2009 Infiniti FX50 vs. 2008 BMW X5

Jeep GC SRT-8 is faster, stock from factory.

Dunlop SP Sport Max is a summer tire.

Given the actual cargo and passenger capacity, I guess the X6 would be the real competitor to the FX50? I hadn't really thought about that before.

The X6 is not the same car as the X5.

Sure you can be ignorant and say the X6 is just a chop top, but it's not. Mechanically it's retuned and does not drive like an X5. And the X6 got even more electronic handling programs than the X5. Not the same car.

X6 >> FX50 > X5.

Grip and 315 rubber. Come on. Put 315 rubber on the FX and see the "handling" improvement. The Chassis? Or 315? .82 -> .87?
315?
315.

"So are the Infiniti's dynamics disappointing or are the BMWs abilities so redamndiculous that this entire blog post is worthless?"

Yes, and Yes!

I can't imagine being dissatisfied with the performance of the Infiniti. What the BMW can do in comparison really only matters if you were engaged in some sort of retarded hotrodsportute race. How do they compare in terms of price?

Neither one are SUV's. Why do people keep calling them SUV's?

I'm with audisport on this one. According to Edmunds testing back in October of 2007 (http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/Comparos/articleId=122969), the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 is faster than the FX50 by a considerable margin: 4.7s 0-60, 13.4s @ 102.3mph 1/4 mile. The FX50 does beat the SRT8 in slalom and braking by a hair. Are the Infiniti's luxuries worth an additional $20k?

Scott,

This blog post makes zero sense. First you compare the FX with the X5 and the X5 loses. Then you say the X6 smokes the FX. Does BMW need two different vehicles to beat the FX? You guys make me laugh. You use every excuse in the book to make BMW look good.

What is the point of having a long-term FX when all you guys do is try and find a way to slam it?

BMW sold 266 X6's last month while Infiniti sold 1,417 FX's. Let me spell is out for you, the BMW X6 is a sales F-A-I-L-U-R-E.

"So are the Infiniti's dynamics disappointing or are the BMWs abilities so redamndiculous that this entire blog post is worthless?"

I wouldn't say that this blog is pointless; but let's be real-how many FX and BMW X owners go to the track or autoxing?

Having an SUV that offers above average performance but little practicality is little more than bragging rights for the owners. And there only a few people who care enough to listen...

Wow your bias against Japanese cars and pro German cars is amazing...
First the GT-R & R8; the 135i and STI/Evo and now the FX vs. X...
The FX50 was faster, handled better, and stopped better, but you manage to spin things by some lame excuse about rubber and X6, are you guys for real?
You take a different car (X6) and conclude and because it performed better on certain tires (read below) the car on hand will do the same?!
Why don't you put same tires and tire sizes(it unfair that the FX has summer tires, but its ok for the X6 to have different brand and wider tires?) on all 3 and let them battle it out?

That's what I was saying.. it's not much better than my handicapped CX-7 with undefeatable stability control, 235/60/18 tires and RS-A's at that, which are ancient in design and have poor grip. It's way slower but still, not impressing with those numbers.

Didn't the X6 sell out it's first year?

Good post!!!

Or for a lot less, one could pick up a 2004-2005 Subaru Forester 2.5XT 5MT and mod it (power, suspension, brakes, summer tires)... :o)

GMC Typhoons are cool, too!

And don't forget the 2004-2006 E53 BMW X5 4.8is! :o)

Audisport

yes a Jeep grand cherookee sport is faster, but they said, the fastest vehicle WEVE tested.

CaptainChaos

Ive owned everything from infiniti FXs to Q7 and alot of sporty trucks in between. The jeep grand cherokee is a very deciving car. I was one email away from purchasing one. The problem is first, the reliability gremlins are ridiculous, by 8 thousand miles, the person who i wanted to purcahse the car from had to change the brakes, tires, the car squeeled and rattled over EVERY bump, plastic paint chipping, and a blinking check engine sign. Its impossible to live with that car, its more unreliable then a ferrari or same year lamborghini. btw, if the fx had as agressive camber angles as the J GC srt8- it would murder it in the haqndling department.

I'm inclined to believe that automotive reporters are certainly biased towards BMW, but it would be interesting to know why. It's not just here at Edmunds but EVERYWHERE. Beemers are universally lauded as the benchmark by which all others are measured. There must be something to it, whether it's merely historical or they continue to set the standard remains subject to debate but people who have driven BMW's are always and forever jubilant about them. I have never driven one, but am very happy with our 2005 FX35!

Bimmers, not Beemers.

Beemers = motorcycles

"I'm inclined to believe that automotive reporters are certainly biased towards BMW, but it would be interesting to know why."

couldn't it be that they are just really really good?

I imagine BMWs are just really good.
Just really small for the price.

Have you guys been inside an X6? It is a very narrow car. Very narrow. Completely suprised me.
It's somewhere a little larger than a CR-V.

I thought the X6 had the torque vectoring AWD system similar to the Acura SH-awd system?

To be honest it seems as if the X6 is a direct competitor to the FX as they both are smaller, offer less utility and are more performance oriented vs the X5.