null Complex FX Infiniti's radical crossover may be trying too hard to be different. Some might like its boldness but others may find it pricey, underpowered, and weird-looking Autos Reviews By Matt Vella Slide Show > > If looks could kill, the Infiniti FX45's designers would most likely be serving multiple life sentences. As if it just drove in from <cite>Where the Wild Things Are</cite>, the FX's swooping exterior lines, monster grill, and vicious front lamps make the vehicle a bold standout from the luxury crossover crowd—for better or for worse, depending on how you look at it. The Infiniti crossover's conspicuous styling is intended to woo consumers away from competing cars like the BMW X5, Cadillac SRX, Lexus RX, and Mercedes-Benz M-Class. But as with a number of other Nissan (<ticker>"NSANY"</ticker>) models (Infiniti is Nissan's luxury brand), the daring exterior may put off as many buyers as it attracts. Since the beginning of the year, sales of both the lower priced FX35 and high-end FX45 versions have been down a grim 24% from the same period last year, to a mere 8,317 models sold. It's not entirely clear why sales are down so much, especially considering that the very similar Nissan Murano is doing well. Sales of that crossover are up over 17% for the same period. An explanation may be that though it has a smaller engine with about 75 fewer horses, the Murano also weighs more than 500 pounds less. Factor in that a top of the line SE version of the Murano starts at $31,700—nearly $20,000 less than the FX45, and the base model has a manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) of $27,600—and the difference in sales starts to make sense. <leadin>CARROT-JUICER ENGINE.</leadin>In any case, Infiniti lent me its top crossover, loaded with a robust set of options. Added to the $49,750 base price was a $1,400 mobile entertainment system that came with a 7-in. flip-down screen, DVD player, remote control, and two wireless headsets; also a $4,200 technology package which included a navigation system, lane-departure warning, intelligent cruise control, and XM radio. Despite an impressive technical profile, my FX's 4.5 liter, 320 hp V8 was a bit of a disappointment. For one thing, the powerplant under the hood is simply too unrefined for a vehicle at this price point. It sounds less like the challenging roar you'd expect from such an aggressive maw, and much too much like a carrot juicer gagging on pulp. Acceleration from zero was more than acceptable, but at higher speeds power wasn't at my immediate disposal. Gunning the gas to pass or merge into fast-moving traffic resulted in unacceptable and disconcerting lag. Slogging between 60 and 80 mph on the freeway, meanwhile, was a frustrating chore. Annoyed, I kept asking myself, "When the sticker toplines at $49,750, can you really be expected to wait for go?" On the flip side, braking performance was excellent. <leadin>STADIUM SEATING.</leadin> Rearward visibility is seriously compromised, especially given the low-slung back window and very small triangular side-mirrors. Luckily, when in reverse the center display turns into a live video feed, making backing out of tight spaces a slick and high-tech affair. As you can imagine, putting the FX in reverse provided countless hours of fun playing "find the hidden camera" and "look what's behind us now." Inside, the FX is loaded with gadgets of all sorts. At the push of a button, power seats move in nearly every direction imaginable—including to a position with first-class lumbar support—as does the steering wheel. The seats, meanwhile, are a triumph. I was amazed at how contented a friend and I were as we watched the entire DVD of <cite>Mean Girls</cite> from the comfy backseats. Instead of using headsets we piped the sound through the FX's booming 300 watt Bose stereo, which performed as admirably with music and radio as it did with THX fare. The dash, however, is overly cluttered and I found myself—strange as it may sound—pining for the relative simplicity of BMW's iDrive. On Infiniti's center scroll wheel alone I counted 12 buttons. Though busy and distracting, the navigation, temperature, and radio/CD player interface was easy enough to use. In fact, via the onboard computer, I was able to display my average gas mileage on the center display, a wince-inducing 16 mpg. <leadin>"COOL FUSION".</leadin> In terms of utility, this Infiniti delivers on its promises. I took the FX grocery shopping in deep suburban New Jersey, where oversized parking spaces are common. The yawning cargo area in back is spacious given the high roofline. Even when all loaded at once, a few Trader Joe's bags, a queen-sized comforter from Bed Bath & Beyond (<ticker>"BBBY"</ticker>), and an oversized bag from REI were no match for such space. I was even able to hide my cargo under the included draw cover. Whether the exterior design achieves the "cool fusion" Infiniti claims for it is a personal matter between driver and conscience. One unhappy New Yorker I unintentionally cut off in city traffic leaned out his window to shout what part of the male anatomy he felt my loaner looked like. Though the profanity was unpleasant, I couldn't help agreeing with his sentiment. And that may actually be to the designers' credit. The FX doesn't elicit indifference, but heated reaction, whether positive or negative. In the end, if styling ranks as most important, the FX45 will be an easy choice. Nothing on the road quite matches its aggressive, flowing looks. However the engine's unrefined character and the interior's dash complexity make it, in my opinion, unworthy in comparison to offerings from BMW, Mercedes, and Porsche. Click here for the slide show http://www.businessweek.com/autos/content/jun2006/bw20060623_314324.htm http://images.businessweek.com/ss/06/06/infinitifx/index_01.htm,http://www.businessweek.com/investor/content/jan2008/pi20080117_467081.htm,http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/08_04/b4068000575390.htm False