2009 Infiniti FX50 review and start up - A quick look at the 2009 FX50

This is Joe Tunney from Infiniti of Kirkland spending a few minutes going over the features and options of the cars we carry at our dealership.

The 2009 Infiniti FX50 is a five-passenger midsize luxury crossover SUV. It comes standard with 21-inch alloy wheels, bi-xenon headlights, a power liftgate, a sunroof, a tilt/telescoping steering wheel, heated and cooled power front seats with driver memory settings, leather upholstery, dual-zone automatic climate control with a filtration system, a hard-drive-based navigation system and a full-view parking monitor. Also standard is an 11-speaker Bose audio system with a CD/MP3 player, satellite radio, Bluetooth, digital music storage capability on the hard drive and iPod integration.

An optional Sport Package adds adaptive front headlights, active rear steering, adaptive dampers and sport front seats. The Technology Package includes an advanced lane-departure warning system, adaptive cruise control with enhanced capabilities in congested traffic, Intelligent Brake Assist and rain-sensing front wipers. A rear-seat entertainment system and an exterior styling kit are also available.

Powertrains and Performance

Under the FX50's hood is a 5.0-liter V8 that makes 390 hp and 369 pound-feet of torque. Power is sent to all four wheels through a seven-speed automatic transmission with manual shift control and rev-matched downshift capability. Infiniti estimates that fuel economy for this engine is 14 mpg city/20 mpg highway.

Safety

Antilock disc brakes with brake assist, front-seat-mounted side airbags, full-length side curtain airbags, traction control and stability control are all standard on the 2009 Infiniti FX50. This year sees the addition of other safety technology, including an advanced lane-departure warning system that can help prevent the vehicle from inadvertently traveling out of its intended lane. The new Intelligent Brake Assist (IBA) uses the laser range finder from the adaptive cruise control to analyze closing speeds to an obstacle ahead. If a forward collision is imminent, the system sounds a warning to prompt driver action and can automatically apply the brakes up to 0.5g.

In National Highway Traffic Safety Administration crash tests, the FX scored five (out of five) stars for its protection of occupants in both front and side impacts, and in Insurance Institute for Highway Safety frontal-offset testing, the FX earned the top score of "Good."

Interior Design and Special Features

The 2009 Infiniti FX50 has a comfortable, well-appointed cabin befitting a luxury crossover SUV. The use of chrome and brushed-metal accents is restrained and tasteful, as is the deployment of hand-stained maple wood trim. A host of standard features, along with optional entertainment configurations, provides passengers with ample entertainment possibilities and equips the driver with comprehensive navigation tools and long-haul labor-savers. Rear legroom is diminished compared with the 2008 model, as is cargo capacity. There are fewer than 25 cubic feet available with the rear seat up, growing to only 62 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down. Most midsize crossovers offer considerably more cargo volume.

Driving Impressions

Speed is the 2009 Infiniti FX50's prime directive. With its new seven-speed automatic clicking off admirably quick upshifts, there's hardly a moment when the FX50 doesn't feel geared up for action. The 60-mph mark flashes by in just 5.6 seconds, as compared to the 6.8 seconds required for the FX45's 60-mph sprint. Moreover, when the tach needle sweeps past 4,000 rpm, there is a conspicuous surge of power from the FX50's V8, courtesy of its sophisticated system for variable valve timing and lift.

On a twisty road, the FX50 handles like a sport wagon, negotiating turns quicker than one would expect. There is one significant caveat, however. During our instrumented testing regimen, we detected an unusual amount of brake fade after several high-speed passes. However, it should be noted that when subjected to brake testing that more closely mirrored the real world, brake fade wasn't an issue for our test vehicle.