Road Test: Infiniti FX 5.0 V8 S 5dr Auto

Most people who buy the Infiniti FX do so because of how it looks. So for the 2012 FX - the first time it has been refreshed since its 2008 launch - Infiniti has adhered to the adage of not repairing what was not worthy of repair.

To the untrained eye, it looks identical. But steady your aim, because there is change; the front has been subtly reshaped to mirror the Essence concept car (new bumper, new fog lights), you get two new paint finishes, a new 20in alloy wheel option, and the needles on the dials have been switched from red to white. Gasp!

Aside from this, everything remains the same. So opt for the 5.0-litre V8, and you're still looking at an indecently fast SUV with squat proportions and a focused drive - it shares a platform with the Nissan 370Z. It's rare too; just a few hundred have been sold. But while it might have a great level of standard kit over its Teutonic competitors, its premium aspirations still fall a little short in the cabin. And the boot is half the size of a Range Rover's.

So the FX remains a decent, left-field alternative to the usual luxury SUV fodder. But you might feel happier with, erm, the usual luxury SUV fodder.