Infiniti FX 4x4 full 9 point review

  • Performance

    4 out of 5 stars

    Review-OnRoad The FX moves faster than a two-tonne car has any right to. The FX37 uses a 316bhp version of the 3.7 V6 from the Nissan 370Z, so it’s no surprise that it’s impressively brisk. The FX50 has a 385bhp 5.0 V8, and performance is even more electrifying. Both are driven through a seven-speed automatic gearbox. Even the FX30d's diesel engine shifts the car quickly and smoothly.

  • Ride & Handling

    1 out of 5 stars

    Review-OnRoad The FX may not match the agility of a BMW X6 in the corners, but there’s fun to be had due to good body control and quick steering. The firm ride is a massive issue, though. You feel way too much of the surface at all speeds, and bigger bumps give your backside a serious jolt.

  • Refinement

    1 out of 5 stars

    Review-OnRoad The engines are quiet when you’re pootling along, and sound pleasantly meaty when you extend them, although the diesel isn't as refined as units from BMW and Porsche. Wind noise isn’t an issue, but with the massive tyres underneath you, you hear a lot of road noise - and even more if you go for one of the versions on 21-inch wheels. There's some clatter from the suspension, too.

  • Buying & Owning

    1 out of 5 stars

    Review-Ownership Whichever FX you buy, it won’t be cheap. Resale values are weak, too, so you’ll find yourself more out of pocket than BMW and Land Rover buyers at trade-in time, while contract hire rates are high for the same reason. You’ll also pay a king’s ransom to run an FX and, with CO2 emissions as high as they are, don’t even think about one as a company car. Even the diesel engine incurs the top rate of company car tax, while averaging only just over 31mpg.

  • Quality & Reliability

    2 out of 5 stars

    Review-Ownership Most of the materials you come into contact with every day are reasonably plush - not up to prestige German standards, admittedly, but nice enough. However, some of the more tucked-away panels feel too cheap for a premium car. Although Infiniti is an unknown entity in the UK, its close link with Nissan should give you peace of mind over reliability.

  • Safety & Security

    4 out of 5 stars

    Review-Ownership Standard stability control should help keep you out of trouble, but if trouble becomes unavoidable, there are plenty of measures to help prevent injuries. Front-, side- and curtain airbags are provided across the range, as are active front head restraints, which move in a rear-end collision to minimise whiplash injuries.

  • Behind The Wheel

    2 out of 5 stars

    Review-Cabin The seats adjust electrically in all versions, and there’s two-way adjustment for the steering wheel, so you won’t have problems getting comfy. Visibility could be better, though – it’s limited at both the front and the rear – and the multimedia system isn’t the most instinctive one we’ve come across.

  • Space & Practicality

    1 out of 5 stars

    Review-Cabin A huge car equals a huge cabin, right? Wrong. The FX is surprisingly tight for both front and rear passengers, meaning adults won’t be able to spread themselves out. The boot isn’t as big as you expect, either, but the rear seats do fold to extend the load area when necessary.

  • Equipment

    5 out of 5 stars

    Review-Ownership Think of an item of kit that a car might have, and chances are the FX has it as standard. The entry-level GT comes with electric leather seats that are both heated and ventilated, privacy glass, self-repairing paint, electric sunroof and 20-inch alloys. The S adds adaptive damping and 21-inch wheels, while the Premium trims add intelligent cruise control and an upgraded multimedia system.

FX rivals

FX used rivals