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2005 Infiniti FX45 Test Drive

From Philip Powell, About.com Guest

4 of 5

On the Road in the FX45

2005 Infiniti FX45

(c)Infiniti Media
Hit the open road and the FX45 reveals its true character. Part of which is due to a sweet-sounding 4.5 liter DOHC V-8 engine of 310 hp. Teamed with an unobtrusive 5-speed automatic, it is so responsive that caution is sometimes needed when accelerating. The FX45 is built on Nissan's front-mid-ship car platform with the engine mounted north-south for best balance, plus a fully-independent suspension system handling the curves. In practise it meant I could corner with confidence. This was undoubtedly assisted by the sports package that came with our test vehicle, although a hard ride is the tradeoff.

The Lane Departure Warning system (remember the beeper?) works above 45 mph, combining a small camera, speed sensor, and warning indicator to keep a sleepy or careless driver between the lines. For my taste it worked too well, but oh, how I enjoyed reversing in the FX45! The map display panel turns into a TV screen with a video view of what's behind, aided by a pair of dotted lines that define the clearance available on each side. Without it, backing up in tight spaces could have been awkward. Going forward the FX45 was more exhilarating than any SUV has a right to be, even if it is a "performance" crossover.

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