2004 Infiniti FX35 - Sport Package is Your Ticket to Excellent Handling
Written: Aug 04 '04 (Updated Aug 04 '04)
Product Rating:
Seat Comfort:
Build Quality
Roominess:
Pros: Excellent price, performance, interior, features and rear and side visibility (for SUV)
Cons: Mediocre ride with Sport Package, SUV-like visibility of close-to-wheels areas
The Bottom Line: If you want to get a well-handling SUV no matter what the ride penalty will be, the FX35 with 20-inch wheels and Sport Package is highly recommended.
I have been driving the Infiniti FX35 for the last two days as a loaner from my dealership while rattles in my Infiniti G35 are being cured. Taking the FX35 up a curvy mountain road in a hurry let me evaluate its handling and ponder it as I went hiking. I am impressed in many respects, disappointed in others.
Styling
I like the styling of the FX35. It is muscular, refined and cute.
Features, Options and Pricing
The FX35 is powered by the same 3.5-liter V6 engine that powers my Infiniti G35 as well as several Nissan products (Z350, Altima V6 to name a few). The engine produces slightly different power and torque ratings in different cars. It produces 280 hp at 6200 RPM and 270 lb-ft of torque at 4800 RPM in FX35 (same as in G35 Coupe).
The FX35 is available in two- and four-wheel drive. I have been driving the two-wheel drive model (rear-wheel drive) equipped with Sport Package and Technology.
The base two-wheel drive FX35 is comes with the aforementioned engine, 5-speed automatic transmission with manual shifting, cloth seats, 18-inch alloy wheels and 265/60R18 tires, fog lights, ABS, front, side and head airbags, traction control, stability control, 8-way power front seats, dual-zone climate control, trip computer, 6-disc in-dash CD changer and radio/cassette player.
The Sport Package includes 8-spoke 20-inch wheels, 265/50R20 tires (the car I have has Goodyear RS-A), sport-tuned suspension, drilled aluminum pedals and polished aluminum roof rails. You have to get Touring Package to be able to get Sport Package.
The Touring Package includes Leather seats, heated front seats, memory system, power adjustable lumbar support, power tilt and telescoping steering wheel, automatic on/off headlights, heated outside mirrors, power glass sunroof with sunshade, Bose premium sound system, HomeLink wireless control system, black roof rails (since the FX35 I am currently driving has both Sport and Touring Packages, the roof rails are black rather than aluminum), cargo net.
The Technology Package (which the FX35 I am driving does not have) includes DVD-Based navigation system, intelligent key, intelligent cruise control, rearview monitor, tire pressure monitor.
It is worth mentioning that the car I have features cruise control, audio controls on the steering wheel, automatic dimming rearview mirror with compass and a large LCD screen which can show climate control modes, audio system information, trip computer information, interval until next service, etc.
The remote for the car has lock and unlock buttons as well as a red button to activate the panic alarm.
You can also get, as a separate option, Sirius or XM satellite radio, DVD mobile entertainment system, splash guards, roof rail cross bars, cargo area protector and/or sunroof wind deflector.
The base suggested price (MSRP) for the FX35 is $35,140 (including $590 destination charge). I checked CarsDirect and their price is $33,161. The invoice price is $32,361 (also includes destination charge).
The Touring Package sells for about $2,500 and the Sports Package is $1,300 (in CarsDirect’s prices). Since the car I am currently driving also has splash guards ($77) and cargo area protector ($47), I added them as well to arrive at the “As-tested” price of $39,740 MSRP, $36,277 invoice or $37,077 CarsDirect.
The Interior
The driver seat is very comfortable and remembers the position you chose. Once the door is closed and the key is inserted, the seat moves forward and steering wheel moves down to get to the position you like. Once the key is removed and the door opened, the steering wheel moves up and the seat moves back, making it easier to exit.
The dash looks good and materials look slightly better than in my G35. The instruments are a-la Volkswagen Passat – they are conventional, have chrome rings around them and look very good (unlike electro-luminescent ones in G35). Unfortunately, the rings (and instruments themselves) still reflect into the windshield and then into your eyes.
The buttons to control radio, trip computer and the climate control have better, more solid and smooth feel than those in G34. They look good too. Unfortunately, the fan speed for the climate control is on the right side, too far for driver to reach easily.
The climate control itself works well and driver and front passenger can set different temperatures with ease.
The monochrome LCD screen is highly-legible and features large font. You can switch between metric and English units at a push of a button. The large buttons beneath it let you see average fuel economy and distance to empty, trip information, next service reminder, etc.
The interior feels well-made, but I did detect some rattles (and the 20-inch wheels with stiff suspension did not help here, see below). The glove box is small, but the map pockets in front doors are large. The cup holders in front of the central armrest are covered with a lid that opens at a push of a button.
There is an ashtray in front of the shifter and the signature Infiniti clock is above it. Unfortunately, the clock is too low and I look at my wrist watch instead. The clock has its own adjustment of backlight brightness, separate from the brightness of instruments.
The steering wheel-mounted controls for the audio and cruise control are convenient, but are made of plastic and feel flimsier, compared to my G35 (and the audio controls have no “Power” button, whereas the G35 has one). The steering wheel itself is comfortable and has power adjustments for angle and reach (remember, I am reviewing the Touring/Sport version).
The storage area in the back is better than what is available in sedans in terms of configuration/size and the rear seats fold. However, it is small by SUV or wagon standards and the floor is high. The door is easy to open and close and has a wiper.
Driving
The headlights provide good light at night, but the light cut-off seems to be too low.
I urge you to consider a non-sport version. Here’s why: the ride on, even mildly, uneven roads is mediocre. The 20-inch wheels, low aspect ratio tires with stiff suspension tuning create an SUV that only a mad man would take off-roading. It was scary for me to drive it off the pavement to park in the mountains for fear of breaking something or puncturing a tire on rocks.
The payoff is excellent handling. The 265/50R20 tires on the 20-inch wheels hold the car in curves as if it was on rails. I passed two cars in a decreasing-radius freeway onramp with ease at a speed, at which my previous car (Mitsubishi Galant) would squeal and slide.
The handling was extraordinary on a curvy mountain road – the wide tires stick to the road extremely well.
The braking is amazing as well and the Goodyear RS-A tires did not squeal once. The brake pedal is not as over-sensitive as my G35’s and is easy to modulate.
The acceleration is very good too. Entering the freeway at over-the-speed-limit speeds is not a problem. Accelerating the mountain road going uphill in lower atmospheric pressure is not a problem either.
The engine makes great, sports car-like noises. Thumbs up for that.
Manual Shifting
The automatic transmission can be shifted manually by sliding the lever to the right to get into the manual mode and than move it up (forward) to upshift and down (backward) to downshift.
In case of FX35, you actually shifting gears, unlike my G35, in which you only select the range of transmission operation. From the stop, the FX35’s transmission selects the 1st gear and will hold it until you upshift. As you are braking, the transmission downshifts and you can see the currently selected gear number in the instrument cluster.
You can shift by moving the lever, but you cannot skip a gear quickly. Say, after you upshift to 2nd, you cannot immediately upshift to 3rd – you have to wait a second or so. It is annoying.
Fuel Consumption
Throughout my semi-spirited driving I averaged (according to the onboard computer) 18 MPG (Premium gasoline). This is not bad, considering that I average the same 18 MPG in my lighter and more aerodynamically-efficient G35.
Would I Buy One?
The FX35 has surprisingly good, for an SUV, visibility through the back and sides and has large mirrors. But I don’t like the high seating position of SUVs. I dislike the fact that it is difficult to see what’s close to your wheels. I don’t see a point in having either an SUV with good ride or an SUV with good handling. If I need cargo space, I will get a well-handling wagon. But if I had to have an SUV, this would be the one.
Bottom Line
If you want to get a well-handling SUV no matter what the ride penalty will be, the FX35 with 20-inch wheels and Sport Package is highly recommended.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): loaner car
Condition: Used Model Year: 2004 Model and Options: FX 35 Touring/Sport
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