Infiniti M56 Review

When it comes to buying an upscale sedan, most folks simply get what everyone else is buying, usually one of the ubiquitous models offered by traditional European luxury brands. If you're someone who likes to look beyond the obvious choices and carefully weigh all your options, however, you'd be wise to add the Infiniti M56 to your short list.

That's because this midsize luxury sedan has matched, and in some ways bested, those traditional sport sedans from BMW and Mercedes-Benz at their own game. For starters, the Infiniti M56 has a brawny 5.6-liter V8 under the hood that makes many of its competitors look downright underpowered by comparison. Then there's the attractive passenger cabin lined with top-quality materials and chock-full of the latest cutting-edge gadgets. Add the car's handsome profile -- and the fact that you're not likely to see a half-dozen of them parked in front of your favorite swank eatery -- and you'll begin to see how not following the crowd has its rewards.

Current Infiniti M56
New for 2011, the Infiniti M56 is a midsize luxury sedan that's offered in a single trim level. What distinguishes the M56 from its V6-powered M37 sibling is the 5.6-liter V8 under its hood. This engine puts out an impressive 420 horsepower and 417 pound-feet of torque and comes mated to a seven-speed automatic transmission with manual-shift capability. Rear-wheel-drive is standard; an all-wheel-drive version dubbed the M56x is also available.

As you'd expect, the Infiniti M56 comes fitted with all the usual luxury car goodies including 18-inch alloy wheels, xenon headlights, foglights, rain-sensing windshield wipers, a sunroof, keyless entry/ignition, dual-zone automatic climate control, leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. Also standard are a rearview camera, navigation system and a 10-speaker Bose audio system with a CD/DVD player, an auxiliary audio jack, Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity, an iPod interface, satellite radio and a 9.3 gigabyte hard drive for digital music. Options include 20-inch alloy wheels, four-wheel steering, a power rear window sunshade, upgraded leather upholstery and interior trim, and a premium Bose surround-sound audio system. Also on offer are a whole host of electronic gizmos including adaptive headlights, adaptive cruise control, blind spot and forward collision warning systems, and a lane departure warning and prevention system.

While the Infiniti M56 is good-looking from the outside, it gets better when you slide behind the steering wheel. Stylish design accented with supple leather and genuine wood set the mood. Seating is comfortable for those up front, and the rear seat offers more room than you'll find in many competitors. The real treat here, though -- at least for folks who like to geek out on such things -- is the amazing array of electronic wizardry deployed here to do everything from helping you keep the car in your own lane to quieting the interior using active noise-canceling technology. As a bonus, it's also quite easy to use despite the abundance of buttons.

As for the experience of driving the Infiniti M56, let's just say that 420 hp will put a smile on the faces of even hard-core gearheads. In practice, however, this much engine is really overkill for most folks, making the V6-powered M37 model a better choice. Either way, the sport-tuned suspension produces excellent handling, though we've found the ride to be too firm with the Sport suspension tuning.