Brawny Luxury: 2013 Infiniti QX56 4WD - Albany Times Union
QX56 — the flagship of Infiniti 's Crossover/SUV line — enters the third year of its design cycle in 2013. The "56" in QX56 refers to the displacement of the engine: a 5. 6 liter, all aluminum, direct injection V-8. It's rated at 400 h. p. (@5,800... The burly V-8 is a suitably premium power plant for the luxury leaning QX. It accelerates effortlessly, gathering speed quickly, and cruising silently. Towing capacity is a robust 8,500 lb. , which will handle a good-sized boat or trailer. The automatic leveling rear suspension compensates for the trailer's load. EPA estimates are 14/20, and I averaged 15 in my week, which included a good chunk of highway driving. The QX is offered in 4x2 and 4x4 models. The High setting in the 4x4 system maintains a 50/50 front/rear power split. In Auto, the QX defaults to rear wheel drive, but channels up to 50 percent of available torque to the front wheels, when conditions dictate. On a recent day that offered a smorgasbord of precipitation, the QX acquitted itself well. On non-wintry days, I found that the QX handled predictably and rode comfortably — even with available, 22-inch alloy rims ($2,450). It's a big Ute, and that must be factored into all driving decisions, from parking to lane changes. Source: www.timesunion.com
