It’s an impressive feat: The completely redesigned 2011 Infiniti QX56 offers 25 percent more horsepower, 10 percent better fuel efficiency and a new, even stouter body-on-frame chassis than the 2010 model—yet it it starts with exactly the same sticker price, a cool $56,700.
And as is obvious from the QX56′s introduction at April’s New York International Auto Show, that would be money well spent by anyone who want the benefits of “a true five-star travel experience” and eight-passenger seating.
The full-size SUV delivers on that promise with a fully buttoned-down interior that includes a full-size complement of cutting-edge infotainment. Bose 13-speaker premium sound system with XM Satellite Radio and a USB port? Check. Hard-drive-based navigation system? Check. Eight-inch color touch-screen display to control/monitor key vehicle functions? Check. Available DVD video system with dual seven-inch monitors, capable of displaying video from two different sources at the same time? Check.
And marking a first on the Infiniti is an optional hydraulic body-motion control system that helps smooth out the curves for a more comfortable ride. In fact, according to the automaker, the QX56 has less body roll than a BMW 5 Series.
But despite all these touches, there’s no doubt that this is a “real” SUV, not a crossover. The ’11 QX56 has now moved from the already rock-solid platform that underpinned the Nissan Armada SUV to the even more robust setup found beneath the Nissan Patrol. That product, not available in the U.S., is tough enough to serve as a vehicle in military service, Infiniti of Norwood said. It counts off-road-capable performers like the Land Rover Discovery as its rivals.
A big 5.6-liter V8, the same found in the Infiniti M56, provides the power here, making 400 hp and helping the QX56 achieve an 8,500-lb tow rating. Mated to one of the automaker’s advanced seven-speed automatics, the powerplant is also good for an estimated EPA highway rating of 20 mpg. And, of course, both two- and four-wheel-drive models are available.
With features like these and more, the 2011 Infiniti QX56 may be one of the last of the full-size, full-luxury SUVs on the market, but it will also be one of the best when it goes on sale some time this summer.
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