The forgotten Japanese V8 SUV that held its own against BMW and Porsche

Performance SUVsare fully ingrained in today's culture, with nearly every luxury brand offering a high-horsepower model or variant in its lineup. Prices are generally outrageously high for most of these models, which might be expected for those with 600-odd horsepower, like theBMW X5 M Competition, for example.

Of course, not all new performance SUVs are reliable. Many brands and buyers are so focused on their models' speed and power that they tend to put longevity on the back burner. But there's one reliable performance-oriented luxury SUV that seems to have been forgotten today: theInfiniti FX50.

How Porsche And BMW Built The Performance SUV Segment The FX50 Was Born Into

Luxury performance SUVsdidn't appear out of thin air. Before there were dozens of new performance SUVs to choose from, there were none. To understand where the Infiniti FX50 stood in its market when new, let's discuss how it came to be in the first place. The rise of the SUV as we know it began with theJeep Wagoneerin the 1960s, then theCherokeein the 80s and 90s. They were largely utilitarian — being rugged ladder-frame people movers — and performance was the last aspect considered.

More luxurious models, like the Mercedes-Benz G-Class of the 80s, or the Land Cruiser-based Lexus LX of the late 90s, began to grab buyers' attention. However, combining luxury with performance wouldn't come until later, when automakers began leaving ladder frames behind in favor of more car-like SUV platforms.

Finally, we reach the beginnings of the luxury performance SUV with models like the Porsche Cayenne. Its first generation was sold for the 2003 model year through 2010, having undergone a single facelift in the middle. Its first model years launched with a 4.5-liter V8 that made 340 horsepower when naturally aspirated, or 450 hp with twin turbochargers. By the end of its first generation, buyers could choose a 4.8-liter V8 that made 385–405 hp, or 500–550 hp from a twin-turbo version.

Beating Porsche to the punch was actually the BMW X5, which debuted for the 2000 model year. It launched with a 4.4-liter naturally aspirated V8 that made 282 hp, but a few years later, in 2004, buyers could choose a 4.8-liter V8 that made 355 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque.

Enter: The Infiniti FX50

As time moved on, the automotive industry caught onto the whole "performance" aspect of the luxury SUV market. More brands realized how these models could be desirable to more people with varying needs, since they meet family, comfort, and performance requirements all at the same time. In 2009, Infiniti joined the segment with the FX50.

A 390-hp V8 That Out-Muscled Both The X5 And Cayenne At Launch

Under the hood is an aggressively loud 5.0-liter naturally aspirated V8 (dubbed the VK50VE) that makes 390 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque. Its impressive power is pushed through a seven-speed automatic transmission to feed its rear-biased all-wheel drive system, resulting in an estimated 5.2-second 0-60 mph sprint before reaching a governed top speed of 155 mph.

It's noticeably faster than the FX's previous iteration, the FX45, which came with 320 hp from its 4.5L V8. On that note, the FX50's 5.0L engine carried on when Infiniti rebranded the model to the QX70 for the 2014 model year, then dropped the engine from its lineup from 2015 onward.

GT-R Paddle Shifters And German-Beating Grip Made It A Sleeper Performance SUV

According to multiple sources of independent testing, including The Truth About Cars and MotorTrend, the FX50 held its ground against German rivals via high horsepower and a grippy AWD system that sends more power to the rear wheels for explosive launches.

Some drivers claim its seven-speed transmission changes gears too quickly, quoting the SUV's tendency to reach fifth gear before reaching 30 mph. However, its paddle shifters were borrowed directly from the Nissan GT-R, and they easily negate this gripe by allowing the driver to hold a gear until 7,000 rpm.

With GT-R-borrowed paddle shifters and grip that embarrassed German rivals on the track, the FX50 should have been a hit. So why did barely 12,000 ever sell worldwide?

Why Didn't Infiniti Sell More FX50s?

Despite its performance and high-end interior being combined with styling that still looks great today, the FX50 simply didn't sell well. Infiniti never publicly released its official production numbers for the FX50, but most estimates land around 12,000 units around the world. The SUV was certainly compelling, but its fuel economy wasn't great (earning just 16 combined miles per gallon, according to the EPA). It actually matches the BMW X5 4.8's fuel economy, and beats the Porsche Cayenne S and Turbo trims from 2009, though.

The FX50 lacked the same cargo capacity as rivals like the X5, since its trunk could hold 24.8 cubic feet of cargo, and folding the rear seats down only expanded that to 62 cubic feet.

Specs aside, the FX50's timing wasn't great. Its launch aligned with the financial recession, meaning many buyers couldn't afford to fork over $58,400 in 2009, which comes out to about $91,225 in today's money. Nissan's reputation was slipping. Infiniti kept fighting to claw its way back, but the FX50 didn't quite have the same ring to it as notable German rivals with deeper brand history.

Infiniti's Performance SUV Is Worth Remembering

There aren't many FX50s around today, since there weren't many to begin with. That said, this rare luxury sports SUV is worth keeping an eye out for. Since the brand's introduction in 1989 with the V8-powered Q45 sedan, Infiniti has offered a handful of inventive, stylish, reliable, and otherwise plain cool cars – the FX50 remains one of the boldest models in the brand's historical lineup. It's more powerful and more practical than the transformative G37 coupe, it maintains a good reliability record that we'll discuss further in the next section, and its styling still stands out in regular traffic.

The FX50 Is Relatively Reliable

Since there were never that many FX50s on the road, there isn't as much data as we'd like to judge the car's reliability. However, there are enough examples to get a good idea. Firstly, the VK50VE itself is widely regarded as a solid engine that needs minimal maintenance to reach high mileage.

To get more specific, we can turn to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Car Complaints to read about real owners' experiences. Lo and behold, there aren't many to speak about. There's only one recall that affects the 2011 FX (the NHTSA doesn't specify if it affects the FX50 or another FX variant) that has to do with a weak bolt connecting the oil cooler on a variety of Nissan and Infiniti models. As for customer complaints, the 2011 model year has a couple that pertain to the sunroof drain leaking and the transmission shifting erroneously between the second and third gears.

Another authoritative source is RepairPal, which claims the FX50 will cost owners an estimated $755 per year in maintenance and repairs. The most expensive repairs it lists include an engine oil cooler replacement for around $1,337 (although a recall should have taken care of that issue), replacing a shock or strut could cost between $2,432 and $2,602, and an exhaust manifold gasket replacement could cost between $1,833 and $2,609.

At the end of the day, we wouldn't say any of those repairs are common on the FX50. There are hardly any customer complaints logged with any authoritative source, and the powertrain itself has a good history.

They're Fairly Affordable In Today's Used Market

If the FX50's performance, styling, and reliability haven't convinced you to check it out, perhaps its price will draw you in. Since there aren't many on the used market, it could be tough tracking one down. On that note, it also makes tracking down average values a little more difficult. Kelley Blue Book's data suggests the 2009 model year's fair purchase price rests at $7,950. The pre-facelift models tend to remain around the $10k mark, while post-facelift (MY2012 and MY2013) examples are valued at $14k–$15k.

KBB offers some good insights into national averages, but real listings are hard to come by.

If You Can Find One, Jump On The Opportunity

The FX50 is one of Infiniti's boldest and most interesting models the brand has ever offered, so it's a shame so few sold when it was available. An expensive new performance SUV being introduced at the height of the recession wasn't the best move on Infiniti's part. Nevertheless, there are some on the used market that we feel would make for a great used car today. Once you track down a clean example, don't let it go.

Sources: Infiniti, NHTSA, Car Complaints, Kelley Blue Book, RepairPal, EPA