2009 Infiniti FX50 Review

Hi! This is Kelsey Mays for cars.com and we’re at the New York Auto Show looking at
the 2009 Infinity FX and this is the second generation of an SUV that was already pretty
sporty to begin with and this generation gets even sportier with things like a 5L V8 that
has 390-horsepower. That is pretty serious for a car like this. There’s also a V6, other
details of that have not yet been released.

The side and the rear of the FX looks a lot the first generation. It also looks a lot like the
Infinity EX which is their smaller SUV. The front though, you can definitely see some
differences. The grilles are lowers, it’s wider and the headlights are a lot more menacing
than before. I am not sure I’m too crazy about this wavy grille here. It uses an interesting
material. Up close, it looks just kind of weird.

Now inside, the FX has the same sort of high beltline like the previous generation had
which gives you kind of a 100 down feel when you’re driving it. A lot of nice touches
from other Infinities include this sort of chrome touches on the stacks like stirring wheel,
others and navigation system here with lots of shortcut buttons and it’s pretty easy to use.
There is also a lot of technology here. There is Nissan’s Around View Monitor which
helps you park in tight spots. There’s a Lane Departure Prevention system. There is a
cruise control system that can bring the car all the way down to a complete stop. There’s
even an electronic concierge that will schedule nine holes at two o’clock for you. Okay,
we’re kidding about the concierges.

There are some nice touches here with materials. There’s kind of a nice metallic and
wood combination curling around the door handles. We’re not too crazy about these
seats. They have this sort of diamond cut leather in the center and I’m not sure that fits a
car like this.

Now, the general shape of this car didn’t change a whole lot, so that means you still got a
low roofline that really kind of tapers off the end. I mean there’s quite a blind spot as you
look back and that lower roofline also take to steal on cargo space. If you look back here,
you’ll notice how sloped down this is. You’re not going to be able to get very many full
sized suitcases behind the second row seat.

The second row seat here doesn’t power down and up like it does in the EX. Infinity says
it did that t save weight. What it does do is lower with the pull of these things right here,
pretty simple stuff.

Of course, for all its lacking in utility, the FX is nothing if not a sporty SUV and so,
redemption probably comes when you drive this thing. We won’t know for sure until we
get one on the road but we’ll tell you when we find out.

For additional information on this car or any other, go to cars.com and our blog Kicking
Tires.