2007 Infiniti QX56

by Rebecca Antioco -04/2007

When the QX56 made its debut for the 2004 model year, Infiniti referred to its mega-SUV as “The full-size embodiment of progressive thinking.” I’m not sure how “progressive thinking” a vehicle that gets 13 miles to the gallon in the city really is in these fuel-conscious times, but with its impressive handling and unique styling, QX56 competes well with segment-dominating Cadillac Escalade and Lincoln Navigator, and is one impressive SUV.

QX56 is available in two well-equipped models (two- or four-wheel drive), with a few option packages available, including your choice of XM or Sirius satellite radio ($350), sunroof ($1300) and a rear-seat entertainment system ($1600). Both models come with a powerful 320-horsepower V-8 engine.

If you’ve seen the Nissan Armada on the road, you’ll recognize its distinctive profile on the QX56. Distinguishing it from the Armada is the huge chrome grille with Infiniti’s signature horizontal theme, and chrome accents elsewhere. Upfront, the short, blunt nose gives way to a nicely sloped windshield. Inexplicably, right above the spot where the third row of seats begins, there is a slight upturn in the roofline that makes the back end look like an afterthought, as if it was thrown on after the rest of the vehicle was complete. A passenger jokingly asked whether that portion of the car was fixed to the rest, or if there was a special “ejector button” the driver could push to jettison the third row, if need be. I don’t mind the unique styling, but it could be a polarizing factor on an otherwise outstanding full-size luxury SUV.

Inside, standard luxury features abound, including power everything, Bluetooth hands-free system, Infiniti navigation system, a rear-view monitor, 12 cupholders and seating for seven (eight with the no-charge optional second-row bench seat to replace the captain’s chairs). My four-wheel drive tester featured attractive willow leather with blonde apaya wood and aluminium trim. With the vehicle, I was the unofficial driver for a group of us on a recent college-reunion trip. We frequently traveled with the vehicle at full passenger capacity, and while second-row passengers big and small commented on the luxury, roominess and comfort of the QX, third row passengers were a bit less enthusiastic. With three in that last row, accommodations are tight, even for short trips; two passengers may fare better. The good news is, even with all three rows in use, there is a respectable 20 cubic feet of cargo room behind the third bench.

The standard navigation system got a lot of use on this trip, taking me from Dallas to Austin to the small towns of New Braunfels and Montalba, Tex., and back again. Whether guiding us from city to city or helping us find destinations in small towns, the system always steered us in the right direction and was simple to operate.

On the road, the QX56 offers surprisingly carlike handling and driving characteristics. Despite its 5600-pound weight, it has an impressive zero-to-60 time of 7.3 seconds, merging easily and smoothly into freeway traffic, and almost earning me a citation for getting up to speed (and then some) a little more quickly than I realized.

The five-speed automatic transmission is smooth, shifting seamlessly through the gears, even under heavy acceleration or slowing. Normally, I’m not a fan of land-yachts such as these, finding them bulky to drive and difficult to control. Not so with the QX56. The only time I registered the enormity of the vehicle was while trying to park and during cornering, where there is a moderate amount of lean.

The list of standard safety features for both occupant protection and accident avoidance is long and includes: advanced airbag system, driver and passenger supplemental side-impact airbags, roof-mounted curtain air bags with rollover sensor for side-impact and rollover protection for occupants in all three rows, traction control, dynamic stability control, brake assist, electronic brake force distribution, four-wheel anti-lock braking system and tire-pressure monitoring system. From Infiniti’s website, you can even download a list of vehicle-specific recommended child-safety seats and installation tips (rear-facing seats should be installed in the second-row only). The QX56 received four out of five stars for driver protection and five stars for passenger protection in frontal crash tests performed by the NHTSA. Both two- and four-wheel drive models earned a three-star rollover rating.

There’s not a whole lot to dislike about the QX56. The packaging may not be as attractive to some as that of the similarly priced Cadillac Escalade or Mercedes Benz GL450, but it’s hard to argue with the Infiniti’s practicality for those needing three usable rows of seating and wanting a little luxury. If I could afford the sticker price — and a bigger garage — you might find the QX56 parked at my house.