.

You could describe the 2013 Infiniti EX's passenger cabin in one word: posh. Both the entry-level model and the Journey trim level feature top-quality materials, including supple leather and genuine aluminum or maple wood accents, integrated with attractive styling and intuitive controls. We particularly like the large, legible vehicle information display that supports all infotainment functions as well as the trip computer and optional navigation.

Front seats offer good comfort and support and the elevated driving position is excellent, especially with the fine-tuning offered by the Journey model's power tilt-and-telescoping adjustable steering column. The backseat doesn't offer much legroom, however, so don't expect anything better than what you'll find in most sport sedans.

Cargo capacity is similarly small, with just 18.6 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats. Even with the rear seatbacks folded down, the EX's 47.4-cubic-foot capacity is still significantly smaller than its competitors.