Definitely a step above the American and Axis...
They seem to get good reviews for not looking like a budget rifle, well made.
I have a pair of it's siblings (FN owns Winchester and Browning) the Browning AB3. XPR and AB3 use the same 3 lug Japanese made bolt/receiver but have some other minor differences. The XPR uses a savage style barrel nut, non-traditional recoil lug (embedded in the stock), single stack plastic mags while the AB3 uses a traditional recoil washer and screwed on barrel, double stack metal/plastic mags for 1 more capacity, and comes factory bedded.
The synthetic stocks are quite rigid, the walnut is plain but functional if you want wood. The XPR/AB3 won't look or feel like the other Budget offerings, and the only rifle in the same price range I would put ahead of them are the Howa/Vanguard rifles.