The 2013 Infiniti QX 56: Sometimes size really does matter (Photos)

April 22nd, 2013

Peter Nolan

In the last few decades the trend in the automotive world has been that smaller is better. From the once proud heritage of huge spacious vehicles that filled the lanes of roadways, we were left with vehicles that could fit inside the average suburban living room. While a lot of this had to do with the rise of fuel prices, there seemed to be an attitude that the American driver no longer wanted a big flashy vehicle.

We were living a more subtle lifestyle; the excess of the 1980s melted into the fiscal realities of the 21st Century. Add to this the love we found for Mother Earth and it looked as though the once behemoth beasts the owned the roads were almost extinct.

The key however is almost.

While the trend has been to downsize, large vehicles are still around. Today these large vehicles are still on the road and there is still a market for them. These are the SUV’s; full sized, big engine, fuel-mileage-be-damned machines, the Escalades, Navigators , the LX750s, GL Class Mercedes, the Range Rovers and the subject of this week’s review the Infiniti QX 56.

After weeks spent tooling around in smaller sedans, the QX was a large change. Large as in you could put two smart cars in the back and still have room for the kids. Those kids by the way would be happy ones, absorbed in whatever the screens on the backs of seats in front of them were showing.

It has been mentioned that the designers meant the interior of the QX to look like a private jet. The first thought when entering the spacious cabin, or climbing up would be a better term, is that the designers did just that. With the wheat colored leather seats and wood trim one almost expects to see a yoke and rudder pedals. That private jet feel carries over to the instrument cluster with seemingly everything you need at your fingertips. Once you get used to the large size, the drive does in fact feel nearly like flying, especially with the hydraulic body motion control system, the seven speed automatic transmission and 20 inch wheels. The interior is whisper quiet and the feel of the road is indeed like floating on air.

Despite the 5.6 liter V8 rated at 400 horsepower and 415 pounds of torque you certainly won’t set any land speed records, but that isn’t the point. What you can do is tow 8,500 pounds of whatever you want and barely feel it. Combine that with the four wheel drive and there is very little that will tax this vehicle.

Luxury? Of course there is. This isn’t like just any run of the mill prop job. No, this is a top of the line Lear Jet like the type owned by rock stars or corporate moguls. Of course at $78,140 for the model we tested, it better deliver. And it does, wonderfully. There’s the aforementioned entertainment package keeping the kids happy, intelligent cruise control; heated front and second row seating, a surround sound Bose system that sounds perfect, power rear tailgate, power third row 60/40 spilt seating, a tinted moon roof and the list goes on. In fact in the week of driving there is no way we could have touched all the features and there is no doubt that those numerous features would take a lot longer than a week to discover.

The downside? The fuel mileage; the QX56 is rated at a paltry 20 MPG highway and 14 MPG city or a 16 MPG combined. We averaged 19 MPG in mixed road conditions during our week, but truth be told we didn’t mind a bit. The market for these types of vehicles is geared towards the type of person who could care very little about how much they spend at the pump.

During our week we enjoyed the unparalleled luxury, flying over city traffic, the electronics, cranking the surround sound and in the end didn’t mind the money spent at the pump. We just hated to come in for a landing when it was all over.

2013 Infiniti QX 56 (4WD)

MSRP: $63,750

Price as Tested: $78,140

Engine: 5.6 liter V-8
Horsepower 400
Torque 413 lb-ft
Max towing 8500 lbs.
MPG Estimates 4 City / 20 Hwy
MPG as tested (Mixed) 19
Length 208.3
Body width 79.9
Body height 75.8
Wheelbase 121.1
Ground clearance 9.2
Curb 5878
Gross weight 7500
Front head room 40
Rear head room 40
Front shoulder room 64
Rear shoulder room 64
Front leg room 39.6
Rear leg room 41.0
Luggage capacity 16.6 cu. ft.
Maximum cargo capacity 95.1 cu. ft.
Standard seating 7