Mother Proof's view

A sedan isn’t usually what comes to mind when you think of a family car, but the 2009 Infiniti M35x could change that. The M35x single-handedly proves that sedans can be great family cars. In fact, it’s not only a great family car, it’s also a great hot-mama car, striking the perfect balance between practicality and luxury.

This car has everything a family of four could want and more. Its passenger room is spacious and comfortable; there are enough cupholders to accommodate everyone. The M35x’s audio system is kickin’, and there’s storage space aplenty.

The true brilliance behind the M35x is that it doesn’t skimp on pleasing the driver, too. It’s fun to drive, and the version I tested had an indulgent interior with buttery smooth leather upholstery and heated/cooled front seats. This is a car that can go from a playdate to a date night with no problems. I only wish I could go from one to the other as easily – I usually have to change outfits at the very least.

There were only two areas where the M35X failed me: fuel economy (it’s estimated to get 16/22 mpg city/highway) and Latch connectors. Because the mileage numbers aren’t egregiously bad and I’ve found myself complaining about fuel economy a lot lately, I’m going to let that one slide. Those darn Latch connectors, however, really bummed me out. They were difficult to find, and it took me way too long to install and uninstall my children’s safety seats as a result. Please, Infiniti, make them more accessible, and then the M35x will be the perfect family sedan.

Exterior

The M35x has fab curb appeal. Its look straddles the line between luxury and sport sedan, and it works. The tires are big, the body is sleek and it isn’t too large.

After the trouble I had installing my child-safety seats and my children into the M35x, I noticed that something was off – in a good way. It was a little too easy to get the kids into their child-safety seats. Well, those clever Infiniti folks designed the rear doors to swing out to a full 80 degrees – wider than average. These doors are also sturdy without feeling like a ton of bricks. My son is the perfect height for car doors to knock him over, and many are so heavy that he’s been dazed once or twice. I’m happy to report that he walked away from our week with the M35x unscathed.

Like many cars these days, the M35x has swivel headlights that illuminate turns, and keyless access with push-button start. The Intelligent All-Wheel Drive, however, is what really had me begging for more. This system monitors wheelspin, throttle position and speed to adapt the car to changing road conditions. The system also has a Snow Mode, which reduced aggravating wheelspin on ice and snow. Having Intelligent All-Wheel Drive on the M35x during a tempestuous Colorado snowstorm made a huge difference in my comfort level while driving.

Of course, living in Colorado means you never know what the weather is going to do next. The day after the snowstorm brought sun and 65 degrees, so I opened the M35x’s expansive sunroof and enjoyed the day.

Interior

The M35x was beautiful on the inside, too. You can get it with textured aluminum or African rosewood trim. My test car had the rosewood; it was rich-looking and welcoming.

The front seats were firm-feeling with great support. Both front seats have 10-way power adjustments. Most cars pile all the adjustments and comfort only on the driver’s seat, but not the M35x. The front seats were also heated and cooled, which was really cool (pun intended).

The rear seat was roomy and comfortable; I could easily fit between my children’s car seats. The rear seats recline, and there’s a retractable sunshade to keep the sun out of kids’ eyes. You can opt to get climate and audio controls back there, too. I really appreciated the pass-thru to the trunk, which is handy for skis.

My test car included the Technology Package and the Advanced Technology Package. The packages added a Bose surround-sound system with 14 speakers, including a couple at shoulder level in the front seats that create a personal concert whenever the stereo is on, as well as a navigation system with a touch-screen, a Music Box hard drive for MP3 files, and an iPod interface.

You can also opt for the DVD player if you upgrade to the Premium Package. I was smitten with this, as sedans don’t usually have DVD players. You get a roof-mounted screen and two sets of wireless headphones with this package, which means you don’t have to listen to “Finding Nemo” for the 1,000th time. Another bonus: The DVD player sits in the center console between the front seats, so you don’t have to climb in back to control it.

IT’S THE LITTLE THINGS THAT COUNT

Storage Compartments (Puny, Fair, Ample, Galore): Ample

Cargo/Trunk Space (Puny, Fair, Ample, Galore): Ample

Safety

When I first picked up the test car, it beeped at me several times while I was driving on the highway. It took me a minute to figure out that it was beeping every time I drifted into another lane. This was the Lane Departure Warning system in action. There’s a small camera mounted behind the windshield that detects lane markers, and when the car drifts out of its lane, the system responds with an alarm and a blinking light in the speedometer. If you don’t straighten yourself out, the stability system lightly applies brake pressure and steers the car back into your correct lane. Geesh! I began to wonder if this car could make a cup of tea for me, too.

A backup camera is available on the M35x, and it has handy on-screen guidelines to show you where you’re going.

Brake assist is standard, and it applies the maximum brake force needed to prevent a collision. Apparently, many drivers don’t apply enough force to the brakes quickly enough to avoid a collision, and this safety feature helps with that problem.

There are six airbags, including front-, side-impact and side curtain airbags for both rows. The M35x also has antilock brakes, an electronic stability system, traction control and active head restraints for the front seats.

FAMILY LIFESTAGE

In Diapers: There’s plenty of space for rear-facing infant seats and convertible child-safety seats.

In School: The kids will love the rear DVD player; you’ll love the two sets of wireless headphones.

Teens: Teens won’t mind sitting in the backseat because it reclines.