Infiniti FX45 Powertrain

Second Place: Infiniti FX45 cont...
At the racetrack, all this go and whoa translated into a 1:11 lap time, or two and three seconds better than the BMW and Cadillac, respectively. That's huge. The Infiniti made time where the others couldn't because it resisted the understeer that plagued the other two, and, as a result, the driver was allowed to go to wide-open throttle sooner. Rather than waiting for traction at the front, the FX maintained it throughout, and we were able to exploit the all-wheel drive sooner, pulling the vehicle out of the corners.

In the photos, you'll notice a difference in the understeering BMW and Cadillac as compared with the more stable Infiniti and Porsche. The FX45 uses clutch-pack-style all-wheel drive (as all four do to some degree), but the software is set up differently. Unlike with the X5 and SRX, we could feel the FX's front tires biting at the wet pavement under full throttle, allowing it to steer rather than push around a corner. This performance-software rationale translates into more controlled driving performance.

In a world of performance claims, the Infiniti FX45 lives up to the promises it makes. It goes, stops, and corners like a competent sport sedan, though its organic/mechanical styling isn't for everyone. Call it what you will, this is truly a performance-biased sport/utility. And despite a slightly confining cabin, it'll still hold far more stuff behind the seats than the BMW and Porsche. In this performance-weighted comparison, there's only one better.