The QX56 may be the best tool this side of an 18-wheeler for clearing slower traffic out of the left lane. Spying one in a rearview mirror closing rapidly will inspire most drivers to get out of the way. It's not any one aspect but the combination.

The frontal view may not be its most flattering angle, but it does embody massiveness. Perhaps it's the waterfall grille visually surrounded by large expanses of metal. Or the high, rectangular headlights. Or the huge black intake vent embedded in the bumper above the grille. Infiniti says the front fascia and fog lights are changed for 2008, but they look very much the same as they always have. The grille is changed, with the same four-bar waterfall effect but now with numerous chrome nubs between the bars.

The side view broadcasts a similar message. On most vehicles, the popular practice among stylists is to wrap ever thinner tires around ever bigger wheels, with an eye to communicating sportiness. However, in this class, where mass and perceived hauling capability is the measure, tires that look like they belong on a truck are preferred, at least in our view. The QX56 delivers on this with 60-series tires on 20-inch wheels. For 2008, 20-inch wheels became standard, in place of 18-inch wheels.

Squared off, clearly defined, barrel-like fender blisters add heft to the quarter panels. The arched roof over the passenger compartment pushes the D-pillars rearward, shrinking and reshaping the rear quarter windows in conflict with the somewhat organic outline of the front and rear door windows. Nissan's signature rear door handles are placed awkwardly on the C-pillars. The running boards seem more cosmetic than functional, but manage to pull bodywork down below the midline of the wheels, again adding to the impression of mass. As with the Nissan Armada, it looks almost like a cartoon caricature from the rear three-quarter view. The Armada makes up for this with an attractive front end.

From the rear, the QX56 succeeds in presenting a strong stance. Big tires widely spaced beneath a body that starts out broad at the lower reaches and then gradually tapers in toward the top suggests solidity and road-hugging stability. The QX56 comes with LED taillights and brake lights that light up quicker and brighter than traditional bulbs. Like the front, Infiniti says the rear fascia is reworked for 2008, but, again, it looks very much the same.

Interior Features

The Infiniti QX56 is big and roomy. Its interior space is comparable to that of the Cadillac Escalade and Lincoln Navigator, its most direct competitors. The Infiniti's second row is particularly roomy, beating the Cadillac and Lincoln by almost three inches in second-row legroom. Indeed, the second row of the QX56 feels like sitting in first class. Expansive window glass adds to the feeling of spaciousness in the QX56.

Leather is used just as expansively throughout the cabin. The leather-trimmed front seats are almost plush, nicely bolstered with adjustable inboard armrests, and heated. The second-row bucket seats are less plush, but are still adequately bolstered with adjustable inboard armrests, and they're heated. The shift knob is gloved and the steering wheel is wrapped in leather accented with wood inserts. The QX56 sits high, so the driver has a feeling of security and a clear view of traffic ahead.

Grab handles on the inside of the A-pillars and above the rear side doors offer assistance to shorter and less agile passengers getting in and out. Step-in height is a bit high, requiring a climb up to get into the big Infiniti. The second-row seats tilt forward with little effort for access to the third row, which is more bench-like with barely adequate bottom cushions. The third row is now power folding, making it very easy to lower and raise.

The dashboard is uncluttered, with broad expanses of pleasantly textured surfaces. There's no seam for the passenger SRS airbag, no Infiniti logo or label, elegant by their absence. The hood over the instrument cluster is topped with a satin finish, minimizing glare. In other words, nothing looks cheap; in fact, quite the contrary. Buttons and knobs return the expected quality tactile feel.

The center stack, with the stereo, climate and navigation system controls, is set in an aluminum frame housing large, adjustable airflow vents.

For 2008, this area is reworked and is better integrated into the dash. Inset in the top is the navigation system display, which also reports vital data about audio and climate control settings; watch for dust and other detritus to collect in the front of the opening. Also integrated for 2008 is the Infiniti Controller, which consists of a round selector knob with four arrow buttons and a central enter button. Developed along the lines of BMW's iDrive, Mercedes' COMAND and Audi's MMI central control systems, the Infiniti Controller is fairly easy to use but it might scare away some people who fear technology. The clock, an Infiniti-signature analog unit and a classic visual, is tucked away down at the bottom of the center stack, almost out of sight and therefore almost out of mind.

For 2008, the instruments have been improved. As before, they are of the floating luminescence type, but they have changed from simple orange faces on a black background to white numbers contained in blue circles on a black background. The always-lighted gauges can lead even an attentive driver into thinking the exterior lights are on when they are not. This is a good argument for leaving the headlights in automatic mode. The ignition key slot is in the dash, where we like for it to be. Real-looking, light-colored wood covers the center console.

The front windows have one-touch, auto-up/down power; a plus is that the rear door windows do, too. Another plus is the inclusion of power rear quarter windows. The brake and accelerator pedals are power-adjustable. This is especially useful for shorter drivers, allowing them to place themselves farther from the steering wheel where the airbag is housed. The memory for the driver's seat includes placement of the adjustable pedals and heated outside mirrors. Separate dual-zone temperature settings are provided for the driver and front-seat passenger. Rear passengers have their own thermostat as well. The 265-watt stereo includes a subwoofer among its 12 speakers.

Storage is plentiful, with fixed map pockets in the front and rear doors. The back of the driver's seat boasts a hinged magazine holder. Eight cup holders are provided. A modest amount of hidden storage space resides beneath the cargo floor behind the rear seat. Ordering the entertainment system parks a DVD player in the front center console, slashing that space by about one-third.

Collapsing the rear and middle seats and folding the front passenger seat back down makes enough room for an eight-foot ladder. If the second-row captain's chairs have been installed, however, a console between them obstructs loading any objects that are both wide and long. In short, the available second-row bench seat is better for hauling cargo. On the other hand, the second-row captain's chairs are nicer for two passengers.

With the second and third rows folded, the QX56 has 97.1 cubic feet of cargo room. That's plenty, but it's more than six cubic feet less than the Navigator and more than 10 cubic feet less than the Escalade, plus those vehicles offer extended length versions with considerably more room. For those who really need to haul a lot of cargo, the QX56 suffers for its lack of an extended body style. Nonetheless, it still offers lots of storage room.

© 2008 NewCarTestDrive.com