For those who crave a large, luxurious SUV, there's a mere few vehicles comparably sized and priced with Infiniti's QX56.
Buyers of vehicles like the Infiniti QX56 are rewarded with luxurious amenities, a commanding view of the road, and a cabin that can accommodate lots of people and cargo.
Entering its fifth year in production, the
2008 Infiniti QX56 receives its first major revision. Infiniti's efforts to freshen its QX56 include an extensively revised exterior and interior.
Outside, the 2008 QX56 features new front and rear fascias, new front fog lamps, a revised one-piece roof rack, and new standard 20-inch chrome wheels.
The grille and jeweled headlamp assemblies are nicely proportioned, and I like the revisions to the rear as well. The QX56 does make a nice impression, but when viewed from the side, I don't see much separation from the vehicle it's based on, the Nissan Armada.
Inside, the new QX56 adds a power-folding third-row 60/40 split seat, new illuminated steering wheel controls, pleasing designs and colors for the instrument cluster, and new wood grain trim.
New standard equipment includes a highline audio system with 9.5-gigabyte Music Box hard drive and compact flash slot for playing MP3 files.
Now optional is an XM NavTraffic system with real-time traffic information (requires active XM satellite radio subscription), working in concert with the standard Infiniti Navigation System (hard drive-based) to display current traffic conditions.
I especially enjoyed using that feature while commuting to and from work and when driving to downtown Chicago. The touch screen nav is easy to operate, and I also appreciated the backup camera's image (standard equipment) that appeared on the screen whenever the gear selector was placed in reverse.
Another pleasure was afforded thanks to QX56's standard keyless operation. I wonder why more manufacturers don't include this handy feature.
The QX56's cabin is roomy, comfortable and luxuriously appointed. The standard seating configuration includes fold-flat second-row captain's chairs with integrated armrests and a removable second-row center console.
A fold-flat second-row bench seat is also available, providing QX56 with 8-passenger seating. There's a decent-sized area for cargo behind the third-row seats, but for larger items you'll need to fold those seats down. A rear-seat DVD entertainment system is optional.
The QX56 features a solid body-over-frame construction and it retains its powerful, standard 5.6-liter V-8 engine and smooth-shifting five-speed automatic transmission. The V-8 delivers 320 horsepower and 393 pound-feet of torque. The QX56 can tow up to 9,000 pounds.
The QX56 can be had as a two-wheel drive (2WD) (rear-drive) or 4WD (four-wheel drive). Four-wheel drive models feature Infiniti's All-Mode 4WD system with 2WD/4HI/4LO modes and an electronically controlled part-time transfer case with low gear.
The QX56's All-Mode 4WD system is designed to distribute torque to all four wheels instantly when needed.
Optional on QX56 is Infiniti's advanced Intelligent Cruise Control (ICC), which uses laser sensors and automatically adjusts speed to maintain a pre-selected following distance.
While the QX56 is a heavy vehicle (4WD at 5,903 pounds, 2WD at 5,597 pounds), its large V-8 is plenty capable and power comes in quickly. However, QX56 does undoubtedly have a thirst for fuel. The 4WD model is rated at 12/17 mpg city/highway while the 2WD model is only slightly better at 12/18.
The ride is very smooth, luxuriously quiet, and confident. Because of its height, there is some body roll when making changes in direction at speeds, but not to the point of concern.
Save for the fuel economy and occasional difficulty in finding large enough street parking spaces, I thoroughly enjoyed the week I spent behind the wheel of the 2008 Infiniti QX56.
2008 Infiniti QX56
Engine: 5.6-liter (320 hp) V-8
Transmission: 5-speed automatic
Fuel economy: 12 city/18 highway
Base price: $52,250
Web site: www.infiniti.com