Dynamic interior
Inside, the new dashboard is just as striking as the exterior. The sleek, flowing design is enhanced by metallic inserts in the FX35 and a combination of maple wood trim and chrome appliqués in the FX50. It all makes for a very stimulating environment.

Inside, the new dashboard is just as striking as the exterior.

The front seats are comfortable and will easily suit various body shapes and sizes. On the other hand, the rear seats offer limited room for your legs and feet, making them more suited for young children than adults.

The cargo area is versatile and features an articulated cargo cover. The high threshold (at mid-thigh level) makes loading heavy items a burden, however. Furthermore, the ultra-arched roofline reduces the available cargo room. When the rear seatbacks are folded, there are 1,756 liters at your disposal, whereas a Mercedes-Benz ML550 offers 2,050 liters and a Volvo XC90, 2,410 liters. Even the compact Subaru Forester is more generous, with 1,943 liters of cargo space.

Comprehensive list of features
Nissan offers sophisticated features and option packages with this prestigious SUV. The Navigation Package includes a GPS-based navigation system with voice recognition, a 9.3 GB Music Box hard drive with compact flash card compatibility and the aforementioned Around View Monitor.

Meanwhile, the Technology Package adds a plethora of active and passive safety features like Lane Departure Warning and Prevention, Brake Assist with Distance Control as well as Intelligent Cruise Control.

A new Sport Package exclusive to the FX50 will also join the lineup. As the name suggests, it allows sportier driving thanks to xenon auto-levelling front headlights with Adaptive Front lighting System, Rear Active Steer (the rear wheels actively turn based on your steering and speed for quicker response and greater stability), heavily bolstered front bucket seats with power lumbar support for the driver, an air suspension and 21-inch high-performance tires. A set of specially-designed Bridgestone winter tires will become available next fall, but at what cost?

You don't buy an Infiniti FX for heavy-duty hauling: maybe a shrub or two, but not a vintage Louis XV buffet. This vehicle is all about enjoying the road and, more importantly, making a statement. As Marshall McLuhan once wrote, "the car has become an article of dress without which we feel uncertain, unclad, and incomplete in the urban compound." That perfectly sums up the 2009 Infiniti FX.

You don't buy an Infiniti FX for heavy-duty hauling: maybe a shrub or two, but not a vintage Louis XV buffet.

Photo Credit : Luc Gagné