2008 Infiniti QX56 4WD

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A few years into the product cycle, you sometimes need a nip and a tuck to keep things moving along. The 2008 Infiniti QX56 has gone under the knife, and the results are subtle, yet effective. It looks younger, fresher, more pulled-back than before. The 2008 Infiniti QX56 4WD carries a base price of $55,250 ($58,810 as tested), along with a 4 year/60,000 mile basic warranty, a 6 year/70,000 mile powertrain warranty and EPA fuel economy estimates of 12 mpg city/17 mpg highway. Let's drive.

Larger Exterior Photos: Front Rear

You need not be embarrassed if you can't see the difference between a 2006 Infiniti QX56 and a 2008 -- you almost have to see them side-by-side to notice the changes. An automotive facelift is a lot like a human facelift in that way. With a good facelift the patient still looks like themselves, just refreshed, a little more youthful -- perhaps better. Like a good plastic surgeon, Infiniti concentrated on the two most noticeable areas of the QX's anatomy: its face and its rear end.

Up front, there's a new grille and front fascia. The grille has gotten more intricate and detailed -- where before, it was a set of beefy horizontal chrome bars, it is now a more open interplay of chrome lines and dashes. The foglamps have been reworked as well, into a shape that helps push the eye toward the center of the front fascia.

Out back, the changes are even more subtle. The doctors at Infiniti have taken a very sharp scalpel to the rear fascia, sculpting tiny changes that only a caliper could appreciate.

The overall package remains impressive and rich-looking. QX56 manages to look rugged and elegant at the same time, with a land yacht's presence. In a sea of similarity, QX56 stands out as the most assertive design of any large SUV.

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Larger Interior Photo

The changes inside QX56 are equally subtle. The center stack has been reworked. The air vents have been moved up higher, flanking the navigation screen rather than pointing at the middle of the steering wheel -- I approve, as I always suffer from cold hands when I turn on the a/c. In addition to the new vent position, the QX56 comes with a standard heated steering wheel as well. Toasty. QX56 has always had a very busy set of controls, and that has not changed. You're greeted by a symphony of buttons and knobs -- it will take a while for operation to become automatic.

Getting info out of the dash is a breeze, and getting info into the dash is easy, too. There's a compact flash card reader built right into the center stack to import MP3 and WMA files into the 9.3 GB Music Box hard drive. If you have to ask what any of that means, you'll never use it anyway. If you know what it means, you're drooling right now, and wondering if you can upgrade the hard drive, if the CF slot takes SD cards, and if you can rip directly from your CDs. The answer to all three questions is "no." No iPod control, either, although there is an auxiliary (line-level) mini-stereo plug input conveniently located at the bottom of the stack. If you are a techno-geek like me, you will lose a week playing with all of the possibilities on the QX56's dash.

The driver's and passenger's seats are very comfortable, with great adjustability and wide seats that are well-suited to American dimension. The climb up into the seats is reasonable, aided by integrated running boards.

When it comes to passenger-hauling, QX56 may be the champ. The front row is luxurious, the second row is cushy (especially with the captain's seats that were installed in my test vehicle; a bench seat is a no-charge option), and even the third row is a pleasure. I would not hesitate to put two adults into the third row for a long trip, and I might even cram three adults into the third row for shorter hauls. There's still 20 cubic feet of luggage space behind the third row, 61 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 97 cubic feet of cargo space with the second and third rows folded.

The same 5.6 liter V8 engine powers the QX, now producing 320 hp and 393 lb-ft of torque according to the SAE tests. Even considering the nearly three ton curb weight, that's enough power to get the big SUV up and moving ahead of traffic. Don't forget that this is a big SUV on the corners, even with the four-wheel independent double-wishbone suspension, rack-and-pinion speed-sensitive steering and four wheel anti-lock disc brakes.

Safety features abound on the QX56, including the full complement of air bags, front seat active head restraints, child safety rear door locks, LATCH anchors for second and third row outer positions, vehicle dynamic control, electronic brake force distribution and more.

$55,000 is a lot of money for an SUV, even one as technologically advanced and luxury-packed as the QX56. You can save a few bucks by opting for the two-wheel drive version instead of the four-wheel drive but you're still talking $52,450. You get unique style, comfort and convincing performance for your money, but there are other vehicles to consider before you plunk down your cash.

Don't overlook the Nissan Armada, the sub-luxury version that rides on the same platform as the QX. A loaded Armada runs about $44,000; a base model can start as low as $35,400, and you still get the same basic 5.6 liter V8 package. In the luxury arena, you should drive the Cadillac Escalade, the Lincoln Navigator, the Lexus LX, the Acura MDX, the Land Rover LR3 and the Mercedes-Benz GL450 -- plenty of ways to slice the luxury loaf.

If you choose the 2008 Infiniti QX56, you'll get a sharp, trimmed, relaunched luxury SUV with as much space as an efficiency apartment and as much luxury as a boutique hotel. Come to think of it, the QX56 would make a great place to recuperate after a little nip and tuck -- hang out with your MP3s until the bandages come off, and you'll be comfortable, warm and relaxed when you emerge.