A Double Debut in L.A.: 2011 Ford Fiesta and 2011...
Green
Trucks
Luxury
Family
Brand
Muscle
See more sites from  HighGear  M E D I A  >>
Compare this car to others like it Try our car compare tool now

2008 Infiniti FX35 Safety Review

November 3, 2008

SAFETY | 9 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

Five stars, front impact protection and side impact protection; four stars, rollover resistance
NHTSA

Good," frontal offset impact; not tested, side impact; "marginal," rear crash protection
IIHS

impeded outward visibility
Edmunds

Visibility suffers because of the 2008 Infiniti FX's swoopy styling, especially to the rear, but the vehicle earns high marks from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for impact protection.

J.D. Power reports, "The [2008 Infiniti FX] was crash tested by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and earned a frontal offset rating of 'Good' -- the highest rating the IIHS offers. The Institute did not report side-impact test results." Edmunds reveals, "In National Highway Traffic Safety Administration crash tests, the [2008 Infiniti FX] scored five (out of five) stars for its protection of occupants in both front and side impacts." Kelley Blue Book says that it received four of five stars in rollover resistance.

The list of standard safety features for the Infiniti FX is lengthy. 2008 models are equipped with ABS, Vehicle Dynamic Control, traction control, tire-pressure monitoring, and pretensioners and load limiters for the front seats, according to various reviews read by TheCarConnection.com. "Drivers and passengers in all 2008 Infiniti FX models benefit from...dual-stage front air bags, front-seat-mounted side air bags, and front and rear side curtain air bags," reports J.D. Power. They add that on the Infiniti FX, "Rear seats are fitted with the LATCH system" for those with small children's car seats.

Optional safety equipment on the Infiniti FX 2008 includes a Lane Departure Warning System that alerts the driver if cameras mounted behind the rearview mirror detect the vehicle unintentionally moving beyond lane markers, according to Edmunds.

A serious safety flaw exists in the Infiniti FX. 2008 models do not address its "considerable blind spots [which] compromise rearward visibility," explains Edmunds. Kelley Blue Book notes, "Narrow side glass and a small rear window create large blind spots, although the standard RearView monitor helps alleviate this concern."

Conclusion

The 2008 Infiniti FX is equipped with the usual safety features and performs well in protecting passengers in crashes, but be sure to check those blind spots often.

SAFETY | 9 out of 10Expert Quotes:Five stars, front impact protection and side impact protection; four stars, rollover resistanceNHTSAGood," frontal offset impact; not tested, side impact; "marginal," rear crash protectionIIHSimpeded outward visibilityEdmunds Visibility suffers because of the 2008 Infiniti FX's swoopy styling, especially to the rear, but the vehicle earns high marks from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for impact protection. J.D. Power reports, "The [2008 Infiniti FX] was crash tested by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and earned a frontal offset rating of 'Good' -- the highest rating the IIHS offers. The Institute did not report side-impact test results." Edmunds reveals, "In National Highway Traffic Safety Administration crash tests, the [2008 Infiniti FX] scored five (out of five) stars for its protection of occupants in both front and side impacts." Kelley Blue Book says that it received four of five stars in rollover resistance. The list of standard safety features for the Infiniti FX is lengthy. 2008 models are equipped with ABS, Vehicle Dynamic Control, traction control, tire-pressure monitoring, and pretensioners and load limiters for the front seats, according to various reviews read by TheCarConnection.com. "Drivers and passengers in all 2008 Infiniti FX models benefit from...dual-stage front air bags, front-seat-mounted side air bags, and front and rear side curtain air bags," reports J.D. Power. They add that on the Infiniti FX, "Rear seats are fitted with the LATCH system" for those with small children's car seats. Optional safety equipment on the Infiniti FX 2008 includes a Lane Departure Warning System that alerts the driver if cameras mounted behind the rearview mirror detect the vehicle unintentionally moving beyond lane markers, according to Edmunds. A serious safety flaw exists in the Infiniti FX. 2008 models do not address its "considerable blind spots [which] compromise rearward visibility," explains Edmunds. Kelley Blue Book notes, "Narrow side glass and a small rear window create large blind spots, although the standard RearView monitor helps alleviate this concern." ConclusionThe 2008 Infiniti FX is equipped with the usual safety features and performs well in protecting passengers in crashes, but be sure to check those blind spots often. 2008 INFINITI FX STYLING | [8 out of 10] ConsumerGuide: "Swoopy styling" J.D. Power: "FX creates a sense of power and athleticism through the sensually curved fenders and power dome hood" Kelley Blue Book: "flashy design sometimes places form over function" Edmunds: "A well-designed ...

Read More of this Review:

  1. styling
  2. performance
  3. quality
  4. safety
  5. features

Other Choices:

Thanks to the 2008 BMW X6, the 2008 Infiniti FX has another similarly styled pal in the sandbox. These are both coupe-styled crossovers that have a penchant for performance. Dollar per dollar, the Infiniti FX45 holds an edge over the new X6. More conventional but still high-performance utilities include Audi Q7 (with a third row of seats) and the Porsche Cayenne S. What these crossovers give up in terms of coupe styling, they give back in interior room. The last potential competitor for the 2008 Infiniti FX--particularly the FX45--is the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8. These two feature all-wheel drive, big-horsepower V-8s, fancy wheels, and suspensions tuned to rip the asphalt off freeway ramps.

Next Steps:

Check Insurance Rates

for the 2008 Infiniti FX35

Check Financing Rates

for the 2008 Infiniti FX35

Check Local Classifieds

for a 2008 Infiniti FX35 near you

See the Infiniti FX35 in Other Years:

2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003

Comments (0 total)

Be the first to post a comment

Post a comment

Post anonymously, or
(Required)
(Required - will not be published, sold or shared)
(Optional - your 'posted by' name will link to the URL)

Remember Me?

I have read TheCarConnection.com's privacy policy