Infiniti FX 50 SUV Review
SUV Reviewer
The 2011 Infiniti FX 50 is a mid-size crossover luxury vehicle that seats five passengers. The carlike ride and the plush interior with a wide range of features make for the luxury part of the vehicle while the powerful V8 engine gives it sportiness and excellent handling capabilities. Its smooth, flowing lines make it an attractive vehicle in comparison to the awkward, angular shapes of its competition. A stylish interior filled with technology add to the draw of this vehicle.
There is one well-designed trim level for the Infiniti FX 50 and standard features of the vehicle include 21-inch alloy wheels, fog lights, automatic xenon headlights, heated outside mirror, sunroof, power lift gate, quilted leather upholstery, a keyless entry and ignition system, a power tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel, front seats that are heated and ventilated with memory settings for the driver, and automatic climate control with dual-zones.
The technology package for the Infiniti FX 50 includes a parking system with camera, a navigation system with voice recognition, real-time traffic and weather reports, and speaker audio system from Bose with a DVD player, MP3, and CD, satellite radio, Bluetooth capabilities, a large capacity music server and integration with the iPod. Also included are a lane-departure warning system, adaptive front headlights, rain-sensing front wipers and an intelligent brake assist system. A rear-seat entertainment system is another option.
Specs:
The Infiniti FX 50 sports a 5.0 liter, 32-valve V8 aluminum-alloy block and head engine that can produce 390 horsepower with 369 pound-feet of torque and can make it from 0 to 60 mph in only 5.5 seconds. The transmission is a seven-speed automatic with an available manual mode for selecting sequential manual gearshifts. An intelligent all-wheel drive system also powers the vehicle. Vehicle-speed sensitive shifting complements the handling capabilities of the vehicle.
Front suspension for the Infiniti FX 50 sports an independent double-wishbone suspension with shock absorbers and stabilizer bar while the rear uses an independent multi-link suspension also with shock absorbers and stabilizer bar. Fuel economy is rated at 14 mpg in the city and 20 mpg on the highway, with 16 mpg combined.
The interior of the Infiniti FX 50 is rich and luxurious arising from its soft and quilted leather upholstery. The navigation system is quite comprehensive and somewhat difficult to use at first but built-in control redundancies help to reduce the learning curve. The front seats have ample head and legroom and various controls to adjust seating comfort. The rear seats were found not to be as comfortable with less space available for long-legged people. Cargo space with the rear seats in an upright position is 25 cubic feet while folding the rear seats down allows for 62 cubic inches, somewhat below average for a vehicle of its class.
The ride of the Infiniti FX 50 is smooth and refined and can pick up speed effortlessly when the gas is applied. It handles back roads more like a sports wagon with a tight, directed steering and suspension that easily handles the curves. The large 21-inch tires can be a drawback while driving on the highway due to the excessive noise they produce yet overall the vehicle is a pleasure to drive and its interior accoutrements and high technology make it one of the most appealing vehicles in its class.
There is one well-designed trim level for the Infiniti FX 50 and standard features of the vehicle include 21-inch alloy wheels, fog lights, automatic xenon headlights, heated outside mirror, sunroof, power lift gate, quilted leather upholstery, a keyless entry and ignition system, a power tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel, front seats that are heated and ventilated with memory settings for the driver, and automatic climate control with dual-zones.
The technology package for the Infiniti FX 50 includes a parking system with camera, a navigation system with voice recognition, real-time traffic and weather reports, and speaker audio system from Bose with a DVD player, MP3, and CD, satellite radio, Bluetooth capabilities, a large capacity music server and integration with the iPod. Also included are a lane-departure warning system, adaptive front headlights, rain-sensing front wipers and an intelligent brake assist system. A rear-seat entertainment system is another option.
Specs:
The Infiniti FX 50 sports a 5.0 liter, 32-valve V8 aluminum-alloy block and head engine that can produce 390 horsepower with 369 pound-feet of torque and can make it from 0 to 60 mph in only 5.5 seconds. The transmission is a seven-speed automatic with an available manual mode for selecting sequential manual gearshifts. An intelligent all-wheel drive system also powers the vehicle. Vehicle-speed sensitive shifting complements the handling capabilities of the vehicle.
Front suspension for the Infiniti FX 50 sports an independent double-wishbone suspension with shock absorbers and stabilizer bar while the rear uses an independent multi-link suspension also with shock absorbers and stabilizer bar. Fuel economy is rated at 14 mpg in the city and 20 mpg on the highway, with 16 mpg combined.
The interior of the Infiniti FX 50 is rich and luxurious arising from its soft and quilted leather upholstery. The navigation system is quite comprehensive and somewhat difficult to use at first but built-in control redundancies help to reduce the learning curve. The front seats have ample head and legroom and various controls to adjust seating comfort. The rear seats were found not to be as comfortable with less space available for long-legged people. Cargo space with the rear seats in an upright position is 25 cubic feet while folding the rear seats down allows for 62 cubic inches, somewhat below average for a vehicle of its class.
The ride of the Infiniti FX 50 is smooth and refined and can pick up speed effortlessly when the gas is applied. It handles back roads more like a sports wagon with a tight, directed steering and suspension that easily handles the curves. The large 21-inch tires can be a drawback while driving on the highway due to the excessive noise they produce yet overall the vehicle is a pleasure to drive and its interior accoutrements and high technology make it one of the most appealing vehicles in its class.
