The FX series hits all the high points of a crossover, with most of the functionality of a mid-sized SUV.  It’s fairly tall, fairly large, and has a fair amount of cargo space.  Notice the use of the word “fair” in the preceding sentence.  While not the tall, boxy SUV it competes against, it also doesn’t have the commodious boot SUVs are known for.  While groceries and a week’s worth of luggage for two may fit in the cargo area, if you add more passengers, you may want to make it a couples weekend, and closer to home than you might want.  Taller drivers may have trouble, depending upon their seating position.  I’m 5’8″ tall, and only had about 3″ or so of head room.

Speaking of passengers, the rear seat area is fair for a night out on the town, but long distances may make you rethink your purchase.  While not a snug fit, don’t expect three to sit abreast in the back without hearing about it.

The FX’s claim to fame isn’t in the back anyway.  The driver is the central focus, with all the pertinent controls close at hand, especially the all-important gas pedal.  Equipped with the all-wheel drive system, passing acceleration can be downright sluggish, but as the system breaks in, I expect it to get better (the vehicle I test drove had a scant 8 miles on its odometer).  Meanwhile, from a stop, the 303-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 under the hood gives the FX plenty of scoot.  I didn’t have a chance to take the FX off-road, but I expect it will do well in a light to medium snowfall due to its ground clearance, which is ample but not too tall.

While you’re inside the FX, take a look around.  What you see is almost all soft-touch plastic, leather, or wood.  A very pleasing interior, worth the $53,000+ MSRP.  While the driver’s seat didn’t have as much thigh support as I would have preferred, it was definitely comfortable.  The armrests on the doors are perfectly positioned for long-term comfort as well.  The center stack should look familiar for anyone who has read my review of the 2010 Nissan Maxima, or many other Nissan and Infiniti owners, as many of the controls are shared between the Maxima and several Infiniti vehicles.  A highlight here is the Infiniti “around view” camera, which stitches together the picture from several strategically-positioned cameras on the FX, giving a complete 360-degree view of what’s around you.  The system worked well, if not as clear or crisp as I’d expected from the experience I’ve had behind the wheel of my Maxima, which features a backup camera only.

Moving back to the outside, there are plenty of curves to attract the eye, which can’t be mistaken for anything but an Infiniti.  Bulging fenders, a couple-like fastback which incorporates the rear doors and the rear liftgate, and a swept-back windshield all make for an attractive (to some) exterior.  Slightly overwrought, yes, but very pleasing at the same time.

Since the FX35 shares its engine with that of my 2010 Nissan Maxima, it was interesting to see what an AWD setup and several hundred pounds do to a mostly unmodified engine.  While the FX’s acceleration was not brisk, as in my Maxima, it was adequate.  The FX and Maxima also share a lot of parts, from the center console and its built-in navigation and HVAC controls to the steering wheel and even window switches.  The FX almost feels like a mid-level Maxima that’s been lifted up.

Overall, the FX35 has plenty of get-up-and-go, handles well for a tallish vehicle, and has the techno-wizardry a buyer could ask for.  Those looking for more oomph should opt for the faster (and quite a bit more expensive) FX50.  The only thing it’s missing is real utility, which it tries and mostly makes up for with power and handling.  Definitely worth a test drive for a married couple or younger family.  Those with more than two children or a need for more cargo-carrying ability should look at larger SUVs or wagons.

by John Suit

Related posts:

1. Test Drive Frenzy – 6/6/2010
2. Test Drive: 2011 Ford Explorer Limited 4WD
3. Quick Drive: 2011 Hyundai Sonata

2005 Nissan Titan

It seems every automaker is getting caught by the recall bug these days, and Nissan isn’t immune.  According to reports, the automaker is recalling 2.1 million vehicles worldwide, with around 762,000 of them in North America.  The recall involves a wide range of vehicles, from the Cube to the Titan, and centers around a faulty ignition switch, which can cause the engine to stall and/or not restart.  Click past the jump for more details and a list of affected models.

Update 11/1/2010: We now have a list of the affected models and their model years, as well as the NHTSA’s press release.  Continue reading for the updates.

2005 Nissan Pathfinder

According to Automotive News, “the breakdown of the recalled U.S. models is: Titan 227,313 units, Pathfinder 143,471 units, Frontier 123,037 units, Armada 106,003 units, Xterra 101,483 units, Infiniti QX56 36,969 units.”

The recall affects models built between 2003 and 2006, and owners should expect to be notified in the coming weeks.

UPDATE: Affected models and model years are listed below:

Show Press Release

Vehicle Make / Model: Model Year(s): INFINITI / QX56 2004-2006 NISSAN / ARMADA 2004-2006 NISSAN / FRONTIER 2005-2006 NISSAN / PATHFINDER 2005-2006 NISSAN / TITAN 2004-2006 NISSAN / XTERRA 2005-2006 Manufacturer: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC. Mfr’s Report Date: OCT 28, 2010 NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 10V517000 NHTSA Action Number: N/A

Component: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

Potential Number of Units Affected: 747480

Summary: NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004-2006 ARMADA, TITAN, INFINITI QX56 AND MODEL YEAR 2005-2006 FRONTIER, PATHFINDER AND XTERRA VEHICLES. THE INTELLIGENT POWER DISTRIBUTION MODULE (IPDM) ASSEMBLY CONTAINS AN ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM) RELAY THAT HAS A DIODE FOR ELECTRICAL CURRENT NOISE REDUCTION. THE ECM RELAY MAY ALLOW SILICON VAPOR TO FORM AND, OVER TIME, THE SILICON EVAPORATES FROM THE DIODE MOLDING WHICH CAUSES SILICON OXIDE TO DEVELOP ON THE ECM RELAY CONTACT DUE TO ARCING.

Consequence: THIS COULD CAUSE ENGINE STALLING INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ECM RELAY INSIDE THE IPDM ASSEMBLY. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING DECEMBER 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

Notes: OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION’S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TOHTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV .

by John Suit

Source: Automotive News, NHTSA

Related posts:

1. Nissan to recall 539,864 vehicles for brake pins, fuel gauges
2. Update: Toyota to Recall 3.8 Million Vehicles over Gas Pedal issue
3. Garmin Recalls Nav Units, Affects Automotive Market

While its price starts about $8,000 below the G37, the savings at the pump are meager – 1 mpg in the city and 2 on the highway, the same for both rear and all-wheel drive models.

Of note is the dual-zone automatic climate control, which is listed in the press release as being standard, but the web site for the 2011 G25 shows it to be optional on the base model, and standard on Journey and AWD models.

Oh, and Infiniti has released an Online Configurator for both all 2011 G-series vehicles, so hop on over there to see the G25 in a little more detail and price one out, since they’re on sale now.

Show Press Release

by John Suit

Source: Infiniti

Related posts:

1. Update: Chrysler Releases Photos of Upcoming 200 Sedan
2. Infiniti: Bringing the G25 to the USA!
3. 2011 Nissan Altima Photos and Pricing released

With the G37, you get a lot of bang for your buck: gobs of power, a fairly plush interior, and lots of techno-goodies.  With the G25, you’ll get all that, except the power.  Powered by a similar engine to this country’s Nissan Altima, the G25 will be a bit slower, especially when saddled with All-Wheel Drive in the “X” model.  Other than the engine change, however, Infiniti says not much else has changed.

Of course, with the engine swap, you get a lower price point, making the G25 Infiniti’s new entry-level car, priced from $30,950, not including destination, which should be around $900.  Fully-loaded, expect the G25′s price to be around where the G37 currently starts, or around $40,000.

According to the press release, standard will be HID headlamps, ABS brakes, Nissan/Infiniti’s VDC (Vehicle Dynamic Control), and traction control.  A “Journey” model adds a backup camera, heated front seats and outside mirrors, auto on/off headlights, Automatic Climate Control, as well as some as-yet-to-be-listed items.

In today’s economy, the automotive industry is seeing smaller engines powering bigger cars, and some of the luxury automakers are finally getting wise to this strategy and are employing it.  It’s good to see Infiniti in this plan too, especially if it wants to reach out to younger and less affluent buyers, the ones going more for the look than the performance.

by John Suit

Source: Nissan/Infiniti

Related posts:

1. Test Drive: 2011 Infiniti FX 35 AWD
2. Update: G25 Sedan Pricing and Trim Levels
3. UPDATED: First Glimpse: 2011 Nissan Quest

2008 Infiniti QX56

What is it with braking systems on vehicles these days?  Have automakers lost their minds?  I believe it to be a combination of trying to save money and the mainstream application of “drive by wire” systems, where computers and sensors replace traditional hydraulics and cables.  Nissan is the latest automaker to initiate a recall for its brakes, as well as faulty fuel gauges.

2010 Nissan Titan

In the case of the brakes, a pin that presumably holds the pedal assembly together can become partially dislodged, causing a “loss of normal braking ability.”  Nissan blames the supplier of the part, and reiterates that none of its vehicles which are currently on sale have the issue.  Nissan also says that there have been no accidents or injuries related to this recall, but its customers’ satisfaction is the big motivator.  Looks like another automaker learned from Toyota.

On the fuel gauge side, certain high mileage vehicles have a tendency to display an incorrect amount of fuel in the gas tank.  The gauge may have a tendency to read high, which could leave drivers stranded.

VEHICLES INVOLVED
Models and numbers of vehicles with potentially affected brake pedal pins are:

• 2008 through 2010 model year Nissan Titan, Armada, Quest and Infiniti QX56
• 178,916 in the U.S., 25,869 outside the U.S.

Models and numbers of vehicles with potential fuel gauges inaccuracies are:

• 2005 through 2008 model year Nissan Titan, Armada and Infiniti QX56
• Nissan Frontier, Pathfinder and Xterra produced between January and March 2006 and between October 2007 and January 2008
• 418,865 in the U.S., 53,253 outside the U.S.

by John Suit

Source: Nissan

Related posts:

1. UPDATE: And the Hits keep on Coming: Nissan Recalls 2.1 million vehicles worldwide
2. Is Nissan having problem with its driveshafts?
3. Honda to recall 412,000 vehicles over brake issue