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The folks at Infiniti say the QX56 is “designed to provide
luxury on a grand scale,” and they have that right. This piece might
as well be subtitled, “Who needs an option list?” The 2007 Infiniti
QX56 can be had with or without four-wheel drive, and the power sliding tinted
glass sunroof, intelligent cruise control and DVD mobile entertainment systems
were options on our test vehicle, but that’s about it.
We used to say no manufacturer built real luxury cars except the Americans.
That is, no one built cars with all the comforts of home, including reclining
leather seats. Others often built expensive cars, but they weren’t expensive
because they had high-end stereos and state of the art climate control and
ultra soundproofing.
No, only the Americans built what was essentially a mobile living room, with
all the comforts. And, just maybe, they’re the only ones who still do
that. But they aren’t the only ones building luxury cars, or even luxury
SUVs.
The Infiniti QX56 has eight-passenger seating (or seven-passenger with captain’s
chairs in the second row), leather-appointed seating, navigation system, RearView
Monitor and Rear Proximity Sensor, Bluetooth® Hands-Free Phone System
and independent rear suspension with automatic load leveling.
Every QX56 also comes equipped with a standard 320 horsepower 5.6-liter DOHC
32-valve V8 engine mated to a refined five-speed automatic transmission. In
addition, 90 percent of the engine’s impressive torque is available
below 2,500 rpm, where you need it for towing or slow-speed off-road driving.
Along that line, all QX56 four-wheel drive models also have an advanced, All-Mode
4WD® full-time 4WD design with infinitely variable torque split (maximum
50:50 front/rear). Infiniti also says the QX56 is “designed to take
the complexity out of the buying decision.” In other words, the QX56
essentially comes in one well-equipped model, in a choice of rear-wheel or
four-wheel drive. The QX56 was also created to exceed the expectations of
full-size luxury SUV owners, which is no easy task.
Yet, at just over 17 feet long and with a wheelbase of over 123 inches, the
QX56 is large enough to have everything inside it needs, both for comfort
and for function. Towing capacity is 9,000 pounds (or only 8,900 pounds with
4WD). And, at a “base” price in the mid-$50,000 range, the QX56
already comes with just about everything you need. (Our test vehicle listed
at $57,560.)
Rated at 13 miles per gallon by the EPA for city driving and 18 mpg on the
highway, the QX56 exceeded both, though not by much.
The standard seating configuration includes fold-flat second row captain’s
chairs with armrests and a removable center console, but a fold-flat second
row bench seat is available to provide eight-passenger seating. The front
seats have 10-way power adjustments for the driver and eight-way power adjustment
for the passenger and both the front and second row seats are heated.
Third row seating is usually overlooked in SUV design, but the QX56 rear passenger
seats are elevated to provide a better forward view and help make conversation
easier with forward passengers, and the QX56 is the only vehicle in its class
with standard third-row passenger-side curtain air bag protection.
In short, the QX56 has everything you need. What could be easier? No major
decisions left, just write them a check.
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