Category: Large 4x4s 
Price Range: £35,200 to £36,500
Comfortable, refined engine, strong performance.
Pricey, a little dull to drive, expensive to run.
Well-built coupe/4x4 with plenty of grunt. A bit boring, however.
There's a scene in anarchic 80s comedy show The Young Ones where Rik says: 'Hands up who likes me?' His 'friends' all respond by placing their hands firmly to the floor. And so it is with Infiniti as it makes it way on to European soil with a new range of models designed to wow this continent. The Japanese brand, which has had so much success in America, is asking the question: 'Hands up who likes me?'
The Infiniti EX37, a coupe/crossover, should yield a positive response. It looks nice enough: the understated design is inoffensive and it doesn't resemble anything the Yanks would like or make.
There is, however, a sticking point. Infiniti wants us to believe that this is an exclusive, sporty brand and has launched its models with huge, thirsty petrol engines. Infiniti seem to be saying: 'we don't do economy - that's for fleet buyers'.
Under the bonnet of the EX37 is a 3.7-litre V6 petrol engine, which is great if you want to chew up some Tarmac and don't get too hung up on fuel bills. This is a vehicle for the flush-with-cash 4x4-brigade looking for something a bit sportier than a Land Rover Freelander.
The EX37 is actually a shot across the bows of the BMW X3 and the forthcoming Audi Q5, but we don't anticipate the Germans quaking in their boots. The starting price for an EX37 is probably going to be around £36k, whereas the X3 range starts at around £30k - and you get some economical diesels to choose from. Audi's pricing for its Q5 is set to be equally competitive.
Infiniti is unrepentant though. It has set modest sales targets and is determined to play the long game: the diesels will come, but not until Infiniti has set out its stall as a premium brand. There appears to be no compromise...
