2011 Infiniti QX56 reviews

The 2011 infinity QX56 is closely related to the Japanese Nissan Patrol unlike last years’ version which is based on the American  Nissan Armada pick-up truck. It is a dedicated AWD SUV that many see as the hollerback to the Land Cruiser from Toyota. This shift means a roomier interior and a better, longer list of electronic goodies. An interesting highlight is the Control System known as Hydraulic Body Motion  an option which combats body roll acceleration squat and break dive by use of interconnected shock-absorbers.

The more mature buyers will appreciate that the exterior of this version looks less blingy and instead there’s a more laid-back look which corporate buyers are likely to go for.

The QX remains the company’s largest SUV although this time round, Infinity is more geared towards better handling, greater fuel economy and refinement.

Upon popping-up the hood, one discovers a  V8, 5.6-liter engine, this time with VVTi (Variable Valve Timing intelligence) and direct injection which was not the case in the previous version. The output is 400hp above last year’s 320. An automatic seven speed  also replaces the five-speed, giving an increased fuel economy of 14% which admittedly is still not impressive when in comparison with competitors in the SUV field.

Despite its stocky weight of 6,000 pounds, the QX56 builds up from 0-60mph in 6.8 seconds. It has been noted that while fitted with the Control System known as Hydraulic Body Motion  cornering ability is significantly improved.

The interior does not disappoint either. Top-class craftsmanship and materials define its luxury. Present technological features make the driver almost unnecessary. On cargo capacity, the QX beats its rivals. The three row seat configuration has been retained. It has keyless ignition, an automatic dimming rearview mirror, sensors for front/rear parking , climate control with tri-zone , Bluetooth and  streaming audio, leather upholstery, a heated power steering wheel with tilt and telescoping technology ,navigation system which is voice activated and has real time weather and traffic, 2nd row captain’s chairs, wood interior trim, Bose sound system  with a 13-speakers (and USB jack, CD/MP3 player,  and auxiliary audio and video input).  There’s also an 8-inch screen display.

Some car buffs however say that the 2011 Infinity QX56 interior is too distended in terms of styling and that it looks more like that of a private jet rather than that of an SUV. Others claim that the 20-inch wheels compromise the ride therein, making this SUV unsuited for off-road excursions.

Critics have reported that the QX has steering problems. They say that the steering feels numb while others argue that this is a non-issue since the SUV is not meant for the race-track. The high tech safety features are also said to cause passiveness in the driver since any impending collisions are detected.

The Manufacturer’s  Retail Price is for the QX56 2WD is $56,700 USD and for the QX56 4WD is $59,800 USD . Notably, these prices are similar to those of the previous model despite the added content.