Test drive Infiniti FX 2002 - 2008 SUV

Born by a metropolis

Nissan should be grateful to the gray dealers for what for three years in Russia, its American luxury brand Infiniti in Russia. In this connection, the FX45 crossover can be considered a new market only formally.
FX family debut took place four years ago. Nevertheless, outwardly, the car is not outdated, it looks topically. In 2003, Nissan relied on design, and FX is one of the first cars of the Japanese company to change the perception of its products by the consumer. Today, Infiniti is not only a synonym for high -quality performance, rich decoration and powerful engines, brand models are considered primarily as the most interesting in design. The same FX, despite his solid age, in this segment in this regard is still beyond competition.
Sitting FX45, I was surprised. Inside, the car was more than I expected. The fact is that the machine in the database is equipped with gigantic wheels of 20 inches. On such rinks, even the most bulky car body will seem elegant and less dimensional. So I was deceived. He is hefty, this FX! The sensation intensifies when you sit on the front row of seats. The chapel pillow is low, and a large front panel rises in front, which has a sloping shape. The windows are small, there is immediately a feeling of detachment from a foster life (perhaps a sense of security is more precise, despite the abundance of definition).
However, the medal has the opposite side. Review of backwards is seriously complicated by the small size of the fifth door and wide rear racks. There is a rear view camera, but it would be better for me to put parking sensors for me. You have to get used to the camera, the feeling of the rear dimensions is not formed immediately, and in the tight dark courtyards caught by cars, at first it is not sweet.
By the way, the rounded FX45 forms, coupled with the mentioned limited glazing, lead to the fact that it is difficult to determine even with the front dimensions. You look forward and there are waves of the hood, where it ends incomprehensibly. In other words, non -standard design gives rise to non -standard problems in some way. In any case, everything is decided by habit. For example, I felt FX45 in the fourth day of the dough quite well.
Landing is low as in a passenger car. It is strange if it were different. After all, the crossover was designed, trying to lower the center of gravity as much as possible. Therefore, the chairs are installed almost on the floor. I note that this is one of the attributes of a sports car and, by the way, the FX45 is positioned as a model built on a sports platform.
The nature close to sports is manifested in some other details. For example, the instrument shield is fixed on the steering column, and when adjusting the steering wheel moves with it (a similar solution is used on Nissan 350z). The trunk of the three -spoke, covered with leather and stylistically sends, again, to 350z. The steering wheel is small, the rim is wide. The pedals are made of aluminum. Massive chairs, with a pronounced profile on the sides. The texture of the skin, which is covered with the seats, was a little surprised. She is frankly rude both to the touch and outwardly.
The key is smart (Intelligent Key), and the motor starts up by turning a special uniconsean handle to the right of the steering column. By the way, the chip key itself unlocks and locks the doors, and if the car stood under the scorching sun, you can lower the front glass in advance for this you need to keep the door opening button for three seconds. Management of the on -board computer and other functions is entrusted to exactly the same flight control center as we met on the M45 sedan. In general, it is convenient, but the ability to solve the same problems with different keys is still slightly disoriented.
The back is spacious. The second row is obscured for two riders, a seven-inch monitor of a multimedia system with a DVD player is mounted on the ceiling (there are a pair of wireless headphones and a remote control). Sitting in the second row will be able to get comfortable, changing the angle of inclination of the backs. It will be useful to note that these backs can be folded in a proportion of 60/40.
FX trunk is a capacious 531 l. Having carried out a well -known operation with the rear seats, it can be increased to 1207 liters. A little embarrassed by a large loading height. But in the front of the floor, a niche for storing trifles. It is also pleasing that the light fifth door (made of composite materials on the steel frame) has an electric closer.
Taking the car and getting out of the underground parking, I immediately noticed that the steering wheel is very heavy. At parking speeds, and simply with a quick steering wheel with interceptions, a significant effort needs to be made. Perhaps the ladies will not be very comfortable. On the other hand, fitness is relevant today.
With a powerful motor and a sports suspension, which is basic for FX45, the car from the first meters makes it clear that he loves hot drivers. A huge engine is always lucky everywhere, and a quick automatic machine with well -chosen gear rates copes well with adjusting power flow. The dynamic potential of not the easiest crossover is clearly indicated by 6.8 seconds in acceleration to 100 km/h. Well, especially hot drivers can take control of an automatic transmission into their own hands, such an opportunity, of course, is provided.
The car is built on the FM platform (Front Midship). This means that the power unit is installed in the database, behind the front wheels, hence the direction close to perfect. The front axis FX45 accounts for 54% of the mass, 46% per rear (in the 3.5-liter version, the indicators are slightly better than 53/47). A feasible contribution to the handling and stability of the car on the road is also made by the intellectual system of ATESSA E-TS. By default, the FX car is rear -wheel drive (by the way, the most affordable versions of the crossover are rear -wheel drive in America).
However, at the start, the power of the motor immediately goes to all four wheels, and if the traffic conditions are really complex, the craving can be divided between the axes. In addition, the system imitates the operation of inter -axial locks, slowing down the slinging wheels, thus allowing the car to stably move along the road with a constantly changing clutch coefficient. As a result, FX45 is unshakable when moving according to any type of coating.
It should be noted that the American car was adapted for Russian roads, the suspension became a little softer. Unfortunately, I did not have a chance to travel on a gray version, so I can only compare with competitors. And this comparison suggests that the FX45 has a really clockwork character. Somewhat spoil the almost perfect sports (of course, taking into account the civil orientation of the machine), except for a large mass and still a high center of gravity. Moreover, 20-inch wheels are given in the suspension with secondary vibrations when passing bad sections of the road.
However, if the asphalt is smooth, you get real pleasure from the aerobatics! The crossover obediently responds to the movements of a tight steering wheel, on which there is always a stable feedback. The car in corners is tapping inconsistent, it stands perfectly on a fast arc and firmly holds high -speed line, even if broken asphalt is under the wheels. Not surprising, because structural FX45 is a powerful universal passenger car. And his habits are typically passenger. We do not recommend attacking FX45 on FX45. At the same time, the universal sags and light thaw will pass without problems due to high landing and short overhangs.
Nevertheless, the element FX45 is the city and even highways. In general, this is one of the first carriers of the idea of \u200b\u200ba luxury SUV, an example of a car is a chicly equipped, created without any look at off -road driving and at the same time endowed with a very expressive design.
FX45 can be purchased from dealers with a V6 3.5l motor. (280 hp) or V8 4.5l. (328 hp). The gearbox is only an automatic five -speed, the drive is complete. Two configurations: Elegance and Premium. A car with V8 is offered only in the Premium version.
Elegance is included: front and side airbags, ABS, EBD, BA, VDC, TCS, a full electric package, leather interior with aluminum inserts and wood finishes, front seats with electric regulations (driver’s driver’s driver) and ventilation, on -board computer, two -zone climate -control, cruise control, Bose audio system with a CD changer, xenon headlights, rear view camera, hatch, 18-inch alloy wheels.
The Premium packages added: sports suspension, 20 inches discs, interior decoration with carbon ties, aluminum pedals, an information and entertainment center with a colored display.
In addition to the above, FX45 has aluminum trunk rails on the roof, chrome moldings on glass. Dealers sell a car from $ 69900 for the FX35 version to $ 82900 for FX45 in maximum configuration.
 
 
   
 
Leonty Tyutelev
 

Source: Motor magazine [January-February 2007]