On Board
Fans of the brand were holding their breath: the second coming of the sports crossover was supposed to be even bolder and more expressive than the first. Competitors were not idle — the updated Porsche Cayenne was already in service, and BMW had even bet on expanding its lineup by adding its flattened four-seat X6 version to the driver-oriented X5.
The body of the new FX has become lower, but the car has noticeably grown in length and width.
If the first generation hinted at "turtle" features, now it's a hundred percent "crocodile." The huge radiator grille, opened like a mouth, and more predatory headlights have turned the Infiniti's appearance into something truly striking and even aggressive.
The crossover impresses most on new 21-inch wheels — apparently, the previous 20-inch radius seemed too modest to the designers.
Inside, everything is done in the signature style, and there is no aggression here. The interior has been radically transformed compared to the previous generation: a different steering wheel, a different center console, even the instrument lighting is new. But there are minimal differences from the younger EX. As for the quality of finishing materials and sound insulation, everything is done at the highest level.
Take a closer look
The front seats, adorned with bright stitching, have a huge number of adjustments, so you can easily get comfortable behind the wheel.
The front seats can not only be heated but also ventilated. True, the process of getting in and out is still far from ideal. Although you don't have to fall into the seat like in a sports car, hitting your head on the roof or soiling your jeans on the wide sill is quite possible.
In Ukraine, the FX50 is available in three trim levels. The two younger ones differ only in the presence of active cruise control, built-in Bluetooth, and navigation that is completely useless for our roads. Our test car in the top version Sport + Navi additionally received active suspension with variable stiffness (CDC), rear-wheel steering system (RAS), sports seats, and paddle shifters.
There is also a surround-view system here, which we already saw on the EX. Four cameras give full control over what is happening around the car, and in bad weather, front and rear parking sensors come to the rescue. In addition to the camera image, a DVD can also be displayed on the central screen — but only when the parking brake is engaged. The Bose audio system in the crossover is simply a song, with the subwoofer hidden right in the spare wheel.
But with such rich equipment, rear passengers were neglected. They only have access to a fold-down screen for watching movies with wireless headphones. There is no separate climate control or heated seats in the back. True, the backrest can be reclined, and you can ride semi-reclined.
Let's Fly
Under the hood of the new FX, as before, there are two engines to choose from. The top one now has a volume of 5 liters and produces 400 hp — compared to the modest 328 horsepower of its predecessor, this is a real breakthrough. A new 7-speed automatic tames this power.
The irony is that with increased volume and power, the engine's appetite, on the contrary, has decreased — by an average of 1.5–2 liters. Indeed, it's not hard to fit into the claimed 18.5 liters per city if you want. But such a desire does not arise. Instead, you want to check if the 5.8 seconds to 100 km/h are real, enjoy the mesmerizing voice of the engine, and feel how the rear-wheel steering works in corners.
The seven-speed automatic works absolutely imperceptibly, without interfering with acceleration. And for those who like to drive themselves, paddle shifters are available.
The suspension fully matches the crossover's image and does not pamper passengers with comfort. The difference between the normal and sport modes of the adaptive suspension is almost imperceptible. The very low-profile tires also contribute significantly to the stiffness. By the way, you can forget about the 21-inch lightweight Enkei wheels as soon as you want to drive onto a curb. But the car handles superbly on such "rollers."
On a slippery winter road, when the wheels keep spinning and the car tends to slide, the stability system has to work hard. 400 horsepower does not forgive sharp movements with either the gas or the steering wheel.
It was interesting to test the active cruise control, which maintains the distance to the car ahead. The FX indeed slows down and accelerates on its own, maintaining the required interval, but it is psychologically very difficult to take your feet off the pedals and completely trust the electronics.
Debriefing
The new FX outperforms its predecessor in almost every way. And at the same time, the price even in the maximum configuration does not reach 90 thousand dollars, while direct competitors — Porsche Cayenne, BMW X6, Range Rover Sport, and Mercedes ML — start at about 100 thousand even in the base.
The desire to maintain an attractive price has led to the fact that some useful options are not included in the configuration: the rear row is neglected, there is no electric tailgate, and other little things. But given the 5-liter engine and excellent handling, you can easily turn a blind eye to this.
On our roads, far from ideal, the FX50s with sports suspension and 21-inch wheels feels not too confident. The less powerful FX35, devoid of sports suspension and shod with 18-inch wheels, will be definitely more comfortable and practical. But that's a matter of taste.
Pros:
- amazing dynamics and handling
- generous standard equipment
- expressive design
- moderate fuel consumption
Cons:
- stiff suspension
- impractical low-profile tires
- inconvenient entry to both rows
- lack of obvious options in the top version
