2009 Infiniti FX Quality Review

The reviews read by The CarConnection.com show that the Infiniti FX 2009 has improved in comfort over last year's model, but it still has a ways to go. Also, the cargo volume is less than last year's, as well as many competitors.

Cars.com gives the FX Infiniti good marks for having "power adjustments for the front seats are standard," though notes that "heated and cooled seats are optional" rather than standard. Autoblog says, "The seats are heavily padded and provide suitable bolstering; they're also heated and cooled, and come in a variety of materials. The dash is easy to read, and the steering wheel is sufficiently chunky with just enough redundant controls to avoid technological overload."

Still, as Motor Trend observes, “utility is not as high a priority as is performance. There are only two rows, and cargo volume actually decreased for 2009.” The Associated Press says the FX Infiniti “can feel cramped in the back seat, where there's a sizable hump in the middle seat area and the rear windows are smaller than windows in more squared-off SUVs.” Still, the AP notes, there is “enough legroom—34.6 inches—that the front seats could go back on their tracks and recline some and I was still okay back there.”

Cars.com says carrying capacity gets only fair marks: while "cargo volume behind [the 60/40-split rear] is 24.8 cubic feet; with the seats folded, it totals 62.0 cubic feet." These figures are "slightly lower than previous FX's," and "they're well short of many competitors." Not only that, the AP adds, “there isn't much height in the cargo space, so tall items don't fit well.”

Motor Trend is typical of many reviewers regarding the FX: Infiniti has moved even more upscale with its interior finishes. “The cabin has undergone major changes, with new gauges, steering wheel, and quality materials,” they write. Car and Driver says, “the FX’s interior finish improves several notches with diamond-pleated leather detailing and hockey-stick-shaped accents of real wood on the doors.”

Visibility is an issue, though the AP says, “It just took a while to adjust to the views created by the smallish rear window and the big steel pillars around the windshield.” A rearview camera and monitor are standard on every FX; Infiniti’s newest feature helps most, according to Motor Trend: “What really helps with parking is the new optional Around View Monitor, introduced on the [Infiniti] EX. At first, this feature, which shows an overhead view of the vehicle,” alerts the driver to obstacles all around the perimeter of the vehicle.