Thursday 5th August 2010

Driven: Infiniti FX50 S

PH cross-examines Infiniti's big SUV crossover

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"It looks like a squashed hippopotamus". These were the first words uttered by my mother upon seeing the Infiniti FX50 S for the first time. I'm not sure whether this says more about the curvy, swoopy styling of Inifiniti's sportiest SUV or my mother's slightly bizarre imagination, but it does say a lot about what the Infiniti badge means to my mother (your average non-car nut): absolutely zip.

Now my old mum is hardly a car enthusiast, but if I pop to see her in a Mercedes, a BMW, a Jaguar, an Audi or even a Lexus she will know instantly. "An Infiniti FX50 S? Sounds like you've got a new mobile phone, dear..."

It's this lack of brand recognition that is the biggest hurdle for Infiniti to overcome - because it's got its products nailed. The FX50 S is the biggest-engined version of the biggest car that Infiniti produces, a 385bhp 5.0-litre V8 SUV that's aimed squarely at the BMW X6 (and possibly the middle echelons of the Porsche Cayenne range).

The big FX hits its target, too. Stat-wise it costs £54,950, £1095 less than a base X6 XDrive 50i, gives away just 14bhp to the 399bhp X6 (while weighing in at 2120kg - portly but a healthy 145kg less than an X6) hits 62mph in 5.8secs, 0.4secs after the BMW and goes on to the same electronically limited 155mph top end.

But the FX50 matches the X6 in more than just bald figures. Its cartoonish shape is every bit as dramatic/ridiculous (delete according to taste) as the X6's and, more important, it feels just like the sporty big coupe it claims to be.

There's very little obvious body roll and the steering feels direct, accurate and meatily weighted. The result is a car that hides its porky kerb weight surprisingly well. The 369lb ft of torque is (just) enough to make the FX50 feel genuinely rapid, and the seven-speed auto's paddle shifters have a satisfyingly positive action.

The interior is up there in qualitative terms, too, although the swoopy dash and quilted leather seats probably won't win any prizes for subtle good taste and some of the buttons odn't feel quite up to standard.

So the FX50 stands up well to the X6, and would probably also put up a fair fight against the new Porsche Cayenne. Indeed, if you put a Porsche badge on it, then FX50s would probably sell by the shipload. Sadly that Infiniti logo dooms the big FX to a handful of UK sales.

In many ways, the FX50 is a fine car. But, like any two-tonne 'crossover' SUV that masquerades as a sports car, you can't help wondering this: why not just make a straight sports car?

FX50 S tech spec

Body style 4 X 4 Doors 5 Seats 5 Price (£) 56400 Delivery (£) 0 Auto Std Insurance group 20 Insurance group 1-50 50 Euro NCAP - Occupant   Euro NCAP - Child   Euro NCAP - Pedestrian   Euro NCAP - Overall 5 Engine Size cc 5026 Cylinders V8 Power bhp 385@6500 Valves 32v Power ps 390@6500 Torque lb ft 368@4400 Fuel type U Emission class EU5 Transmission Type (MT/AT) 7-spd Driven Wheels 4 Urban mpg (Man)   Extra urban mpg (Man)   Comb mpg (Man)   C02 (g/km) (Man)   VED band (Man)   Urban mpg (Auto) 15 Extra urban mpg (Auto) 28.8 Comb mpg (Auto) 21.6 C02 (g/km) (Auto) 307 VED band (Auto) M Max. speed (Man)   0-60 mph (Man)   0-62 mph (Man)   Max speed (Auto) 155 0-60 mph (Auto)   0-62 mph (Auto) 5.8 Power Steering Std ESP Std Central Locking Std Alarm Std Immobiliser Std Alloy Wheels Std Air-con N/A

Climate control Std Electric mirrors Std Electric front windows Std Electric rear windows Std Manual sunroof N/A Electric sunroof Std Metallic paint 665 Cruise control Std Rear parking sensor Std Leather Seats Std Front seatbelt pre-tensioners Std Driver airbag Std Passenger airbag Std Front side airbag Std Radio/cassette N/A CD Std RDS Std Satellite nav Std DVD Player DF Split/fold rear seat Std Boot capacity min (litres) 410 Boot capacity max (litres) 1305 Fuel tank (litres) 90 Length (mm) 4865 Width (mm) 1925 Height (mm) 1680 Wheelbase (mm) 2885 Kerb Weight (kg) 2120 Gross Weight (kg)   Towing limit (braked) (kg) 2000 Service interval (miles) 20000 Warranty (years) 3 Warranty (miles) 60000 Comments 1   Comments 2   Last updated 11/06/2010 Price list date

[Fire99]

I don't doubt you get all the kit in one of these. I'd imagine the options list would be about the size of a fag paper compared to its German rivals.

Looks bleedin strange from the front. A cross between the 'squashed Hippo' statement in the article and a Hyundai.

It may be lighter than an X6 but then I think Planet Earth is lighter than Jupiter. It's a huge blob that is likely to see about as much off-road use as a lolly-pop lady/man.

[stuckmojo]

Will this be the fastest-ever depreciating car?

A friend of mine in Italy has one and she was so proud of it. I had to pretend I liked it.

[burwoodman]

and one thing a buyer forgets is the options. This car is 1k cheaper than an X6. Game over. They'll sell 15 and have terrible residuals. Good cars but in 100 years they may create a brand equal to the germans. That is the point. You're a brave chap defending why you spent 50k on any japanese car no matter how good it is.

[sawman]

Whilst living in canada there were loads of these driving about, to my eyes they look great - sound great too. Although i think the current version is not a sweet a design as the previous version

[Dagnut]

I remember seeing the older model in the states and thinking it looked OK as Jeeps go...



But this one is just weird.

[Dagnut]

burwoodman said:

and one thing a buyer forgets is the options. This car is 1k cheaper than an X6. Game over. They'll sell 15 and have terrible residuals. Good cars but in 100 years they may create a brand equal to the germans. That is the point. You're a brave chap defending why you spent 50k on any japanese car no matter how good it is.

Defending it too who?

[Denorth]

First generation of FX became very popular in Russia in 2003-2004. I think it was 'grey import' at that point, but there were a lot of them on the roads. So I was surpirsed to see none in UK when I came here.
not sure that I like it, but somehow it is more appealing than current Lexus RX (would buy neither, though)

[vz-r_dave]

burwoodman said:

and one thing a buyer forgets is the options. This car is 1k cheaper than an X6. Game over. They'll sell 15 and have terrible residuals. Good cars but in 100 years they may create a brand equal to the germans. That is the point. You're a brave chap defending why you spent 50k on any japanese car no matter how good it is.

I am sorry but that is the Mongy mong statement of the day.

fking hell lol

[BBS-LM]

Dam, this is making Subaru Look classy.

[1000TCR]

I wasn't aware of the fact that these ridiculous monstrosities (Cayenne, GL, G, X5, X6, Q7 etc.) all wheight in at 2.2 to 2.6 tons! I didn't like them in the first place, but now I run out of words for how... 'wrong' they are.

[ptopman]

An X6 looks like a clog, so there is no doubt that this is a far better looking option. It would have been even better had they toned down the front a bit, something more like the previous generation would have been easier on the eyes.

Their pricing is unfortunate as people will be justifiably scared to be hit by the low residuals compared to a similar price BMW- which will then come true with people being worried about shifting it on even as second hand. It probably would matter little if BMW would actually cost more once specced up. Once the buyer is drawn to the BMW dealer, deal's probably over for Infiniti.

[Simon Bags]

I quite like it.

[burwoodman]

Dave - I was going to say what language is mong... but the lol pretty much proved my point. And to the other chap 'prove to who' the fact you said that again proves the point..you see no one because its a great car but you will find yourselve doing so and if you dont know why..LOL

[Denorth]

one question - in 1st generation the instrument cluster was moving along with the steering wheel (while adjusting, not steering ), like in Porsche 928

what about the current one? (unless I'm blind and couldn't read the article properly)

[Frimley111R]

burwoodman said:

and one thing a buyer forgets is the options. This car is 1k cheaper than an X6. Game over. They'll sell 15 and have terrible residuals. Good cars but in 100 years they may create a brand equal to the germans. That is the point. You're a brave chap defending why you spent 50k on any japanese car no matter how good it is.

LOL, do you live under a stone? Pop over to the USA for example and see how Lexus and Infiniti are doing over there.

[PetrolAholic]

I was just about to put my order in but I cant spec a Radio/Cassette, sorry cant order now.

[Garlick]

Do you know what, I must put my head above the parapet and say that I quite like this Infiniti, I really do.

Sadly for Infiniti I am not in the market for a £50+k SUV, but if I was you can be sure that I would buy ......a used Range Rover (ahem)

I maintain that I do really like it though, cracking interior too.

[kambites]

Certainly better looking than the X6. I'd still rather have a decent estate car though.

[dxbtiger]

Plenty of these on the roads here, although the previous one was much better looking imo.

The Infinti G Coupe is a nice looking car as well I think.

[MogulBoy]

See quite a few of these around in Switzerland. Grey imports became quite common but Infinity have had European dealers for at least a year now.

When they first came out, I couldn't help thinking that I wished that the Cayenne looked like that. Now that the Cayenne is vastly improved, they dont have the same appeal (although they clearly they are competing at a different price point).

I can't imagine why nobody has mentioned the FX's biggest asset though? ... Tthe sound that they make is brilliant!