Infiniti QX56 Review

2010 Infiniti QX56 SUV

The full-size luxury SUV category was created by domestic manufacturers, but import-brand manufacturers subsequently joined the fray. The Infiniti QX56 debuted a few years ago as part of the brand's push to diversify its lineup. Built at Nissan's Canton, Mississippi, plant, it shares its chassis and other major mechanicals with the Armada SUV and Titan pickup. As an Infiniti, however, it does feature its own unique styling elements and feature upgrades.

The Infiniti QX56 comes with a smooth V8 that offers ample power. SUV buyers crave roomy cabins and the QX56's fits the bill, with spacious second and third rows. Towing capacity is impressive, and the QX56 is also one of the better full-size luxury SUVs on the market in terms of acceleration and agile handling.

Still, Infiniti's big hauler falls shy of perfection in a couple of respects. Prior to a 2008 refresh that brought a new dash and nicer cabin materials, some aspects of its interior don't quite befit its luxury SUV status. Cargo capacity is less than most of its competitors. And thanks to that muscular V8, the QX is voracious at the gas pump. Another factor to consider is the QX56's love-it-or-hate-it styling -- a liability in a segment where appearances are everything.

Current Infiniti QX56

The Infiniti QX56 is a full-size SUV that seats seven or eight. Only one trim is offered, but that trim comes loaded with a wealth of standard features. Highlights include 18-inch alloys, xenon HID headlights, heated leather seats, a power-fold feature for the third-row seat, keyless startup, a navigation system, Bluetooth connectivity and a 10-speaker Bose stereo system with a six-disc in-dash CD changer. A rear-seat DVD entertainment system is optional, as is a second-row bench seat (in lieu of the standard captain's chairs) that allows the Infiniti to seat a total of eight passengers. A host of safety features are standard, including antilock disc brakes, stability control, full-length side curtain airbags, a reverse parking sensor and a rearview camera.

Under the hood is a 5.6-liter V8 capable of 320 horsepower and 393 pound-feet of torque; it's wedded to a five-speed automatic transmission. Rear-wheel- or four-wheel-drive models are offered. Acceleration is impressive and fuel economy, though dismal, is at least on par with others in the full-size segment.

The Infiniti QX56's cabin strives to impart the requisite luxury SUV opulence but ultimately misses the mark. Plush carpeting is underfoot, rich leather cradles your hind parts and gleaming bird's eye maple and aluminum accents abound. However, the interior is marred by some downmarket plastics, and when it comes to true luxury in full-size proportions, the competitively priced Mercedes-Benz GL450 offers a more convincing show.

Cargo capacity is another shortcoming. Though the QX56 offers a decent 20 cubic feet of luggage room with all three rows in use, maximum cargo capacity trails that of others in its class, coming in at just 97 cubic feet. By comparison, Cadillac's Escalade offers 109 cubic feet of cargo room, while the extended-length ESV version offers 137 cubes. More impressive is the QX56's standard rearview monitor. Infiniti was the first manufacturer to offer this technology in the full-size SUV segment, and it eases much of the pain associated with parking this behemoth.

In road tests, our editors have praised the Infiniti QX56 for its refined powertrain, smooth ride and family-friendly passenger quarters. However, many of its competitors offer a better mix of it all.

Used Infiniti QX56 Models

The QX56 debuted for the 2004 model year. Infiniti made only minor changes early on, including a 60/40-split for the third-row seat, a standard Bluetooth hands-free system and enhanced exterior mirrors for 2006. The biggest changes occurred for '08, when subtle styling changes and a significant interior redesign made it look and feel like a more upscale vehicle. Most notably, improved materials quality and a new instrument cluster design made sure the QX56's cabin no longer looked like it was just a flashy version of the one in the Nissan Titan pickup. That year, Infiniti also added to the standard equipment list and introduced improved audio and navigation systems and a larger screen for the rear entertainment system.

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* Edmunds.com maintains vehicle data as far back as 1990.