Now in its second generation, the FX is a unabashedly sporty SUV. Attractive and luxurious inside and out, the FX manages to retain some of the sporty moves of its M and G sports-sedan stablemates. Powerful in 303-hp FX35 guise, the FX50 is sports-car quick with its 390-hp V-8.
Specifications
VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, 4-wheel-drive, 4-passenger, 5-door wagon
PRICE AS TESTED: $66,690 (base price: $59,265)
ENGINE TYPE: DOHC 32-valve V-8, aluminum block and heads, port fuel injection
Displacement: 307 cu in, 5026cc
Power (SAE net): 390 bhp @ 6500 rpm
Torque (SAE net): 369 lb-ft @ 4400 rpm
TRANSMISSION: 7-speed automatic with manumatic shifting
DIMENSIONS:
Wheelbase: 113.6 in Length: 191.1 in Width: 75.9 in Height: 65.0 in
Curb weight: 4725 lb
PERFORMANCE: NEW
Zero to 60 mph: 5.1 sec
Zero to 100 mph: 12.9 sec
Zero to 130 mph: 25.4 sec
Street start, 5–60 mph: 5.4 sec
Standing ¼-mile: 13.6 sec @ 103 mph
Top speed (governor limited): 141 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 172 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 0.87 g
WARRANTY:
4 years/60,000 miles bumper to bumper;
6 years/70,000 miles powertrain;
7 years/unlimited miles corrosion protection;
4 years/unlimited miles roadside assistance
Three Pit Stops
Our pearl-white crossover has required two scheduled services so far. The first took place at 7500 miles and included a tire rotation, a multipoint inspection, and five quarts of Mobil 1 synthetic; the service rang up at $131.51. The second occurred at 15,000 miles and covered the same work, but cost only $108.70. The price disparity can be explained in part by slightly different labor charges, but the bulk of the gap is due to a change at our local dealer; customers were complaining about the cost of five quarts of Mobil 1 ($62.93), so the shop switched to a less-costly synthetic oil ($26.45). We also made an unscheduled stop at the dealer to address a constantly flashing airbag light (it was an old code that was cleared and hasn’t reappeared) and a left rear window that refused to obey its auto-up command (a reprogram cured it).
Most of our mileage has been accrued during regular commuting, but the FX has seen duty on a few longish trips to northern Michigan and Chicago, and a couple of seriously long journeys—including one to California—are scheduled for the near future. We’ve found that it will hold two people and their gear for a golf weekend; two sets of clubs fit in the back without necessitating folding the seats, while luggage and a cooler rode in back-seat comfort. The Infiniti also worked out for another weekend journey, this time with four up and sparingly packed bags. Trip-takers report that the seats stay comfy for long jaunts. The infotainment system gets good reviews from all commenters, winning praise for its ease of use, sound quality, and pretty menus. Some of us have even taken time to learn the commands for the voice-activated nav, which works reliably and allows for destination inputs while underway.
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