2009 Infiniti QX56 One of the Better Full-Size Luxury SUVs

The Infiniti QX56 is a big, full-size SUV, designed for towing a heavy trailer, carrying lots of passengers in luxurious comfort, and tackling some serious off-road conditions.

The 2009 Infiniti QX56 comes with a smooth V8 engine that offers sufficient power. SUV buyers require spacious cabins and the QX56’s fits the bill, with roomy second and third rows. Towing capacity is remarkable, and the QX56 is also one of the better full-size luxury SUVs on the market in terms of acceleration and responsive handling.

Still, Infiniti’s big hauler falls introvert of perfection in a couple of respects. Previous to a 2008 refresh that brought a new race and nicer cabin equipment, some aspects of its interior don’t quite suit its luxury SUV status. Cargo facility is less than most of its competitors. And thankfulness to that muscular V8 engine, the QX56 is greedy at the gas pump. Another matter to consider is the QX56’s love-it-or-hate-it styling - a liability in a segment where appearances are everything.

Still in its first generation, the Infiniti QX56 is a full-size SUV that seats seven person. Only one trim is offered, but that trim comes loaded with a riches of standard features. Highlights include 20-inch 9-spoke chrome-finished aluminum-alloy wheels, xenon HID headlights, heated leather seats, a navigation system, Bose® premium audio system with 24-bit Burr-Brown DAC, CD player with MP3 playback, and 12 speakers. A rear-seat DVD entertainment system is optional, as is a second-row bench seat (in lieu of the standard captain’s chairs) that allows the Infiniti to seat a total of eight passengers.

A host of safety features are standard, including Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC), Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD), Traction Control System (TCS), Brake Assist, Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), Security System and Infiniti Vehicle Immobilizer System, Zone Body construction with reinforced passenger, compartment and front and rear crumple zones, Infiniti Advanced Air Bag System (AABS), Driver and front-passenger supplemental side-impact air bags, Roof-mounted curtain side-impact supplemental air bags (with rollover sensor) for front and rear outboard occupant head protection, 3-point seat belt in all seating positions and front-seat pretensioners, Front-seat Active Head Restraints (AHR), LATCH System (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren) helps simplify proper installation of compatible child restraint seats. Snug Kids™ provides installation tips and a Child Safety Seat Fit Guide to assist parents in selecting a child restraint that fits their vehicle.

For 2008, Infiniti has added to the standard equipment list, and it now includes a 60/40-split power folding third-row bench seat, Infiniti Intelligent Key with keyless entry and ignition, a new audio system with 9.3GB Music Box hard drive for Music storage and playback, optional real-time traffic navigation integration and a larger screen for the rear entertainment system. 2009 Infiniti Q56 has also made some upgrades to the interior trim. Most welcome along with these changes is the new instrument cluster design and improved materials quality.

Under the hood is a 5.6-liter V8 capable of 320 horsepower at 5,200 rpm and 393 pound-feet of torque at 3,400 rpm; it’s wedded to an electronically controlled 5-speed automatic transmission with driver-adaptive learning algorithm. Rear-wheel drive or Infiniti All-Mode Four wheel drive (4WD®) models are offered. Acceleration is impressive and fuel economy, though gloomy, is at least on par with others in the full-size segment.

The 2009 Infiniti QX56’s cabin strives to impart the required luxury SUV opulence but eventually misses the mark. Luxurious carpeting is underfoot, rich leather cradles your back parts and luminous bird’s eye maple and aluminium accents abound. However, the interior is flawed by some downmarket plastics, and up until the ‘08 model year, the instrumentation and controls had a boring, utilitarian look. When it comes to true luxury in full-size proportions, the competitively priced Mercedes-Benz GL450 offers a more convincing show.

Cargo capacity is another limitation. Though the QX56 offers a well-mannered 20 cubic feet of luggage room with all three rows in use, maximum cargo capability trails that of others in its class, coming in at just 97 cubic feet. By comparison, the Cadillac Escalade offers 109 cubic feet of cargo space, while the extended-length ESV version offers 137 cubes. More remarkable is the 2009 QX56’s standard rearview monitor. Infiniti was the first manufacturer to present this technology in the full-size SUV segment, and it eases much of the pain related with parking this behemoth. This camera system utilizes the navigation system screen to give the driver a clear colorful display of what’s behind the vehicle.

In road tests, It has praised the 2009 Infiniti QX56 for its advanced powertrain, smooth ride and family-friendly passenger accommodations. In consumer reviews, Infiniti’s sport-utility vehicle drew top grades for its power, handling and useful rearview monitor. However, some owners criticized the vehicle’s unimpressive fuel economy and called for more wood accents in its cabin.