BIG is Better in the Infiniti QX56 4WD

Hands down, the Infiniti QX56 is about the best large luxury SUV’s on the market this year.   And for 2012, the very top of the line QX56 AWD 4WD loaded with just about all of the extras available confirmed  that boldly for me during a test drive week just recently. 

We recently drove a 7 passenger version in Liquid Platinum with the lush leather appointed Wheat interior and Tuscan Burl trim that was every bit as comfortable and rich as it looked. Following a week of driving the QX56 in Texas Hill Country that included a night at the Paramount Theater in Austin to a wonderful lunch at the Salt Lick Barbecue in Dripping Springs and an afternoon at the Westcave Cellars Winery in Round Mountain, Texas, I would buy this SUV. 

The 2012 Infiniti QX56 4WD is big and bold in what some have called a “dated” profile, but I found the touches of body rounding and external chrome work for 2012 added to its statement of boldness.  Inside it is big.  Let me repeat that, it is big.  Not only the front, but also the second row of seats with the standard captain’s chairs and console had room enough for people to move around each other easily.  The powered third row of seats were also comfortable for three adults and still left reasonable room in the back for luggage, groceries or whatever you needed to bring along.

The QX56 has more power than most of its competition. A standard 5.6 liter V8 engine rated at 400 horsepower and 413 lbs-ft of torque mated to a standard 7 speed automatic transmission with Adaptive Shift Control (ASC) and manual shift mode with Downshift Rev Matching (DRM) drives this almost 6,000 lb SUV quickly and nimbly in all driving conditions.  The QX56 drives much “smaller” than it actually is. At over 6 feet tall, I had no problem driving this SUV easily in all conditions.  Similarly, my wife who is just a bit more than 5 feet tall, had no trouble handling the QX56 in city or highway conditions.

Did we mention the Infiniti QX56 4WD is also equipped to tow boats or trailers?  It has 8,500 lbs of capacity in both 2WD and 4WD through an integrated Class IV tow hitch and 7-pin wiring system in the rear bumper.  The hitch is covered for a finished appearance when not in use.  A special tow mode revises the shift patterns to accommodate the tow when engaged.

Technology is a significant part of the drive experience in the Infiniti QX56.  And Infiniti does it with more “style” and effectiveness than most.

The QX56 includes the Infiniti Around View™ Monitor which is standard and the first in the luxury SUV segment to include it.  The cameras provide a virtual 360 degree view to assist in parking situations and also have a 180 degree RearView camera mode.

Safety technology includes Lane Departure Warning (LDW) and Lane Departure Prevention (LDP) systems. They use a small camera located just behind the windshield to detect lane markers ahead and calculate position and movement relative to those markers.  The LDW  warns the driver with a visual light and audible buzzer if drifting is detected.  If the driver fails to respond, the LDP system applies the brakes gently on the opposite side of the drift to correct.

A blind spot warning system signals the presence of a vehicle in the blind spot through a warning light. If the driver activates his signal and or tries to turn into the blind spot, the light blinks and an audible buzzer sounds. A newly available Blind Spot Intervention™ (BSI) system, first in the industry, provides selective braking if the vehicle tries to move into the adjacent lane with another vehicle present and helps the driver return the vehicle back into the lane of travel.

The Infiniti advanced Intelligent Cruise Control (Full Speed Range) uses a combination of laser sensors, throttle and brake actuators and the QX56 braking system to measure the distance to a vehicle ahead and automatically adjust the QX56’s speed to maintain a pre-selected following distance.  The technology package also includes Distance Control Assist (DCA) which prompts the driver to ease off the throttle and apply the brakes in slowing traffic ahead and includes a Forward Collision Warning (FCW) and front Pre-Crash Seat Belts.

The base price for the four wheel drive is $61,800. Loaded up as tested, including delivery, the price is $75,340.

If you are in the market for an exceptional large luxury SUV that meets all your family transportation and recreational needs, the QX56 is a very good choice.