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In order to compile this comprehensive review covering the 2010 Infiniti FX35 and FX50, the experts at TheCarConnection.com have driven both variants of this performance utility vehicle, then scanned a wide range of reviews for the most useful information for shoppers—especially how the FX stacks up against other vehicles like it.
Likes:
- Head-turning profile
- Strong acceleration, especially from V-8
- Responsive transmission
- Easy nav-system interface
Dislikes:
- Cluttered, overwrought instrument panel styling
- Surprisingly little cargo space with backseats up
- FX50 feels very heavy
- Abundance of expensive gadgets
From some angles, the 2010 Infiniti FX might look more like a coupe, and that’s exactly the effect that Infiniti was going for with this curvy crossover vehicle. Unlike other vehicles of this size and relative shape, the FX is geared toward sport-sedan buyers—those who want great overall performance and handling, not off-road ability or an optimized space for changing diapers. The high-utility wagonlike profile is there; it’s just not the priority in this design.
With last year’s redesign, the FX became even more coupelike in its profile—in some ways taking a step in the direction BMW forged with its X6, and Acura with its ZDX. Along with the even more aggressive shape and a lower front grille, Infiniti adds quite a few styling details to the exterior—including rippled headlight and taillight designs and metallic ducts just behind the front wheels. Inside, too, although the design of the new Infiniti FX feels warmer and more sophisticated than the previous version, it’s also undeniably more cluttered. The sheer busyness of the design might bother some—with too many curves and cues that are shared with the Nissan Cube MPV—though otherwise it feels rich and elegant.
As before, the Infiniti FX can be had as an FX35, with a 303-horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6, or as an FX50, with a 390-hp, 5.0-liter V-8. Both offer a choice of rear- or all-wheel drive and get a new seven-speed automatic transmission. For most buyers, the V-6 will be plenty fast, and the engine is still among the sweetest V-6 engines around. The V-8 is even faster, but V-6 version with rear-wheel drive are clearly the best-handling of the bunch, with all-wheel-drive models possessing a different steering feel and V-8s seeming noticeably heavier. And steering feel is about as good as it gets in a utility vehicle of any kind. Fuel economy was slightly improved with the FX’s redesign for ’09, but it’s still embarrassingly low by some city-dwelling standards, at 16 mpg city, 23 highway with the V-6 (down to 14/20 mpg with the V-8).
