2012 Infiniti FX50 Overview Change Vehicle

This 2012 Infiniti FX50 overview explains changes for the model year, provides a summary of the 2012 FX50, and includes Infiniti FX50 safety, reliability, and fuel economy ratings.

The Infiniti FX50 is an aggressively styled, five-passenger, luxury/sport crossover SUV with the performance chops to match its appearance and driving demeanor. Primary competition for the FX50 includes the BMW X5 and X6, the Land Rover Range Rover Sport, and the Porsche Cayenne.

Revised front styling and a refreshed instrument cluster accompany the Infiniti FX50 into 2012. Infiniti Personal Assistant is also new, a concierge telematics system accessible through a properly paired cell phone that gives you directions, phone numbers, weather forecasts, and dining suggestions and can help owners make dinner reservations, travel arrangements, and contact emergency services if necessary. Note that Infiniti Personal Assistant does not automatically attempt to notify authorities if you’re in a collision, unlike telematics services from other automakers.

The 2012 Infiniti FX50’s standard equipment list is replete with a wide array of high-tech goodies, along with a healthy helping of luxury amenities. Eye-catching 21-inch alloy wheels are standard, and the FX50 features fog lights and a pair of Xenon high-intensity discharge headlights. Quilted leather upholstery covers the eight-way power-adjustable heated and cooled front seats, and the FX50 is equipped with dual-zone automatic climate control, a power moonroof, a power rear liftgate, keyless entry and push-button ignition, and a camera system that provides a bird’s eye view of the FX and its surroundings. A Bose premium surround sound system with hard drive music storage capability, satellite radio, iPod compatibility, and an auxiliary audio input jack are also standard, and if you still carry music on shiny discs known as CDs, there’s a disc changer on board. More likely, FX50 owners will stream music from portable devices using the standard Bluetooth system, which also facilitates hands-free phone calls. A navigation system with real-time traffic and weather reports is also standard on the FX50, as well as power folding heated outside mirrors.

For those who are paranoid of drifting off behind the wheel, an optional Technology Package attempts to keep drowsy drivers in check with Lane Departure Warning (LDW) and Lane Departure Prevention (LDP) systems. It’ll beep if it senses that the vehicle is drifting out of a lane and even steer itself back between the lines if you don’t heed the warning. Intelligent Cruise Control with Distance Control Assist is also included in the Technology Package, and helps to maintain a safe distance between you and the car in front of you, while Intelligent Brake Assist (IBA) with Forward Collision Warning (FCW) boosts stopping power if the system senses an imminent danger.

Performance buffs may consider the Sport Package instead, as you can’t get both the Technology and Sport packages on your FX. The Sport Package includes continuous damping control at each corner as well as Rear Active Steer to sharpen agility during high speed maneuvers, sport-bolstered seats to hold you in when taking cornering, and swiveling headlamps to better illuminate around curves on a dark, sinuous road.

The FX50 churns out 393 horsepower thanks to a 5.0-liter V8, and can accelerate to 60 mph in about 5.5 seconds. All those ponies are delivered to all four wheels through a seven-speed automatic transmission with manual shifting mode and Downshift Rev Matching that automatically revs the engine when you downshift for smoother and sportier driving experience. Predictably, fuel economy ratings for all-wheel drive, V8-powered FX50 are pretty dismal, ranging from 14 mpg in the city to 20 mpg on the highway.

Helping to keep the Infiniti FX50’s occupants safe are four-wheel-disc antilock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution and brake assist, a traction and stability control system, and six airbags. Voyeurs and Google Map junkies will be intrigued by the FX50’s standard Around View monitor, which gives you a bird’s eye view of your parking situation so that you can extricate yourself without dinging your FX, or hitting any nearby pedestrians. Fans of electronic nannying can also equip the FX50 with a Technology Package that incorporates intelligent cruise control and lane departure warning systems to help the driver avoid hair-raising situations.

In the event that a collision cannot be avoided, know that in crash tests performed by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Infiniti FX received a rating of Good in the frontal-offset and rear-impact evaluations. Unfortunately, the IIHS has yet to test the FX for side-impact safety or roof crush strength. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has not evaluated the 2012 Infiniti FX50 for crash safety in any respect.

If for no other reason, Infiniti FX buyers can rest easy knowing the SUV is reliable. Both Consumer Reports and J.D. Power and Associates believe the FX will provide owners with better than average dependability over time.

The Infiniti FX is constructed upon Nissan’s Front-Midship Platform, which is also used for the Nissan 370Z and the Infiniti G lineup. The FX50 comes standard with all-wheel drive, which sends power to the rear wheels under normal conditions but can divert up to half of the V8’s motive force to the front wheels in order to regain traction should slippage occur.

Another interesting aspect of the 2012 Infiniti FX50’s performance capability is the available Rear Active Steer system, which is part of the optional Sport Package. Rear Active Steer angles the rear wheels in the opposite direction of the front wheels when taking corners at high speed, giving the FX50 a crisper, tighter, more responsive feel when driven with verve.

Do you know how much it would cost to replace one of the FX50’s 21-inch aluminum wheels? Well, neither do we, but we’ll bet it amounts to a hefty chunk of change. So it’s good that the FX50 comes standard with an Around View Monitor, which gives you a top-down view of your FX while parking. That means you have a much better chance of successfully parallel parking your FX50 without dinging those massive rims.

We can’t say that we’re too impressed with the cargo capacity of this crossover SUV. Because of its rakish silhouette, the rear cargo area provides only 25 cubic-feet of space behind the rear seats, while folding the rear seats gives you access to 65 cu-ft of volume.

We’re a bit miffed by the 2012 Infiniti FX50. While we can’t really complain about its luxury amenities or its performance, when you get to vehicles in the $60,000+ category you expect something a bit…more. For example, the Audi Q7 features in-a-pinch seven-passenger capability. And the Porsche Cayenne surprises with its off-road capabilities. The FX50? Well, it’s small inside, rather large outside, and you’ll never find one on roads any rougher than the unpaved parking lot at the local farmer’s market. But if you’re interested in high reliability scores, loads of technology and sumptuous digs, the 2012 Infiniti FX50 is definitely worth a look.

By Liz Kim