Infiniti QX4 sport-utility wagon packs cushy cabin equipment
Bob Plunkett
Date Posted: 5/10/2005
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Infiniti, upscale luxury spin-off brand from Nissan of Japan, has developed a deluxe new sport-utility wagon which packs aboard plush cabin perks like leather-lined seats and Bose stereo sound, then adds a 4-wheel-drive system which works in all modes for go-anywhere reliability.
Badged as QX4, this new wagon amounts to one sweet machine which comes to market bearing price tags pitched below comparable imports.
Underpinnings of QX4 come from Nissan's Pathfinder, dramatically revised last year in a new generational edition that featured a unibody design concealed behind contemporary sheetmetal styling.
To this package the QX4 receives its own unique front-end face-lift, a clamshell tailgate that scoops out extra cargo space inside, plus an interior laced with ultimate comfort features including two of the most comfortable bucket seats on four wheels.
In addition, QX4 stocks a special 4-wheel-drive system lifted from a souped-up all-wheel-drive coupe that Nissan sells only in Japan. The equipment allows a driver to choose between all-wheel traction for stable grip on pavement or off-road 4-wheel-drive mode which links to low gear settings so you can creep across the rough stuff.
One tester's encounters with QX4 began when the wagon showed up in my driveway.
First impression: It looks big and muscular.
Your eye naturally falls on a bold front fascia lip defined by broad and tall band of body-color bumpers capped with chrome accents and dotted with integrated fog lamps.
The hood slopes upward to meet a windshield outlined by rear-raked A pillars. Side panel contours form strong horizontal lines near the ground, while forward-canted C pillars conceal rear door handles and hint of sportiness from a 3-door wagon.
At the rear, a 2-piece tailgate breaks horizontally in the middle, with top glass lifting upward by top hinges and the solid metal bottom folding outward to a flat floor.
"Here's the ignition key," the wagon's delivery driver told me. "Make sure you get it muddy."
And so I did, with romps on the wild side of nature beyond where pavement ends and where rocks and mud and sand await as so many barriers to forward progress.
These out-back adventures, occurring throughout my test week, revealed that QX4 musters a can-do attitude when challenged by off-road barriers. It also produces a smooth and comfortable ride quality for all aboard, and in more mundane venues such as city streets and freeway lanes can maneuver as easily as a sedan.
Perhaps the most surprising discovery from my tests concerned the smoothness of QX4's ride -- it didn't feel like a rough truck, which, essentially, is the foundation of any sport-ute.
This application varies from the typical truck's cab-on-chassis construction due to the use of a monoframe unibody which forms a stiffer package to resist a rectangular 4-wheeler's tendency to bend torsionally. Not only does the monoframe reduce pesky rattles and squeaks, especially when running over rough terrain, but it sets up a far more rigid structure to attach suspension components.
Further, the platform measures broad and long, with wheels pushed to perimeter edges to create a wide track, which increases its stability when rolling. The elongated wheelbase also shifts rear wheelwells behind rear doors, so backseat riders can climb inside more easily.
Aiding the smoothness of QX4's ride, suspension components include a heavy-duty independent strut design in front and 5-link rear axle, with stabilizer bars mounted fore and aft.
Big disc brakes show up in front of rear self-adjusting drums, and all are connected by computer to a 3-channel anti-lock system.
Rack and pinion steering has power assistance which varies with engine speed.
For action, QX4's 3.3-liter V6, with single cam on top and sequential multi-point electronic fuel injection inside, generates 168 hp at 4800 rpm.
The plant mates with a nice -- and effortless -- 4-speed electronic automatic.
Despite the bulk of this package with a curb weight of 4,275 pounds, QX4 acts lively when prompted. It shows off particularly in sticky off-road conditions, such as the oozing mud pit I powered through, or on pavement at higher speeds like my maneuvers whipping through congested lanes of freeway traffic.
The sophisticated on-board 4-wheel-drive system operates seamlessly without intervention from driver, unless you choose the manual override.
A wet multi-plate clutch in the center differential serves as core of this equipment, and it's tied to a computer with sensors which measure wheel spin, throttle position and engine speed. The clutch distributes engine torque to front and rear wheels in varying quantities depending on amount of speed and wheel spin detected.
Driver chooses traction modes from a dashboard switch.
If set to Auto, the system functions as continuous all-wheel-drive and works well to maintain traction on slippery pavement. In 2WD all engine torque goes to rear wheels, while in LOCK the clutch sends half of all power to the front wheels and the other half to the rear.
A floor-mounted lever switches between high and low 4x4 gear settings to maximize off-road grip.
In all, it's a comprehensive package that permits automatic operation or selective use of traction modes.
The interior of QX4 fits like a leather glove and feels lavishly comfortable.
Twin form-fitting front bucket seats stand in front of a bench for three with seatback split in 60-40 ratio to expand the rear cargo area. Driver's seat moves with power controls in ten ways and the right seat has 4-way controls.
Extensive standard appointments include power everything, analog instruments, leather upholstery and wood-tone trimmings, concealed storage bins, a pair of DC-power electrical outlets, four cupholders and that stunning 200-watt Bose audio system with six speakers and CD deck. Options limit to a sunroof, heated seats and a sporty touring package with limited-slip differential.
1997 INFINITI QX4
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| 1997 INFINITI QX4 VEHICLE SPECIFICATIONS |
| Description: |
5-door luxury SUV wagon |
| Model Options: |
5-door luxury SUV wagon |
| Wheelbase: |
106.3 inches |
| Overall Length: |
183.9 inches
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| Engine Size: |
DOHC 3.3-L V6
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| Transmission: |
Auto/4 |
| Drive: |
All-mode 4WD |
| Braking: |
Power disc/drum/ABS |
| Airbags: |
2 |
| Gas Mileage: |
15/19 mpg |
| MSRP Price: |
$ 36,000 to $ 37,695 |
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