This 2013 Infiniti QX56 is a monstrosity and I mean that both in a positive and negative way. Positive because I like big trucks (love the Chevrolet Suburban for example), negative because it’s so big…
The V8, all 400 hp of it, is smooth as is the auto transmission. Shifts are imperceptible, and get this thing up above 3,500 rpm and there’s actually some grunt. Well, at least inline with other trucks weighing in at 5,50 big ones.
There’s really nothing you could do with the QX that you couldn’t also do with the JX35 except tow a bunch more with this. It will lug around 8,500 pounds according to the Infiniti site. If, say, you have a horse trailer or a boat or classic/race car, this would be a fine, cushy tow vehicle.
This vehicle is superb, showing a combination of highway prowess, luxury appointments and comfort, mongo capacity, and yet a drivability that belies its behemoth size. Though most folks look upon it as something in the Ford Excursion class of vehicles, it’s nowhere near that big — more like a Chevrolet Tahoe, but with style. And with responsive low-speed steering and all the various sensors and cameras, it’s easy to keep track of where the vehicle is in the parking space. No need for any auto-parking aids — this vehicle nearly parks itself as it is.
Out on the highway, the QX’s 5.6-liter V8 pulls with good low-end torque and strong freeway speed power, making it a breeze to get around slow traffic or pass on the highway. The ride is compliant without allowing the tall vehicle to wallow — even on hard slow-downs into toll plazas I noted little dive, thanks no doubt to the optional hydraulic body motion control system. Brakes were up to the job of slowing the heavy beast and steering required little correction to keep on the path.
Though fuel economy is a poor point, I averaged about 18 mpg in freeway driving with five passengers. With this test vehicle in mixed driving around Detroit, I recorded 14 mpg.
One thing I’d recommend to buyers is to consider is the optional bench second row, especially if your group often includes five passengers. The four-seat configuration means at least one rider has to sit in the third row, which is accessible, but not as easy as jumping in the second row. And using the third row hurts cargo capacity.
It’s a different story once you clamber up inside. Interior craftsmanship is consistently impressive, especially for a vehicle with a cabin this large; I’m not really into the decoratively draped leather on the door panels (going for an old W140 look?) but attention to detail is great. See the subtle, Spirograph-like patterns on the instrument dials, for example. All in all, a quiet, rather refined ride.
Despite its size, the QX56 was surprisingly manageable on-road. Fittingly, it doesn’t get the V6/CVT combo creeping into more and more Nissan/Infiniti products. It’s hard to imagine anything less than a V8 moving something this large around. I’m just glad I didn’t have to refuel.
Steering, though, could have used some tuning. Light steering is one thing — no one wants to heft a 5,600-lb beast around a grocery store parking lot without mechanical aides — but there was practically no feedback on this thing. It does take some getting used to, but as with the size, one adjusts pretty quickly.
But, if you need something this large and luxurious, it certainly is worth checking out. The Cadillac Escalade is one of its direct competitors, not just in size but in pure blinged-out character. I might still opt for the Caddy, but they’re both beautiful bruisers.
The Infiniti has a gorgeous, quiet cabin. The dials are handsome and classy, the infotainment is easy-to-use and the materials are largely decadent.
