The Infiniti FX 35: A Sporty SUV

Good luck trying to find a bad review about the Infiniti FX 35 because you have a long search ahead of you. Introduced in 2003 and still in production today, the FX35 combines the handling of a sports sedan with the no-nonsense practicality of a SUV. For once, the label crossover-SUV makes sense and we have the folks at Nissan and Infiniti to thank for it.

The term “crossover” has confused many a perspective car buyer. Used car salesmen love to toss that word around and most customers will nod and then take two aspirin for the headache that is forming because of their frustration and confusion. For the sake of this article crossover simply means that the vehicle in question has certain attributes that are characteristic of two separate models or genres. In the case of a crossover SUV, it is purported that the vehicle has certain attributes of a sedan and certain attributes of a rugged SUV; in other words, sporty handling in a workhorse. For those or you out there with a vivid imagination, imagine mating a thoroughbred with a Clydesdale.

The Infiniti FX35 is unique in that the driver sits WAY UP from the road and yet feels like he/she is driving a sporty little number two feet from the pavement. Normally a SUV, given its height, does not handle curves and sharp turns well simply because of basic physics. They tend to feel top- heavy. Not so with the FX35 and it is all because the engineers at Nissan (Infiniti) understood the basics of gravity and found a way to counter-balance it.

That is not, however, the end of the story. Included with the basic FX 35 package is all the luxury you have come to expect with an Infiniti, coupled with a V6 engine that kicks out 303 horsepower with a seven-speed transmission. This really is a marvelously fun vehicle to drive.

Complaints? If one wants to be picky then attention will turn to the lack of storage space in the FX 35, but that’s about it. In the world of crossover SUV’s this really is at the head of the class. Sales have been good since it debuted in 2003 and used car sales remain steady because of the Nissan reputation for quality and reliability. What it all boils down to is you really do get what you pay for in an Infiniti FX35 and it really is possible to breed a racehorse with a draft horse.