Performance

Performance  - 2011 Infiniti QX56 Review - Reviews - Infiniti QX

For a massive SUV, the QX56 is a surprising performer. The 5.6-liter V-8 makes 400 horsepower and 413 pounds-feet of torque. Combined with a seven-speed automatic transmission, the QX accelerates as briskly as a sport sedan of a decade ago. Our friends at "MotorWeek" tested the QX's zero to 60 mph acceleration at 6.3 seconds and its quarter-mile at 14.9 seconds. Those are entirely respectable numbers for a 5,800-pound SUV.

The QX56's EPA-estimated mileage is expectedly low, at 14/20 mpg city/highway with rear- or all-wheel drive, but that is an improvement over the 2010 QX's 12/18 mpg with rear-wheel drive and 12/17 mpg with all-wheel drive. I averaged around 15 mpg during testing that accumulated 1,000-plus miles traveling between Illinois and Michigan. These weren't only highway miles, as we also used the QX as a chase car to haul video equipment and crew.

Despite being built on truck architecture, the QX's ride isn't trucklike at all. It rides smoothly and confidently, even on the massive 22-inch wheels that are part of an optional Deluxe Package. I would even call the QX fun to drive, especially considering the redesigned Lexus GX 460 rolls into corners like a boat, nosedives during braking and squats on acceleration.

One option that may have helped the QX feel so composed was its Hydraulic Body Motion Control, also part of the Deluxe Package. The system's shock absorbers transfer fluid from one side's shock to the other during cornering to combat body roll.

    See also:

    Replacing wheels and tires
    When replacing a tire, use the same size, tread design, speed rating and load carrying capacity as originally equipped. (See “Specifications” for recommended types and sizes of tires and wheels.) WAR ...

    Meters and gauges
    Meters and gauges 1. Tachometer2. Warning/Indicator lights3. Speedometer4. Engine coolant temperature gauge5. Dot matrix liquid crystal display/Odometer/twin trip odometer6. Fuel gauge ...

    Towing a trailer
    WARNING Overloading or improper loading of a trailer and its cargo can adversely affect vehicle handling, braking and performance and may lead to accidents. CAUTION ► Do not tow a ...