2012 Infiniti FX50 S | Road Test

There might not be any official figures to prove it but most of you might dismiss the Infiniti FX50 S as a woman’s car, I did too but then I must admit, this is the most fun SUV I have ever driven. So, if you are a woman and you are driving this car, please tell the men what they are missing. Everything about the FX is too chic, too stylish and too classy and I think that’s why most men prefer to stay away from it. It doesn’t gel well with the macho image we men want our SUVs to exude.

The FX50 S is a head turner; there is simply no doubt about it. The FX received a styling upgrade for 2012 that includes a revised front end a few tweaks to the overall styling and newly designed alloy wheels. Its elegantly curved lines skilfully conceal its SUV proportions and the coupe-like roof makes the car look lower and sleeker. To be honest, it looks more like a blown up coupe and certainly goes like one. The distinctive front-end, long bonnet and the fastback styled roofline look very unusual compared to the current crop of crossovers available in the market. During its unveiling back in 2003, Infiniti said that the design was a blend of an SUV lower body with an old school GT car upper body and there is no denying that they were spot on with their creation.

Infinity has toned up the interior extensively to bring the FX up to the levels of its elder brothers and the competitors. Premium quality leather, wood and plastics adorn the surfaces. A 11-speaker Bose Premium Sound System comes standard on all variants and the FX50 S gets a 9.3GB on-board music storage system. A 360-degree around view monitoring system is also standard on the FX50 S and optional on the FX35.
Even though the layout of the buttons is a bit confusing and takes time to get used to, the feel is nothing short of exemplary. Every available superlative can be used to describe the interior and there is absolutely nothing that I found lacking. All the latest creature comforts are present in the Infiniti FX50 S and you also get adaptive cruise control that works brilliantly on our highways.

Because of its sloping roofline, the FX is not so generous for those sitting in the rear. Decent sized adults will have issues entering and exiting this car and then there is the headroom, or the lack of it. If you are expecting to ferry taller than average adults on a regular basis, the FX is simply not the car for you. This is more of a 2+2 rather than a four seater.
The FX is available with a V6 as well as a V8 engine. The FX35 sports a 3.5-litre V6 that produces 303bhp at 6,800rpm and 355Nm of torque at 4,800rpm. The test car – FX50 S – had a 5-litre V8 engine with a maximum output of 390bhp at 6,500rpm and 500Nm of torque at 4,400rpm. This engine has been around since 2004 and is the same motor found in the Nissan Patrol, Nissan Pathfinder, Nissan Armada and the Nissan Titan. A highly tuned version of this engine also finds its way on to the Nissan GT-R GT1 racing car. This engine has variable vale timing and the intake manifold directs air through different paths at different engine speeds to boost low-end torque or unleash high-end horsepower.

Power is distributed to all four wheels via a 7-speed automatic gearbox with paddle shifts and the ability to match revs while downshifting. Even though the rev-matching feature is a USP in itself, the gearbox feels a bit lethargic. I think the overall performance would have been a bit better if the gearbox would have been a bit quicker. The FX50 S has a permanent four-wheel drive that distributes power via an electronically controlled multiple-plate clutch. When cruising in a straight line, all the power is sent to the rear axle and 50 per cent of the power can be transferred to the front axle when required.
With a curb weight of 2,110 kilograms the Infiniti FX50 S has a slim waistline and with the V8 churning out high amounts of power and torque, this SUV goes like a hot sedan. With the bonnet, doors and most of the chassis constructed out of aluminium, there is no hint of SUV sluggishness. Throttle response is precise and if you toggle the settings for performance, the FX will give many sporty sedans a run for their money. Just to give you a hint at the FX’s sporty ability, its my duty to inform you that the FX is based on the same FM platform that underpins Nissan 370Z.

The instant you feather the throttle, the FX surges ahead as if it has been nudged in the back by a locomotive. The V8 is eager to propel the car without subtlety. Acceleration from a standstill is something that you will enjoy the most and the loud exhaust note similar to that of a muscle car with free flow pipes rather than that of a SUV. It seems to me that the engineers at Infinity mixed up the competitors for the FX. This car is more of a threat to high performance road cars than SUVs.
To go along with impressive performance, there is this corner defying handling. There is very minimal hint of body roll even when you push it around corners and that is because of the availability of adjustable suspension. On the centre tunnel you will find a switch that allows you to toggle the suspension setting between sport and comfort mode. There is a plenty of grip available on the massive 21-inch tyres through their large cross section. Even under heavy stress, the tyres barely squeal and stick to the road like glue.

I was very impressed with the FX’s performance and handling but not so impressed with the space. Even though it’s not a full size SUV and its styling compromises second-row space, it should have the ability to seat four in complete comfort, which it doesn’t. Pricing for the FX35 starts at AED 199,000 and goes up to AED 259,000 for the FX50 S, which makes it very competitive when compared to all the other players in the market. If only it wasn’t for the cramped second row, this would have been my first choice in the premium medium-sized SUV segment.
Specifications
Price: AED 259,000
Price range: AED 199,000 – AED 216,500 (FX35)
AED 259,000 (FX50)
Drivetrain
Engine: 5-litre V8
Layout: Front engine all wheel drive
Max power: 390bhp @ 6500rpm
Max torque: 500Nm @ 4400rpm
Transmission: 7-speed automatic with downshift rev-matching
Dimensions (mm)
Length: 4865
Width: 1925
Height: 1680
Wheelbase: 2885
Curb Weight: 2110kg
Fuel tank capacity: 90
Seating capacity: 4