Infiniti FX (2009 - 2018) 3.0d S Premium 5d Auto Owner Review

3.0d S Premium 5d Auto
Infiniti 2012 FX

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In their own words

As you approach the impeccably constructed FX at night, it senses your approach from the intelligent key in your pocket, illuminates the ground lights of the electrically folding mirrors, illuminates the interior and moves your extremely comfortable diamond stitched 18-way heated/ventilated drivers seat, steering wheel and mirrors into position before you have so much as touched the keyless unlock button on the drivers door handle. The above perfectly describes the quality, attention to detail and the overwhelmingly high standard specification of the FX, which also runs to: Intelligent cruise control, which will come to a full stop and will then move off again if certain conditions are met. Lane departure warning & assist, which warns when you stray over the line below 45 mph or will actively move the car back into the lane over 45 mph. Forward collision warning & intelligent brake assist, which warn of a potential impact and will even intervene with auto braking. Fantastic BOSE sound system with CD, DVD, Bluetooth streaming, Ipod connection, aux in and a HDD for recording music. Very clear 3D Birds Eye sat nav with voice control, speed limit display and speed camera warning, which even works with the nav off. Adaptive Bi-Xenons, which turn with the wheel & LED rear lights. 360° Top, front, rear and side cameras with front/rear parking sensors. A very good adaptive dual zone climate control system, with auto recirculation smog sensor (not smelt anything bad from outside since I bought this car), which really is a set and forget system. Powered tailgate, which will open and close from the key, cabin and the tailgate. Reclining rear seats Electric sunroof. All of the above and more as standard on the S Premium, which is a specification that would probably cost an extra £10k on an X5, F-pace, Cayenne or ML and in turn means the reality for the used suv buyer is an X5 with unheated part manual seats, an F-pace or Macan with halogen lights (in 2017) or an ML without pretty much all of the above. The engine is a solid 3.0D V6 with 235 bhp and 406 lbft, so it pulls very well through the Merc sourced 7 speed auto and suits the car very well. It's not the latest in engine tech, having been introduced back in 2010, so don't expect 50 mpg and do expect £520 on road tax. The car is an absolute bargain, so you can live with 30+ mpg and the higher tax as you're saving thousands over the competition and benefiting in every other way. If you buying criteria is based on the quality of the car and how it drives, rather than what a brand (doesn't) say about you, then you will absolutely love one of the best kept secrets on the (sad) badge obsessed UK car market. I should add that I have owned many of the cars mentioned above and also currently own an AMG, so I am in no way biased one way or the other but I do know a good car when I drive one. Hopefully nobody will actually read this and then I get to continue driving for months on end without seeing another FX.

How reliable do you find the car?

Fantastic build quality, razor sharp shut lines and Japanese reliability makes for a very refreshing change after several German SUV's and a Range Rover Sport. Everything feels extremely sturdy and my car does not have a single squeak or rattle.

Does the car do everything you expected it to do?

The FX has more than met my expectations and I still look forward to driving it several months after purchase. This car is based on a GT-R/370Z RWD chassis but with an intelligent AWD system, which shuffles power back and forth but will operate as 100% RWD when conditions allow, and that combination really does result in a fantastic drive, despite this being a heavy suv. My S Premium has the adaptive switchable dampers with active rear wheel steering and it feels like a 370Z on stilts. Absolutely fantastic!
  • How they rated it

  • Reliability: 5 out of 5 5.0
  • Meets Expectations: 5 out of 5 5.0
  • Overall Rating: 5 out of 5 5.0
  • Alexander Henderson recommends this car

About their car

  • Fuel type Diesel
  • When purchased May 2017
  • Condition when bought Used
  • Current Mileage 31,000 miles
  • Average MPG 33 mpg