New Car Review of the 2004 Infinit FX35/45 Mid-Size Sport Utility Vehicle.

Description: Mid-Size SUV
Base MSRP Range: $34,350-$44,375
Invoice Price Range: $31,098-$40,144

The two new sport-utility vehicles from Infiniti look sleek with aerodynamic lines and a sporty stance where wheels push to corners, leaving scant overhangs front and rear and lots of space between to emphasize the stretched wheelbase.

Forget boxy parameters of a typical two-box SUV design because these vehicles, riding on the car-based Nissan FM platform that also underpins the G35 coupe and sedan, seem more akin to slinky sports cars than lumbering SUV hulks.

They act more like sports cars too, with sporty suspension settings and high-tech electronic controls like VDC with TCS. And both can run effortlessly in the fast line with the two worthy powertrains. FX35 uses the G35 coupe's 3.5-liter V6 with 280 hp, and FX45 totes a version of the 4.5-liter V8 off Q45 and M45 but tuned to 315 hp. Both plants include a five-speed electronic automatic transmission with manual shift mode.

FX35 comes with either RWD or AWD traction, while the FX45 uses the AWD system exclusively. The AWD equipment employs an electromagnetic clutch and normally divides engine torque half and half between front and rear wheels, although it's an intelligent system that can vary the split as needed, even sending all power to rear wheels as road conditions warrant.

Both versions carry a cockpit designed for the hands-on kind of driver with sporty front buckets, trimwork in genuine aluminum and multiple accessory options, such as a rearview video monitor, tire pressure monitoring system and intelligent cruise control. New options for 2004 FX models extend to aluminum roof rails and huge 20-inch chrome-plated wheels.