STYLING | 8 out of 10
Expert Quotes:
has a considerably more polarizing, some say shocking, design than the vehicle it replaces
Motor Trend
wicked
Car and Driver
Not angry in a "you used Equal instead of Splenda in my soy vanilla latte," but more of a "if you don't give me your chocolate, your money and your first born, I'm going to channel Ghenghis Khan and get 13th century on your ass."
Autoblog
looks cool and aggressive
AutoWeek
Coupe-like and curvy, the Infiniti FX is as far from any SUV styling themes as the two-door G37. It's a crossover, sure--but it sure doesn't look like one.
Last year, the FX's front end was updated with a new grille and headlamps, a subtle update that marked the first real change since today's model was introduced in 2009. Change is something the FX hasn't needed: its smooth take has stayed fresh, probably because its few rivals haven't succeeded in pulling off the same cross-over appeal. (BMW X6, anyone?)
It's not that the FX is a complete styling success--busy details clutter a few surfaces, especially in the distracting surfaces molded into the taillights and headlights, and the ducts cut into the front fenders. It's that the FX is still nearly alone in its niche. Only the Range Rover Evoque cuts the utility shape into such an interesting new pattern, and it's angular where the FX is bulbous, organic.
With its last redesign, the Infiniti FX also became a bit warmer and more sophisticated inside. It's definitely rich and elegant, but with the lack of an all-encompassing interface like iDrive or MMI it's also undeniably more cluttered compared to other vehicles in this class (something many will be happy to live with).
Conclusion
A crossover with coupe-like style, the Infiniti FX is a rare styling success in that awkward niche.