- crossover 55,959
- 11,990 overpriced
- Milford, DE
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- autoshopper.com
2004 infiniti fx35 review this car review is specific to this model, not the actual vehicle for sale. The sports car of suvs. introductionthe infiniti fx surprised us. Then we drove them. the first thing we discovered is that these are exciting driver's cars, smooth, powerful, very stable. They can be driven much harder than traditional sport-utilities, with big, powerful brakes and firm, fully independent suspensions. On the highway, they feel planted and much more confident than traditional suvs. none of this should come as a surprise, given the infiniti fx is based on the nissan 350z sports car. (a common assumption is that the infiniti fx shares its structure with the nissan murano. The fx shares its rear-wheel-drive design with the 350z and infiniti g35, while the murano shares its front-wheel-drive design with the nissan maxima and altima.) the second thing we discovered is that the fx35 is plenty. Its v6 engine, the same engine used in the 350z, is powerful, giving the fx35 responsive performance. When it comes to acceleration, not to mention handling on twisty roads, the infiniti gives up nothing to the euro-luxury suvs. The infiniti drives more like a big sport coupe than a truck-based suv. Better still, the fx35 and fx45 cost less than the german competition. infiniti built its suv for the road. It was not designed to go off road, though the available all-wheel drive is designed for improved handling and performance in the snow. Its chassis could therefore be lighter than most other suvs, reducing the weight its powerful engines must move. And the weight advantage was just a starting point. Infiniti equipped the fx with enormous 20-inch wheels and tires and race car-sized brakes. The inspiration for this suv's design and performance was a 'bionic cheetah.' the goal was to make the fx as fun to drive as a sports car; infiniti achieved that with compromises in ride comfort, space and rock-climbing ability. the end result is a car-based crossover suv that's full of character and exciting to drive on sports-car roads, but also one that has a stiff suspension and ride, a tighter cockpit than some of its competitors and flamboyant styling. While the bmw x5, mercedes m-class and porsche cayenne each deliver varying levels of off-road capability, all are better suited for the rough stuff than the fx. Squeezing into the cockpit and bouncing along a bumpy snow-belt back road, however, may appeal most to committed sports-car enthusiasts. launched for the 2003 model year, the fx nonetheless gets several improvements for 2004. On the functional side, there's a new snow-mode transmission program that reduces shift points to gain traction in very slippery conditions. The fx35 34,350) is powered by the 280-horsepower 3. 5-liter v6 from the nissan 350z sports car, and starts with rear-wheel drive. All-wheel drive 1,500) is an option. The fx45 44,375) gets the 315-horsepower 4. 5-liter v8 from infiniti's q45 luxury sedan, and all-wheel drive is standard. both fxs come with a 5-speed automatic transmission, dual-zone climate control with microfiltration, power front seats, split folding and reclining rear seats, tilt/telescope steering wheel and high-intensity discharge headlights. the fx45 gets a firmer suspension, 20-inch wheels as opposed to 18-inchers, leather heated seats and trim, a power tilt/telescope steering wheel, memory for the driver's seat, mirrors and steering wheel and one-touch windows. A rear-seat dvd viewer 1,600) is now a stand-alone option. Rear-seat side-impact airbags are not available. with its unique combination of styling, size and performance, the fx has been selling at about 30,000 per year, while competitors like the bmw x5 sell closer to 45,000 per year. Bmw's hottest x5 also comes with 20-inch wheels, but on the curvy fx they look disproportionately larger. It does, sort of. its proportions are certainly striking, starting with a wide stance and long hood under the tucked-tight roof. The overhangs are short, exaggerating the distance between its front and rear wheels. An oversized grille greets oncoming traffic, and the bulging hood looks high. A peek underneath the hood shows it doesn't need to be, as the engine is tucked well below. aside from its appearance, the design gives fx a near optimal weight balance of 54 percent front, 46 percent rear, which in turn improves overall handling balance and reinforces the fx's road-burning feel. Even the protruding, stylized taillights have function beyond their looks. The lip of the lights that extends past the rear hatch adds aerodynamic downforce on the rear end, like a spoiler. The view in the mirrors is not hindered by the fat, sloping rear pillars, although infiniti covers its bases with its optional rear-view camera. The image displays on the seven-inch dashboard monitor, with two virtual lines that correspond to the width of the fx. We didn't fully trust it when parallel parking, but it's a great aid when backing out of a driveway or shopping center parking space to help ensure there aren't any little ones in the path. infiniti's designers wanted three separate interior 'zones' intended to meet the needs of various fx occupants. The cockpit-style driver zone is supposed to 'maximize driving excitement.' the steering wheel and gauges remind us of those in nissan's 350z sports car, with a thick, squeezey rim and big gauges that move when the column tilts to optimize viewing angle. Given this sports car climate, we half expected to grip a six-speed manual shifter in the fx. The climate, stereo and navigation controls are densely arrayed in the center stack. Cruise Control✔ Climate Control✔ Heated Seats✔ CD Changer✔ Sport Package✔ Navigation System✔ Sunroof/Moonroof✔ Chrome Wheels
11,990 Milford, DEMilford, DE at autoshopper.com