Harsh Review Of The Exiting Infiniti QX56 Mega-SUV

Thus is the case with the 2009 Infiniti QX56. I don’t have a need to move a basketball team, so I don’t see the need to have a car that doubles as a city bus. I guess I just don’t understand. But similarly, I don’t understand why Infiniti insists on making SUVs in the first place. The luxury arm of Nissan has long been accused of shoddily repackaging Nissan SUVs for luxury consumption and an inflated price tag, and sadly nowhere else is this apparent more than in the QX56. It’s a Nissan Armada in every way but one: the badge. The QX56, like other Infiniti SUVs is clunky and difficult to handle, whereas the coupes and sedans from Infiniti’s capable plants are bright and nimble.

And while the Nissan Armada is dramatically overpriced at $50,000 when fully loaded, the QX56 is downright ludicrous when it is similarly loaded at more than $60,000. But again, I guess I just don’t understand. The fully loaded, 320-horsepower, 8-cylinder powerplant powers the land yacht aptly and coupled with the standard 5-speed automatic it lumbers around adequately, but without urgency. However, sitting in the cabin of the QX56 is a trip to the office of redundancy office. Buttons, dials and levers control different things that I’m not quite sure anyone without an advanced degree would be able to understand, but all managed to serve the same purpose: confusion.
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clsboy - 5/5/2009 10:22:49 PM

0 Boost

The QX simply doesn't work b'cos its got the uuuuugggleee virus... same disease as the Q45

B7FAN - 5/6/2009 7:45:04 AM

0 Boost

i HAVE TO DISAGREE THE INFINITI QX IS A NICE TRUCK I THINK THEY COULD OF WENT SMALLER ON THE ARMADA AND THE QX......but they offer the most room out of the rest in their class...I think they could of given it a 400hp engine or better to be ahgead of the competition. but they did a nice job I think.

movamedia - 5/5/2009 10:35:57 PM

+2 Boost

The Q45 (in the early years) was at least unique- the QX56, while it looked better than the Armada, has always been weird looking....

dlin - 5/5/2009 11:01:32 PM

+1 Boost

Why are we wasting time talking about a a car of last generation? INFINITI is gonna replace it soon anyway(maybe). Why not just compare it to last ML?

david999 - 5/5/2009 11:01:36 PM

-1 Boost

This vehicle was a disaster from the beginning. It didn't help that it was made as badly as any Infiniti ever was.

Type707 - 5/6/2009 12:07:34 AM

0 Boost

I just don't like this big fridge. It lag luxury design and plus for $60,000...I'd rather have the range rover

PPower - 5/6/2009 2:30:19 AM

+2 Boost

So just because the author doesn't "get it", or is the target audience, it's a bad vehicle. It's surprisingly quick for such a big boat, it's the most quiet Infiniti on the inside and fits the bill for a lot of people. At least it did. Unibody is and will be better, and I think a Honda Odyssey is the best people mover around, but there is the stigma. When competing in the full size luxury BODY ON FRAMES, the Escalade wins for styling & hp, but loses against the Infiniti everywhere else. $60k for the Infiniti? What about $70k for the Cadillac? It's just a Tahoe. All of the rants about the QX56 are founded ONLY on its horribly goofy front end and roof side profile. And all of this about cars having too many buttons? When you don't have individual buttons to access each system, you get iDrive. Maybe it's only confusing to the people who get in and have to familiarize themselves with the car for review in a short period of time. If it's your own car that you'll keep for a couple of years, I think you'd learn where the audio and climate buttons are.

PPower - 5/6/2009 2:33:55 AM

+1 Boost

And for all the harping about the big SUVs getting 13mpg city, that's as horrible as the FX45. Infiniti better work on fuel economy and offer more efficient powertrains, but at least the portly big SUV has its size as an excuse.

0to60 - 5/6/2009 10:27:44 AM

+1 Boost

I would have to agree. Infiniti does not adequetely address fuel efficiency while the altima has best fuel economy in its class. Infiniti has never been known as a fuel efficient brand. That may be part of the reason why there sales numbers are low. I would imagine they would have much more market share if they would build fuel efficient cars. Even if it came at the cost of loss of power. The 328 and IS250 outsell the larger engine versions. I lower power, more efficient G I believe would sell well. Just my 2 cents. Sorry for the spelling errors. At work typing fast.

NItePhire - 5/6/2009 10:16:32 AM

+2 Boost

What I dont get is why the aurthor even posted this article. Obviously this is the the vehicle for them. This seems rather miss informed. It would seem to me that he or she would rather drive a CRV or something. Wrong person wrong car. The statement about Nissan just rebadging is true but no more true than say Lexus and Lincoln. Last time I checked the FX was a very competative crossover that handles and drives very well. Like I said wrong person wrong car. Perhaps they should test drive a Rogue.

M_Motorsport - 5/6/2009 10:30:10 AM

+1 Boost

I read in a previous article (months back) that they were going to axe the QX56/Armada. The design looked good 4 years ago its very outdated now. That goes as well for the Lexus LX.

Agent00R - 5/7/2009 1:30:44 AM

0 Boost

Review is right on the money.

coolguy8157 - 5/15/2009 1:39:07 PM

+1 Boost

Well the QX is going to go pretty soon...its like a review dated today for a car 5 years before.. it doesn't make any sense...at the sametime the QX when compared with the similar size models from other models...is very competitive. I know it is not that efficient but dont talk about efficiency on a truck that was designed 5 years ago when no one was on the hybrid band wagon except 1 or 2.