REVIEWS AND ROAD TESTS

Why Pay More?

Scratch the immaculate and slightly more sophisticated surface of an Infiniti QX4, and you ’ ll find a Nissan Pathfinder with a lower price tag. So why pay more?

The success of the QX4 took many of us by surprise. After all, the vehicle is little more than an impeccably turned out Pathfinder. It ’ s a simple trick, and it does not work for everybody. It certainly didn ’ t work for General Motors when they tried to repackage the popular Jimmy. Renamed the Envoy, Jimmy failed to bring home the bacon for GM. In fact, the QX4 owes a great deal of its commercial success to its top-quality after- sale services. Each client is taken in hand by service personnel that treat him or her like royalty. In addition to particularly generous guarantee, Infiniti owners get a courtesy vehicle and a car wash every time they bring their vehicles in for servicing, even if it ’ s just for an oil change. Basically, they ’ ll roll out the red carpet for their clients, who do tend to belong to an economically privileged class (unlike the owner of a Pathfinder, for instance, a QX4 driver won ’ t rub elbows with those who own Sentras or Altimas). Of course, nothing comes for free in this world, and this is no exception. There ’ s a price to pay for the best seats in the house. There ’ s the purchase price, for starters, and maintenance costs are also slightly higher for the QX4.In the immortal words of hockey coaches everywhere, the trick is not to lose your momentum. Today, the main challenge for Infiniti ’ s QX4 is to maintain its leading edge on the ever- encroaching competition.

To make the throne more accessible, there are side rails tucked against the body panels, running along the lower rim of the doors. The side rails prove to be a little narrow toward the rear of the vehicle, which means passengers have to suck in their gut or enter the car backwards to make sure they don ’ t dirty their clothing on the opening. While the rear seats are amply cushioned and can even be inclined, they are not extremely comfortable. In fact, the interior of the QX4 feels a little cramped everywhere, even in the baggage compartment. And it ’ s with this lack of a roomy interior, more than anything else, that the vehicle show its age.

To distract us from the fact that the QX4 is just a gussied-up Pathfinder, the marketing geniuses at Infiniti have loading the SUV with a list of accessories as long as your arm, both to make our driving experience as enjoyable as possible and to justify the elevated price tag. There ’ s the leather interior, the heated front and rear seats, the Bose compact disc player, the high- intensity Xenon headlights… In fact, there ’ s only one option listed in the catalogue, and it ’ s one that won ’ t cost you a penny: a power sunroof. Is it the car that has everything? Almost. Where are the luminous rear view mirrors to prevent eye strain by dulling the glare of the headlights behind us, for instance?

At the top of the centre console lies the totally redesigned, but still eminently stylish, circular Infiniti clock, one of the most- loved attributes of the vehicle (don ’ t laugh, it ’ s true!) Just over top lies the air conditioner panel, also redesigned, and a good-quality car stereo system. The plastified console, patterned after maple grain, encloses a nickel case displaying the speedometer and, for added security and convenience, the transmission epigraph (P-R-N-D-L). The dashboard contains a complete set of precision instruments, highlighted by what Infiniti dubs electro-fluorescent light.With an increased capacity to 3,5 litres last year, the engine not only provides more zip, but it also has the power to handle a greater towing load (5,000 lbs). On paper anyway, this engine has no trouble making us forget all about the 3,3 litre V6 that used to spur the QX4 into motion. The only quibble has to be the feeding recommendations for this new creature. It takes Super gasoline, thank you very much, and certainly doesn ’ t go easy on the stuff, consuming an average of 14,9 litres per 100 km during our test drive.

The chronometer did confirm that the QX4 ’ s acceleration and speed recovery are sharper than ever (it gets to 100 km/h a full second faster than it used to). Like all quiet forces, this Infiniti requires special care to prevent it from creeping up to its maximum speed. For now, only a four-speed automatic transmission is available with the V6, an engine that also powers the Pathfinder. The QX4 runs with an improved version of its exclusive, all-mode AWD system, which automatically and imperceptibly adjusts to changing road conditions by varying power between the front and rear wheels (up to a 50/50 distribution).

Unfortunately, while the QX4 made solid gains in terms of performance (including acceleration and speed recovery), there was no parallel development of its braking system. The QX4 continues to rely on the smooth, rich ride by drastically reducing vibrations and unwelcome noises. The QX4 behaves much like a car. Whether the credit goes to its monoframe, its dimensions, or even its stunningly precise steering, the vehicle is fun to drive on a daily basis. In fact, unlike many of its rivals, the QX4 melds easily with urban traffic. Even its long braking distance (11,4 metres, if you ’ re collecting stats) compares well to a sedan of equivalent bulk.

And when you open ‘ er up in the fast lane, you ’ ll find that the QX4 has a few more tricks up its sleeve. Rolling is barely perceptible, and it holds the road well for an SUV. It ’ s only on broken pavement that the QX4 ’ s rear suspension will jar any drowsy passengers from their sleep. The infrastructure jiggles a little, even shakes now and then, but does a good job of blocking out any mechanical noise.

I know it ’ s a long shot, but should you ever be tempted to bring your QX4 on an off-roading adventure, know that only the gas tank has skid plates to shield it from the barrage of stones and stumps. And so the question remains: why pay more for the Infiniti QX4? A few reasons do spring to mind. For one, there ’ s its superior customer service. Then there are interesting technical features, such as its Xenon headlights and monoframe.

And finally, there ’ s its extensive range of accessories. Ask QX4 owners, and they ’ ll tell you it ’ s worth the price. So, what does your banker have to say? PROSclassic disk and drum system to keep its impressive momentum in check. It ’ s true that the QX4 has never really achieved a great degree of success in this field. Its engineers clearly put their best efforts elsewhere, namely, towards reinforcing passengers ’ sense of a smooth, rich ride by drastically reducing vibrations and unwelcome noises. The QX4 behaves much like a car. Whether the credit goes to its monoframe, its dimensions, or even its stunningly precise steering, the vehicle is fun to drive on a daily basis. In fact, unlike many of its rivals, the QX4 melds easily with urban traffic. Even its long braking distance (11,4 metres, if you ’ re collecting stats) compares well to a sedan of equivalent bulk.

And when you open ‘ er up in the fast lane, you ’ ll find that the QX4 has a few more tricks up its sleeve. Rolling is barely perceptible, and it holds the road well for an SUV. It ’ s only on broken pavement that the QX4 ’ s rear suspension will jar any drowsy passengers from their sleep. The infrastructure jiggles a little, even shakes now and then, but does a good job of blocking out any mechanical noise.

I know it ’ s a long shot, but should you ever be tempted to bring your QX4 on an off-roading adventure, know that only the gas tank has skid plates to shield it from the barrage of stones and stumps.

And so the question remains: why pay more for the Infiniti QX4? A few reasons do spring to mind. For one, there ’ s its superior customer service. Then there are interesting technical features, such as its Xenon headlights and monoframe. And finally, there ’ s its extensive range of accessories. Ask QX4 owners, and they ’ ll tell you it ’ s worth the price. So, what does your banker have to say?

PROS
Loads of standard accessories
Sophisticated monoframe
Fun to drive on a daily basis

CONS
Super gasoline recommended
Long braking distance
Limited capacity for off-roading

CRASH TEST (five stars indicate the best protection)
Driver: * * * *
Passenger: * * * * *