2009 Infiniti FX50: Limited Rear Visibility

Just another Nissan/Infiniti with terrible visibility. Unfortunately, others seem like they're trying to catch up.

I've noticed with Caroline's posts that she doesn't like a LOT of things about otherwise stellar cars. Well, Caroline, there's always your Corolla. But isn't there the 360 view feature on the dash?

I've said it before. This is getting to be quite a large problem with a lot of vehicles. Vehicles from just a few years ago, had much better visibility.

"This is getting to be quite a large problem with a lot of vehicles. Vehicles from just a few years ago, had much better visibility."

It has certainly been a trend over the last few years. I didn't like it when it started, and still don't. It used to be that the few cars with poor rear visibility had an excuse -- they were low slung mid-engine exotic cars from Italy or somewhere. Now, it seems to be considered cool to have a low glass to metal ratio on the sides of a vehicle.

I don't think the window's too small. And the shape is right, with the pointy end down low.

The problems are the thickness of the C-pillar (perpendicular to the glass - not its width), and the headrests.

Well, all Infiniti's sound amazing, so that makes up for it, right?

Most of the time, the stylish cars end up having some sort of practical issue: with the FX, it's low cargo volume as well as low visibility.

Does the FX have a blind-spot monitor?

The small rear window is less of the problem than the combination of nanny state safety regulations and unimaginative design.

The headrests obstruct the gigantic rear window my Forester too.

Is something wrong with your FX?
I mean Inifniti usually have ultra sensitive throttle. I know my FX45 has an instant reaction so did the G35x I got as a loaner. Actually its been mentioned in almost every test I remember.

From your FX45 test: " "right now" response when you lean into the throttle."

Also nothing in your FX50 test, and as for not being sporty, you guys say otherwise:
"FX50 snakes through the slalom course like a true AWD sport wagon at 63.3 mph...On the skid pad, the FX50 proves more predictable and shows amazing grip at 0.85g before it begins to oversteer again, which is highly unusual for an AWD vehicle (although we like that). Despite rollin' on 21s, the FX50's ride is quite good, although the interior resounds with a low-frequency boom over sharp seams in the pavement.
"

About the G35, you guys said:

"The G's five-speed tranny not only responds quickest to the throttle, but also has the sharpest, most aggressive gearchanges"

So either you FX isn't running right, or most of you just hating it...

if you set your BIG side mirrors properly then you can see very well when changing lanes.

"But it's a big "crossover" that's not even all that sporty despite its intentions what with slow throttle response, heavy steering wheel and fat-suit bulkiness. So I can't see or maneuver quickly? Pass."

Ahmm the FX handles as well as the x6 and can keep up with the Porsche truck.

slow throttle response? maybe if you leave it in D, but put it in DS and there is no way you can call that throttle response "slow"

heavy steering feel? well hello...the car weighs over 4000pounds!!!

Gosh....seriously without sounding sexist here, but some women really dont know anything about cars.

"Does the FX have a blind-spot monitor?"

nope it doesnt, but in my opinion it doesnt need one either.

i love my fx50s.

dont listen to carolina pardilla guys, she probably loves pink colored cars!

I agree with dubai. Caroline, I hope you at least had the decency to cover your head this morning. And be fair, that burka probably obstructs your visibility in every car you drive.
;)

I agree that is one enormous blind spot. And it would ne nice if those rear head rests could fold down when not in use, like they do in some Mercedes, I think. I usually removed the rear head rests completely from my vehicles when my kids were smaller and in car seats. Now they're in big kid booster seats and I'm still getting using to seeing those little noggins bobbing around in my rear view mirror.

"Gosh....seriously without sounding sexist here, but some women really dont know anything about cars. "

"dont listen to carolina pardilla guys, she probably loves pink colored cars!"

Trying not to sound sexist? Well you failed at that. Try to be a little more mature, eh?

Oh yah, about the car....I've never been a fan of the new trend of poor visibility. Say what you like about blind spot sensors and mirror adjustment, but they'll never cut it imo. Then again, I also despise everything the FX50 stands for, so maybe I'm biased wrt this particular vehicle.

Visibility has been suffering in many cars for the last couple of years. C & D pillars are getting swoopier with less glass, have you seen the back of the new Matrix, and belt lines are being raised, thank you Chrysler 300, all in the name of styling. It's a pain.

Remember when Hondas had low dashes and cowls. With pedestrian safety standards, hood are rising and now Honda has been beefing up dashboard height as well.

Cameras and sensors will never be the same as plain old good visibility.

Maybe more cars should be equipped with rear head restraints that you can lower from the drivers seat when no one is seated there.

My wife, friends and I noticed the same thing when sitting in the FX at the auto show. You could hide a semi in that blind spot.

almost everyone i've talked to that has an FX says they love it but it does have terrible visibility. still, they say it makes it feel more like a sports car. i always wanted one until i went and checked one while my M45 was getting a check up. love it but the back seat has very little legroom compared to the M45 and even G37 sedan.

infinitis are very fast and sporty by nature. the M45 feels like it sheds a few hundred pounds and inches off of it when i throw it into a corner. amazed at how well their vehicles handle.

Wow, I love you guys, too.

Slow throttle response? Doesn't sound right. Didn't a previous tester write that he drove around with the FX50 in snow mode because the throttle was too touchy? Maybe the FX50 is still in snow mode?

@dubaizen: wow, are you serious? Great, you love your FX50s, that has zero to do with Caroline's knowledge.

Surely you've been reading the LT Blog for awhile: not everyone likes every car, that's kind of the point. There's disagreeing with the author and there's...what you did.

@mikeolan: You didn't really just write that did you? Unbelievable.

Caroline is nuts. This crossover is not at all sporty??? slow throttle responce? The throttle responce is actually more responsive then in my old 335i, q7 3.6, 750i and a lot of other cars that ive driven. The old Fx's throttle responce was so touchy almost every single magazine wrte about it. I just dont see how this isnt sporty, especially when we are talking crossovers.

@CommonSense01: This is in line with other Caroline comments, complaining about the long-term Altima's suspension being 'too soft,' (Compared to a Corolla?) , and the same complaint about the long-term Mitsubishi Outlander.