2011 Infiniti QX56

By Zack Spencer     October 14, 2010

The Scoop

It has been a crazy few months in our house. After deciding to do a major renovation, we needed to clear out as our 90-year-old house received a new kitchen, bathroom and rewiring from top to bottom. Staying was not an option, so we packed up and evacuated the house as the worst of the mess was taking place. After a two-week visit with cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents we arrived back in BC to a mountain of plaster-dust and ongoing construction. This coincided with the arrival of the all-new 2011 QX56 test unit from Infiniti. With nowhere to stay we headed from Vancouver, to the Brentwood Bay Lodge and Spa on Vancouver Island, then back to the mainland, where we drove up to Whistler for an extended stay. Having two young boys ages 8 and 5, plus plenty of luggage (my wife Andrea's shoes) from our recent travels, the full-sized QX56 SUV made the frantic situation much better. Not to mention two days at the beautiful Brentwood Bay Lodge and Spa enjoying first class food, accommodations and spa treatments. Reno, what reno?

The Skin

For those of you who have not purchased my annual book ''Motor Mouth, the complete Canadian car buying guide''. (Shameless plug for the 2011 edition arriving in bookstores just in time for Christmas!) The QX56 was my ''Top Pick'' in the full sized SUV class last year, due to its long list of standard features and low starting price. For 2011 this big truck retains its status as ''Top Pick''. I don't usually pick a vehicle based on styling, because that is so personal, but this new QX56 is a very dramatic vehicle. The front fenders and integrated grille and headlights are in keeping with the smaller FX and EX crossovers from Infiniti. The side portholes, curvaceous lines and sweeping fenders all work well to create a bold vehicle. If the passing stares from other motorists and pedestrians are any indication, the QX56 gets noticed. Full sized SUV's are not for an average two-parent, two-child family, these big trucks are perfect for large families that require the towing capacity that only a vehicle like this delivers.

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