Behind the wheel
The JX felt surprisingly light to drive. I can usually feel the size of any three-row vehicle when accelerating, but the 265-horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6 engine took next to no effort to get the JX up to speed. Using the drive mode selector, I switched out of Normal and into Sport mode to get the continuously variable automatic transmission to feel as if it were shifting through the gears, a sensation I prefer. Eco and Snow modes are there to play around with, as well as a manual-shift mode, which I would definitely use in my normal life traveling up and down mountain passes.
The other impressive feat is the JX35's ability to hug the road like a car when cornering, rather than tilting and rolling as you'd expect from an SUV or large crossover.
The standard front-wheel-drive JX35 (rated an estimated 18/24 mpg city/highway and 21 mpg combined) can be upgraded to all-wheel drive (dropping to 23 mpg highway and 20 mpg combined) for a mere $1,100, a feature I would take advantage of if purchasing one in my neck of the Rocky Mountain woods.
See also:
Vehicle set-up
1. Park the vehicle on a level surface and apply the parking brake.
2. Run the engine until it reaches operating temperature.
3. Turn the engine off and wait more than 15 minutes.
4. Raise and supp ...
Engine cooling system
The engine cooling system is filled at the factory with a pre-diluted mixture of 50% Genuine NISSAN Long Life Antifreeze/Coolant (blue) and 50% water to provide year-round anti-freeze and coolant prot ...
The Inside
Small but well-appointed, the cabin works well for one or two adults; four
will find it cramped. The front seats are exceptionally comfortable — and I'm
always ready to carp about the slightest se ...