PERFORMANCE | 9 out of 10
Expert Quotes:
playful and fun to drive
Motor Trend
The steering isn't what we'd call engaging, but it's what we've come to expect from vehicles of this size and weight.
Autoblog
the V8 has great power--this thing is fast!
AutoWeek
performance is hardly shabby, with the 0-to-60 blast taking just 6.1 seconds
Car and Driver
Cornering is as flat and precise as any SUV on the market, with virtually no body roll.
Orlando Sentinel
Two different models of the 2012 Infiniti FX are offered—the FX35 and FX37—but with the two models looking essentially the same and both offering more than enough power, it's really a matter of whether you want a V-8 and how much money you're willing to spend.
The FX35 gets a 303-horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6, while the FX50 has a 390-hp, 5.0-liter V-8. Both get a new seven-speed automatic transmission, and while FX35 models can be had with either all-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive, FX50 models come only with AWD. For most buyers, the V-6 will be plenty fast, and the engine is still among the sweetest V-6 engines around. With either of the engines, the seven-speed automatic shifts quickly and responsively, too.
The V-8 is clearly even faster—about a second faster to 60 mph, in about five seconds—but we tend to think that for those who lack unlimited fuel budgets and off-duty-cop status the V-6 version with rear-wheel drive is the sweetest pick of the bunch.
Overall, the FX models handle as if they're considerably lighter, and they have a sense of poise and balance on a curvy road that's better than most other SUVs and crossovers. AWD models add some all-weather ability, but beware that the systems still have a rear bias, plus low-profile performance tires, so the FX isn't a great Snow Belt crossover. We've also noted that AWD models have a somewhat less communicative steering feel, and the FX50 AWD feels (and is) hundreds of pounds heavier.
Conclusion
The 2012 Infiniti FX models are very satisfying to drive, and they handle more like sport sedans.
