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He Drove, She Drove
Infiniti FX35 big on technology
Futuristic-looking crossover offers lots of gizmos, falls short on power, mileage.
Type: Front-engine, all-wheel drive, five-passenger crossover utility vehicle.
Price: Base, $37,060 (inc. $610 destination charge); as tested, $48,060.
Engine: 3.5-liter V-6; 280-hp; 270 lb-ft torque.
EPA fuel economy: 16 mpg city/22 mpg highway.
Where built: Japan.
Key competitors: Acura MDX, BMW X3, Buick Rainier, Buick Rendezvous, Cadillac SRX, Chrysler Pacifica, Honda Pilot, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Land Rover LR3, Lexus GX 470, Lexus RX 330, Lincoln Aviator, Mercedes-Benz M-Class, Mitsubishi Montero, Nissan Murano, Nissan Pathfinder, Porsche Cayenne, Saab 9-7X, Toyota 4Runner, Toyota Highlander, Volkswagen Touareg and Volvo XC90
12-month insurance cost, estimated by AAA Michigan: $1,677 (Rates may be higher or lower, depending on coverage and driving record.)
Anita's rating:
Likes: Great safety features. Good room for driver and passengers. Plush cabin.
Dislikes: Had to turn off annoying lane-departure warning. Harsh ride with 20-inch low-profile tires. Dumb location for power seat switches. Surprisingly small cargo bay. Mediocre fuel economy. Some rear visibility problems.
Paul's rating:
Likes: Fresh, distinctive and unique exterior styling. Cool high-tech features, including adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning. Smooth five-speed automatic transmission with manual-shift capability.
Dislikes: V-6 lacks sufficient power. Couldn't find comfortable setting on driver's seat. Navigation system difficult to operate.
Rating system: 1 - unacceptable; 2- subpar; 3- acceptable; 4-above average; 5- world class
2005 Infiniti FX35
What do you think of the 2005 Infiniti FX35?
Comment on this story
Japanese automaker Nissan Motor Co. has been steadily pushing the technology envelope in its vehicles, including the premium Infiniti line.
The latest showcase is the 2005 Infiniti FX35, a futuristic-looking crossover that has been fitted with some equally advanced features, including the company's new lane departure warning system.
We tested an all-wheel-drive FX35 with more than $10,000 worth of options, including a Touring Package ($2,900), a Sport Package ($1,950), a Technology Package ($4,200) and a DVD Mobile Entertainment System ($1,750). Curiously, the lane departure warning system came bundled not with the tech package, but with the entertainment package. Go figure.
Bottom line: $48,060, including destination.
HE: I've loved the look of the Infiniti FX ever since it hit the street three years ago. I absolutely cracked up reading the PR department's description of the swoopy shape as a "bionic cheetah," but it does grab you because it's so fresh and different.
SHE: So were you when I met you 27 years ago. A bionic cheetah, however, you are not.
HE: OK, so the look is not for everyone. But I've always viewed the FX as being at the opposite end of the crossover spectrum from the Lexus RX 330, which I know is one of your favorites. Where the RX is kind of soft and feminine, the FX looks and feels more muscular and masculine.
SHE: I'd say it was rough and harsh, and not especially well-designed, at least from the standpoint of comfort and convenience. Let's start with the ride. Those 20-inch low-profile tires may look really cool, but the ride is so harsh on rough pavement that it will rattle your teeth. And when it came time to move boxes from our old house to our new one, I was really shocked by how little we could fit into that narrow cargo bay. The FX doesn't have a third-row seat, so I expected a lot more space back there. Part of the problem is the "swoopy" roofline, as you call it. It cuts down on space. And the big rear pillars seriously restrict your visibility. Maybe that's why Nissan decided to install the lane-departure warning system.
HE: I think it's a great idea. It's almost a Pavlovian device that trains you to pay more attention to your driving and keeping the vehicle heading in a straight line.
SHE: I thought it was dreadful and annoying with that constant beeping. I finally insisted that you turn it off. Come to think of it, maybe it was just your bad driving that was the problem.
HE: The FX actually feels pretty responsive on the road, although it has such a wide turning circle that parking in tight spaces can be problematic. I was surprised, too, by the apparent lack of muscle in the 3.5-liter V-6, which makes 280 horsepower but felt like it was working overtime to keep up with the rest of traffic on the freeway. The fact that it returns only 16 miles per gallon in city driving, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, is also disturbing. I did like that slick five-speed automatic transmission, with its manual-shift capability. I had some other concerns, including my inability to find a comfortable seating position in the driver's chair.
SHE: Infiniti doesn't make things easier with the stupid location of the power switches between the right edge of the seat and center console.
HE: Speaking of ease-of-use issues, I found the climate and audio controls very confusing and counter-intuitive. Even after a week in the vehicle, I was still spending too much time trying to find the right knob or button or switch on the center stack. And the navigation system was equally complex, requiring you to take your eyes off the road for way too much time. I guess there's an instance where technology becomes more of a problem than a solution.
SHE: We haven't addressed the issue of price. The FX is competing in a very crowded segment with some outstanding competitors -- from Lexus, Volvo, Cadillac, Volkswagen and others. Infiniti loaded our test vehicle up with so many gadgets and gimmicks, the sticker topped out at $48,060. That's about what I'd expect to pay for the V-8 model, the FX45. There are at least half a dozen other crossovers I'd recommend ahead of the FX, and virtually all of them will cost you far less money.
Anita and Paul Lienert are partners in Lienert & Lienert, a Detroit-based automotive information services company.
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The Detroit News.
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