Video: 2009 Infiniti FX35

Now the reason I said some people might not notice the changes in the new FX is 'cause from the rear, it looks a lot like the old one. But come around the front and it's wildly different. You have huge bulges in the hood here, that are kind of reminiscent of the G37 sports coupe. That's intentional. Infiniti wants you to think this is a sporty SUV, and it is. The other thing is, it has a massive mean menacing front grille. Up close, it kinda looks like a modern piece of art, but when you're on the road and someone sees you in the rear view mirror, it's gonna look mean. The all-new FX has an all-new interior as well. And it's actually quite nice for the price. It competes with the best from Acura and Lexus. Infiniti is really trying to sell the FX as a sporty kind of SUV. And they've really hit the mark with this one. You have huge shift paddles here to get you through seven speeds. Yes, it's a seven speed transmission, really smooth. 303 horsepower in the base V6. It's plenty fast for the FX35. If you want to move up to the V8, you're certainly able to do that for 390 horsepower. But I'm telling you, don't overlook the FX35's V6. When you opt for the $2,100 navigation package, and I expect most buyers will opt for it, you do get a lot for that amount of money. Obviously, you get navigation. It's a touchscreen navigation system. There's a center knob. So there's arrows and a wheel to zoom and all that. But you can also move your finger around if you want to do that as well. Very simple buttons. And the best thing about it is it's voice-activated, so you can use it while you're driving without having to look down. Now even though it's called the navigation package, you get a lot of features that are entertainment-based with it. You get a nine gigabyte hard drive, so you can pop in a CD, rip it right to your hard drive, and you have that music forever until you delete it. It has a compact flash slot, which is what most photographers use, but not a lot of consumers use it. So it's a little odd, but hey, it's an add-on, you don't wanna turn it down. And there's also an iPod adapter in the center console that comes standard when you get the navigation package. Now there's plenty of room for driver and front passenger alike, but there's also a lot of room in the back, second row. It's really comfortable for all passengers. The radical looks of the FX definitely take away from the cargo area. This isn't a hauling SUV, this is a sport hatchback. So if you're into hauling stuff, this isn't for you. Now, it is a usable cargo area, so you get the most out of what you got. The best part about it are the handles here on the side, just give 'em a tug and the rear seats fold flat. There's a lot to like about the new Infiniti FX. It's got the handling of a sports car without the punishing ride. There's plenty of power in the base engine. And even with these wild looks, there's some utility in that cargo area. At the price, it's really competitive against the rest of the players in the segment. Might not beat them on price, but it holds its own. And actually, you know what, it's so much fun to drive, I'm gonna go do a little bit more right now. (salsa music playing) <v Announcer>For additional information on this car or any other, go to cars.com and our blog, Kicking Tires.