Infiniti FX35
The pipsqueak's revenge |
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By Richard J. Newman
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NITS: The cellphone power outlet is in the storage box, which means the cord keeps the lid from closing completely.
G-FORCES: Acceleration is good, except for a brief lag in responsiveness that I found a bit annoying. The FX35 has a comfortable, carlike ride, along with SUV-style command seating. But it's not as nimble or as sporting as other crossovers in the same price range.
GIZMOLOGY: The dash-mounted LCD screen does a nice job of displaying climate and radio information without being overly complex. But there's still a lot of clutter on the dashboard. Under the central display I counted nearly 45 different buttons, and even after a week I had trouble intuitively finding the control I was looking for.
KID MARKS: The rear doorways are a bit crimped, although that's not typically a problem for kids. The doors were tightly hinged and a bit hard for young'uns to close. But there's a nice activity tray in the back. Cup holders extend from the back of the front armrest, which can be too far a reach for little arms.
ENVIROMETER: Not yet given a "green vehicle" rating by the EPA. Mileage ranges from 16 mpg city to 22 mpg highway for the V-6.
CRASH COURSE: Not crash-tested by the government or by private testing organizations.
PRICE POINTS: Base price for the FX35 is $34,745; for the FX45, $44,765. Price as tested: $38,845. (All prices include delivery fees.)
MORE INFO: http://www.infiniti.com/content/
0,,cid-24508_sctid-12001,00.html
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Model year tested: 2004
I don't have big muscles. But I felt like I did in the FX35. The funky crossover vehicle's taut, sculpted body did more for my self-image than a personal trainer. The huge 18-inch tires were the equivalent of six months of leg lifts. The chiseled snout, which looks vaguely angry, emboldened me to shoo other drivers out of my way. And big dudes in slick shades, the kind who ordinarily brush right past me, paused to envy my physique. Or my car's, anyway.
For those who haven't noticed, Nissan and its Infiniti luxury division have been flooding the market with a lot of attitude lately. Racy new designs for cars like the Altima, the Maxima, and Infiniti's saucy G35 have turned heads with the kind of badder-than-thou styling that typically gets no further than a designer's sketch pad. The FX35, and its pricier sibling, the FX45, may be the boldest-looking production vehicles from the company yet. The big tires and hunched roofline give the appearance of being high and low at the same time; more than any car I can think of, the FX35 looks like a tiger about to pounce (and a lot of cars try to look like a tiger about to pounce). The big bottom and small top also challenge your sense of proportion; five or 10 years ago the FX35 might have looked comically ugly, but today it looks cutting edge.
Unfortunately, looks aren't everything, not even in a car. Oh, the FX35 is comfy inside, luxurious even. But in many ways the competition is brainier and more classy, with stronger long-term appeal. The FX35 has a comfortable and commanding ride, but that's the entry point for luxury crossovers these days. Lexus's RX 330 is smoother and quieter, and Acura's MDX has a sportier and more aggressive feel than the FX35. That cool styling also creates trade-offs inside, where the sharply descending roofline leaves relatively little rear cargo space. It's a bit of a tight pinch for adults getting in the back seat, too. And as a five-seater, the FX35 loses practicality points to the Volvo XC90 and the Chrysler Pacifica, which come standard with three rows of seats.
Upgrading to the FX45 helps address a few of those issues. In the 45, for example, you get a 315-horsepower V-8 instead of the 280-horsepower V-6 that's standard on the 35. Not that 280 horses is an embarrassment, but there was noticeable lag when accelerating and a bit of lurching when shifting into overdrive. If the FX35 were a $25,000 car I'd be thrilled with its performance. But at $35,000 and up, standards change. Still, I had a ball driving the FX35, and even more fun parking it and getting out to admire its meaty curves. It's a car I'd be thrilled to date–I'm just not sure I'd tie the knot.
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