Infiniti FX Review

In designing the FX series, Infiniti wanted to create an SUV that performed like a sports car and that’s what they did. Borrowing the chassis of the Nissan 350Z, the FX35 and FX45 sacrifice some cargo room for their superior handling and drivability. However, the FX does not disappoint in creating an exhilarating driving experience that its stunning looks allude to. The draw back to this great driving performance is that it can’t handle more than a dirt driveway or snowy road as an off-road vehicle. More of a high riding sport wagon, the FX is the cross over vehicle for you if you want to transport passengers comfortably, carry limited cargo, and have an SUV mentality.

See also the main fact sheet for the Infiniti FX.

High Points

 * Excellent road performance
 * Sports car styling
 * Ample engine power

Low Points

 * Off-road capabilities are all show (AutoWeek)
 * Options are grouped into pricey packages and cannot be ordered separately (Kelley Blue Book)
 * Vehicle is wide and a magnet for door dings
 * Short tread life with the stock Goodyear RSA tires
 * Cargo capacity is much smaller than the Nissan Murano
 * Rear visibility blocked by headrests

Performance and Handling
The Infiniti FX is designed to be driven enthusiastically, borrowing its chassis architecture from the rear-drive Nissan 350Z and Infiniti G35. Rather than an SUV, we'd call it a fine luxury sport wagon with a higher seating position. We should note that it has more interior space than the sport wagons can offer, and we think it is also more exciting to drive than most of them.

Plant the V8-powered FX45's accelerator to the floor and you'll be rewarded with a healthy hot-rod roar. As revs rise, the sound becomes a higher-pitched hum. Brisk acceleration makes the big FX feel athletic and nimble. You get the feeling you can pass anything in front of you. And Infiniti's design objectives come more clearly into focus.

The Infiniti FX45 offers comparable acceleration performance to the Porsche Cayenne S, according to each manufacturer's statistics. Infiniti says the FX45 can zip from 0 to 60 mph in slightly more than 6 seconds, while Porsche says the Cayenne S, even with its more powerful V8 engine, takes nearly 0.2 second longer. How can that be? Very simply, the Infiniti FX is considerably lighter, so each of its 315 horses is hauling fewer pounds.

The V6-powered FX35 is no slouch, either. It launches impressively from a stop, largely because it has substantially more horsepower and torque than most other six-cylinder SUVs. There's as much oomph here as most owners will ever need. We found its acceleration performance entirely satisfactory. The V6 engine that powers the FX35 is the same engine used in the Nissan 350Z sports car. It's powerful, giving the FX35 responsive performance. While driving the FX35, we never found ourselves wishing for the more powerful FX45.

Granted, the step up to the V8 is noticeable, particularly when you stab the gas at, say, 60 mph. The FX45 will rocket to 80 at a much greater rate than the FX35. However, with gas prices rising, one must note that the V8 also chugs fuel at a much greater rate, reducing range between fill-ups by anywhere from 25 to 75 miles, according to the EPA's numbers. Both FX models are electronically limited to a top speed of 130.

All this power is managed with sophisticated electronics with names that sound like alphabet soup. The ATTESA E-TS (Advanced Total Traction Engineering System for All Electronic Torque Split) all-wheel-drive system improves handling in limited traction situations due to its optimum 50/50 front/rear torque distribution, which can shift rearward up to 0/100 when conditions require. The system provides good starting traction and stable acceleration in snow-covered or off-road situations, since it always starts off with the torque split 50/50.

The FX suspension is stiff, reflecting Infiniti's decision not to make this SUV an off-road vehicle. With its limited travel and taut feel, the suspension gives the FX excellent handling on smooth, winding roads. However, the stiff suspension made the FX less than ideal when traveling any distance on an unpaved road.

On tight and sweeping corners, however, the body stays incredibly level, which is the plus side of its stiff suspension. Understeer, or the sliding of the front tires that is the default skid condition in most vehicles, begins very gradually when you aim the FX into a corner, and the front wheels continue to push only slightly until you get near its very high cornering limits. If really pushed, the VDC allows a slight amount of power oversteer while cornering (a satisfying fish-tail effect in the rear). As in the 350Z, the FX's steering is quick. It doesn't feel as telepathic as a Porsche's, but it doesn't feel light and loose like that in many SUVs, either.

The brakes are good. The FX45 remains confident and stable under heavy braking. However, braking quickly reminds the driver of how much mass has to be slowed down. A vehicle as heavy as the FX, but also as nimble, can require acute awareness from the driver, because it feels so well-mannered that it's easy to forget how fast it's going and how heavy it is.

With their sports supensions, the FX45 and the FX35 with the Sport package are reasonably comfortable in freeway driving. There, the FX rides smoothly enough and feels relaxed. The FX45 cruises at 80 mph in fifth gear with the engine turning a low, quiet 2800 rpm. The cabin is quiet and isolated enough for delicate cell phone conversations, but it's not the serene environment of a true luxury sedan. The FX35 without the Sport package rides more smoothly and more pleasantly. It's still plenty nimble and quick and fun to drive. But its suspension is slightly more compliant, more comfortable in most situations, and its higher profile tires take some of the crack out of bumps and expansion joints. However, even the FX35's suspension is on the firm side and the ride gets a little bumpy on rough streets at low speeds. Some drivers prefer the ride quality of the FX35 over that of the FX45.

Gas Mileage
As seen on Autos.com, in the luxury SUV MPG rankings, the 2007 Infiniti FX is as follows:


 * FX35 is in 3rd place with 17/23 MPG
 * FX45 is in 12th place with 14/18 MPG

Safety
The Infiniti FX series comes standard with the following features:


 * Dual-stage supplemental front air bags
 * Driver and front-passenger seat-mounted side-impact supplemental air bags
 * Roof-mounted curtain supplemental air bags
 * Front Active Head Restraints
 * Slide-away brake pedal assembly
 * Break-away driveshaft
 * LATCH System (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren)
 * Tool kit and first-aid kit
 * Electronic Brake force Distribution
 * Brake Assist
 * 4-wheel Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)
 * Vehicle Dynamic Control
 * Tire Pressure Monitoring System
 * Traction Control System
 * Remote keyless entry system

Reliability and Maintenance
Infiniti offers a warranty covering:


 * 4-year/60,000-mile basic coverage under the New Vehicle Limited Warranty
 * 4-year/60,000-mile Federal Emission Defect Limited Warranty
 * 6-year/70,000-mile Limited Powertrain Coverage
 * 7-year/unlimited-mileage Corrosion Coverage
 * 10-year/unlimited-mileage Seat Belt Warranty
 * 48 months/60,000-mile Towing service to the nearest Infiniti dealer

Interior and Comforts
When you climb into the driver's seat of the Infiniti FX, you're coddled by the console and instrument panel. The driver's portion of the cockpit has the sporting and intimate feel of a sports sedan, but it also feels like a tighter fit than you'll find in most other SUVs. The overall interior impression is of a great luxury sport wagon.

The front seats are comfortably firm, like those in a good European sedan. The adjustments may require quite a bit of fiddling, but once you get them right you can program the settings into the seat memory. The driver's seat allows three inches of vertical travel, so even short drivers can enjoy the commanding height of an SUV in traffic or the seat can be lowered for tall drivers or serious driving on challenging roads.

The view over the FX hood reminds us of a Jaguar, with the metal sloped and contoured over the headlights and grille. It's the opposite of the squared-off hood of a BMW X5 or Range Rover. The view in the mirrors is more than adequate in spite of the thick rear pillars. The rear-view camera displays an image on the seven-inch dashboard monitor of what's below the driver's line of sight, with two virtual lines that correspond to the width of the FX. It's a great aid for checking behind the vehicle before backing out of a driveway or shopping center parking space, helping to ensure no children, pets, or shopping carts are lurking behind the rear wheels.

When designing the interior, Infiniti sought to provide three separate interior zones intended to meet the needs of various FX occupants: the driver zone, the comfort zone and the play zone. The driver zone is designed to be like a cockpit. The steering wheel and instruments remind us of those in Nissan's 350Z sports car, with a thick wheel rim and big gauges that move with the tilting steering column to optimize viewing angle.

The comfort zone is reserved for the front passenger, who gets the same range of seat adjustments as the driver, a separate adjustable center armrest and individual climate controls. Climate, audio and navigation controls are densely arrayed in the center stack. They look cool, but you have to look at them to operate them. Adjusting a switch requires more attention than we prefer.

The play zone, the back seat, has personal reading lamps, a center armrest with tray and storage, seatback pockets for storing DVDs and magazines, reclining seatbacks and chest-level air-conditioning vents. The optional DVD player has a seven-inch screen, a remote and two sets of wireless headphones. The play zone is surprisingly comfortable. Three adults fit comfortably in the split rear seats, and the recline feature makes it much more accommodating for taller folk than the rear-sloping roof might suggest.

The standard 300-watt, 11-speaker Bose stereo with six-disc changer and MP3 capability does a good job of blasting classic rock at high decibels. Infiniti says it worked with Bose specifically to emphasize bass and treble for rock and roll.

With the Intelligent Key option, the FX can be operated without the key. As long as the driver has the remote key fob in pocket or purse, he or she can open the doors simply by using the handle, and start the FX by pressing a button on the dash.

Storage space includes a lockable box in the center console with enough room for larger items like a purse. The door pockets flip out, and three bins are hidden under the rear cargo floor.

The rear seats fold flat easily with simple levers that are accessible from the side doors and the rear, the latter saving you a trip to the back doors when loading cargo through the hatch. The sculpted rear hatch pops open with an electro-magnetic release. Total cargo capacity (64.5 cubic feet with the rear seat folded) is less than in many square-shaped SUVs, but larger than in other high-style SUVs such as the Porsche Cayenne or BMW X5. Infiniti says it placed a higher priority on floor space than sheer volume, and the FX has a larger load floor than the X5 or Lexus RX 330. Its floor-to-ceiling measurement is shorter, however, as is the size of the opening under the sculpted hatch. At 30.6 inches, the load height is high, meaning you have to lift that 40-pound bag of dog food up higher.

Exterior
The Infiniti FX looks like the muscle-crossover it is, particularly with the monster 20-inch wheels. The BMW X5 comes with 20-inch wheels, but on the curvy FX they look disproportionately larger. The FX35 comes standard with 18-inch wheels, which are larger than what you'll find on most SUVs. Once you get used to the monster wheels, Infiniti's poised-for-takeoff styling begins to sink in.

The FX is supposed to look like a sports car from the beltline up with its elegant, gracefully curved upper body, while evoking feelings of substance with its heavy SUV lower body.

The proportions of the FX are striking. Its wide stance and short overhangs (the body work that extends beyond the bumpers) are dimensions normally associated with sports cars. Its long, bulging hood looks high and its oversized grille adds to its aggressive appearance.

The 20-inch wheels, a shiny chrome grille, darker accents around the headlights and taillights, and polished chrome roof rails help visually distinguish the FX45 from the standard FX35, though the Sport Package gives the FX35 the same look.

The engine in the FX sits behind the front axle, giving it a front-mid-engine layout. This gives the FX excellent balance; the FX 2WD achieves a near-optimal weight balance of 52 percent front, 48 percent rear, which enhances handling.

Even the protruding, stylized taillights have performance functions beyond their looks. The lip of the lights that extends past the rear hatch adds aerodynamic downforce on the rear end, like a spoiler.

Styles and Options
The Infiniti FX is available in FX35, FX35 AWD, or FX45 AWD.

FX35
The FX35 is your base model coming standard with:


 * 275hp V6
 * Vehicle information system w/ 7" color LCD screen
 * 300 watt Bose audio system
 * RearView monitor

FX35 AWD
The FX35 AWD is the All wheel drive model standard with:


 * ATTESA E-TS All-wheel drive system (AWD)
 * 275hp V6
 * Vehicle information system w/ 7" color LCD screen
 * 300 watt Bose audio system
 * RearView monitor

FX45 AWD
The FX45 AWD is the V8 model coming standard with:


 * ATTESA E-TS All-wheel drive system (AWD)
 * 320hp V8
 * Vehicle information system w/ 7" color LCD screen
 * 300 watt Bose audio system
 * RearView monitor
 * Bluetooth phone system
 * Sport-tuned suspension

Touring Package (standard on FX45)


 * Power sliding tinted glass sunroof with one-touch open/close, tilt feature and sliding sunshade
 * Auto on/off headlights
 * HomeLink Universal Transceiver
 * Cargo net

Hands-Free Package (standard on FX45) (requires Touring package)


 * Infiniti Intelligent Key
 * Bluetooth

Sport Package (standard on FX45) (requires Hands-Free package)


 * 8-spoke, 20-inch aluminum-alloy wheels with all-season tires
 * Sport-tuned suspension
 * Drilled aluminum pedals with rubber grips
 * Aluminum roof rails
 * Etched aluminum interior trim
 * Tinted headlights and taillights
 * Dark chrome front grille

Technology Package (requires Hands-Free package)


 * Infiniti Navigation System
 * Intelligent Cruise Control
 * Brake Assist with Preview
 * Lane Departure Warning system
 * Satellite radio with body color antenna and choice of XM or SIRIUS service providers

Run-Flat Tire Package (requires Sport and Technology Packages on FX35; Technology Package on FX45)

Mobile Entertainment System (requires Technology Package)
 * Run-flat tires
 * Under-floor storage in cargo area
 * Replaces temporary spare tire
 * Sport run-flat-tuned suspension


 * Infiniti Mobile Entertainment System with ceiling-mounted, flip-down 7-inch color screen
 * Console-mounted DVD player
 * Wireless remote
 * Two pairs of wireless headphones

Infiniti Navigation System (Not available for the FX35)


 * Infiniti Navigation System with DVD database and Birdview

Main Competitors

 * Acura MDX: side-by-side comparison
 * Lexus RX: side-by-side comparison
 * Mercedes-Benz ML-Class: side-by-side comparison
 * Nissan Murano: side-by-side comparison
 * BMW X5: side-by-side comparison