2009 Infiniti FX35 Lockhart TX

November 3, 2009   By Alison Lakin, Associate Editor



2009 Infiniti FX35
DriverSide Overview
The 2009 Infiniti FX35 is in a competitive class of sport-oriented Premium Luxury SUVs. Swathed in chrome finish and leather upholstery, the five-passenger FX holds its own in both performance and style against its well-matched competition, all while delivering some technological firsts for its segment. One such feature is the Around View Monitor (AVM), a system that uses four wide-angle cameras to display the FX’s complete surroundings on the navigation screen, thus reducing blind spots while parking and driving. The re-tuned V-6 engine now produces 303 horsepower, 28 more than the previous model, and its more dynamic suspension and tight handling delivers a solid drive. With a cutting-edge exterior design and innovative features, the FX35 will no doubt catch your eye.





What's to Like
A more rigid body frame decreases the time steering input takes to get to the axles, making the FX feel more nimble around corners than the outgoing model. A sleek and aggressive silhouette has made the SUV look as engaging as it drives. Standard “self-healing” paint contains an elastic resin in the clear topcoat that fills in fine scratches when exposed to sunlight, meaning you’ll be able to move on from your fear of shopping carts, tight parking spots and, yikes, kids.

What's Not to Like
With all the technology involved in this refresh, the buttons to trigger these features are in unintuitive locations, like by the driver’s left knee or to the side of the instrument panel. Buyers may miss a third row of seats, something that similar-sized rivals like the Audi Q7 have. Its aggressive styling and polarizing exterior design won’t be for everyone either.

The Drive
DriverSide Driving Impressions
Though it is the smaller of the two FX engines (the FX50 has a 5.0-liter V-8), the FX35 has more than enough power for most consumers. This 303 horsepower car will easily zoom past dawdlers in the slow lane, and the ride is slightly quieter than the beefy V-8, meaning the noise from your exhaust won't wake the neighbors. Handling has been improved with a double-wishbone suspension, and steering is responsive and tight. The four wheels are driven by a seven-speed automatic transmission. A standard manual mode with paddle shifters holds the revs at redline longer than when in full automatic mode, creating a significantly more interactive element to the drive. 

Engine and Drivetrain
The rear-wheel drive FX35 is available with a 3.5-liter DOHC V-6 engine, featured in Infiniti’s EX35 and G35 models, and produces 303 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque, compared to the 2008’s 275 horsepower and 268 lb-ft of torque. The seven-gear automatic transmission makes for a more fuel-efficient drive than the previous five-speed. Infiniti has tuned the shift points to maintain a reserve ...

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