Infiniti 2004 QX56
Infiniti's 2004 QX56 knows its limits but still takes luxury to the extreme, from a powered rear gate to heated leather seats to a rear-view camera.
September 1, 2004
Nobody gets it right every time. The
key to success is realizing when you're doing something wrong and then correcting it. But doing
that requires the ability to see yourself as you are, not as you'd like to be, and to subject
yourself to brutal self-criticism. That is what's been going on at Infiniti for a couple of years,
and the results are pretty amazing. Case in point: the brandnew QX56. As late as 2003, Infiniti's
top-line SUV, the QX4, was a flashier version of the Nissan Pathfinder. The QX4 fell in a black
hole physically, not quite big enough to compete with the Lexus LX470, the Lincoln Navigator or the
Cadillac Escalade ESV, and not having quite enough high performance to run with the Mercedes-Benz
M-series or the BMW X-series. So, Infiniti took a good, hard look in the mirror and came up with
the solution - the QX56, a full-size, premium SUV that can go wheel to wheel with the biggest, most
luxurious offerings on the road.
The QX56 definitely delivers luxury, from the heated leather bucket seats that are standard for the first and second row of seats, to the powered rear gate that opens and closes at the touch of a button or key fob. The Infiniti design team has done a nifty job of increasing the sense of overall space inside the QX56's cabin with small touches like oversized door handles and concave door facings, and more obvious elements like the generous legroom for the second-row passengers.
As far as suggested
improvements go, the A- and D-pillars are far too large and block too much of the driver's
visibility. It's no big trick to shrink these for improved vision and safety. And the
forward between-seat console needs revamping so both the driver and passenger have access to it, instead of flipping open and blocking the passenger's access.
One item that doesn't need improvement is the rear-view camera with in-dash monitor. The camera is mounted on the rear gate and activates when the transmission is shifted to reverse. The navigation display becomes a video monitor, showing you exactly what's behind the vehicle as you back up. This unit is a huge safety enhancement, but you should still look behind you before backing up.
A full-sized SUV needs full-sized power, and the 5.6L V8 under the QX56's hood delivers. With 315 hp, there's enough acceleration to easily get on the highway, and 390 pounds/feet of torque means that pulling even a fully loaded boat and trailer up a steep launch ramp or onto a busy interstate is a breeze. The fuel economy is, as expected, terrible - 13 city/18 highway. But, if you can afford a $50,000 SUV, you can probably afford paying a little extra for gas to fill the tank.
Power alone doesn't make for a qual-ity driving experience, but it's a good start. The QX56 adds an electronic throttle for improved responsiveness, which, in addition to its silky smooth five-speed automatic transmission and auto-leveling independent rear suspension, makes it a pleasure to drive. The fully boxed frame isn't crazy about bumpy roads - the QX56 tends to wander in such conditions.
Its body has a standard SUV box shape, but the arc of the rear doors and windows and the split roof rack fool you into seeing a distinct cabin/cargo dichotomy. Combined with a drastically foreshortened hood, this trompe l'oeil styling makes the QX56 stand out from everything else on the road.
It's too early to give the QX56 an unqualified thumbs-up, but Infiniti has already proved that it's going to seriously compete for the hearts and wallets of buyers of full-size, luxury SUVs.
The QX56 definitely delivers luxury, from the heated leather bucket seats that are standard for the first and second row of seats, to the powered rear gate that opens and closes at the touch of a button or key fob. The Infiniti design team has done a nifty job of increasing the sense of overall space inside the QX56's cabin with small touches like oversized door handles and concave door facings, and more obvious elements like the generous legroom for the second-row passengers.
As far as suggested
improvements go, the A- and D-pillars are far too large and block too much of the driver's
visibility. It's no big trick to shrink these for improved vision and safety. And the
forward between-seat console needs revamping so both the driver and passenger have access to it, instead of flipping open and blocking the passenger's access.
One item that doesn't need improvement is the rear-view camera with in-dash monitor. The camera is mounted on the rear gate and activates when the transmission is shifted to reverse. The navigation display becomes a video monitor, showing you exactly what's behind the vehicle as you back up. This unit is a huge safety enhancement, but you should still look behind you before backing up.
A full-sized SUV needs full-sized power, and the 5.6L V8 under the QX56's hood delivers. With 315 hp, there's enough acceleration to easily get on the highway, and 390 pounds/feet of torque means that pulling even a fully loaded boat and trailer up a steep launch ramp or onto a busy interstate is a breeze. The fuel economy is, as expected, terrible - 13 city/18 highway. But, if you can afford a $50,000 SUV, you can probably afford paying a little extra for gas to fill the tank.
Power alone doesn't make for a qual-ity driving experience, but it's a good start. The QX56 adds an electronic throttle for improved responsiveness, which, in addition to its silky smooth five-speed automatic transmission and auto-leveling independent rear suspension, makes it a pleasure to drive. The fully boxed frame isn't crazy about bumpy roads - the QX56 tends to wander in such conditions.
Its body has a standard SUV box shape, but the arc of the rear doors and windows and the split roof rack fool you into seeing a distinct cabin/cargo dichotomy. Combined with a drastically foreshortened hood, this trompe l'oeil styling makes the QX56 stand out from everything else on the road.
It's too early to give the QX56 an unqualified thumbs-up, but Infiniti has already proved that it's going to seriously compete for the hearts and wallets of buyers of full-size, luxury SUVs.
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Infiniti 2004 QX56: Infiniti's 2004 QX56 knows its limits but still takes luxury to the extreme, from a powered rear gate to heated leather seats to a rear-view camera.
