All too often the gap between the halo model and the volume trims of the same vehicle is enormous; it can be the difference between a flying unicorn and a three-legged pack mule. But that's not the case when you choose the Infiniti FX35 over an FX50.

On the surface, the V-6-powered FX35 certainly maintains the V-8 model's mythical-creature looks, including a view from the driver's seat that one staffer here described as "like that of a donk Corvette." More important, the 303-hp FX35 is still plenty fast — our 0-60 time of 6.7 seconds is just four tenths slower than Car and Driver's figure for the 2004 FX45 and three tenths slower than the 2008 Porsche Cayenne S we tested a few months back. The most noticeable sacrifice is in low-end torque, with the FX50 making 107 more pound-feet at 400 fewer revs.

The FX35 also retains the overall dynamics we loved from the FX50 back in April. The steering loses a touch of turn-in sharpness and cornering speeds come down a bit — both thanks to the high sidewalls of the 35's base 265/60R18 Bridgestones — but ride quality benefits greatly, making this the most forgiving FX yet. And while the 3.5-liter six may not sound like the 50's grizzly bear garage band, the VQ-series engine emits a pleasant hum that crescendos every time the smart seven-speed executes a rev-matched downshift.

However, the FX35 works best if you practice the same restraint with the options you already have with your cylinder count. Our test car came with all-wheel drive and two packages: Premium (climate-controlled seats, Bluetooth, iPod adapter, power column, auto-tilt mirrors, quilted leather, magnesium paddle shifters, aluminum pedals, roof rails, and a cargo cover) and Navigation (hard-drive nav, voice recognition, a 9.3-gig music hard drive, XM NavTraffic, a touch screen, and the very cool AroundView monitor), both of which brought the as-tested price up to $48,365 after destination. You'd still have to add a Deluxe Touring package (20-inch wheels, adaptive headlights, and hand-stained maple trim) to gather up all the standard features of the FX50, and that takes the FX35 above $50,000 and within six grand of its big brother. Pedants will note that even then, you're missing an inch of wheel diameter, a few chrome bits, and the Sport package.

And what about the all-important fuel economy gains? With the FX, denying yourself the burly V-8 won't significantly alleviate your gas-pump penalty. Despite weighing 275 fewer pounds, the FX35 jogs just one (highway) or two (city) additional miles on each gallon of gas. With the two FX models driving so similarly, it'll be interesting to see how they leave dealerships. A base V-6 will be a fantastic performance-crossover bargain at just over $40,000, while the FX50 will continue to defy gravity and physics like no other family hauler. But that middle ground, well, that's going to be pretty cloudy.