With a base price of about $36,500, plus an Infiniti emblem you expect
posh, and that's exactly what you get in the QX4. Creamy leather, power
adjustability on almost everything that adjusts, plenty of woodgrain, excellent
audio, automatic climate control and a big center console with enough elbow
space for both front seaters to use without territorial squabbles.
The front bucket seats are as comfortable as they are attractive, and
the whole interior reflects a level of quality that's appropriate for this
brand name. Which is to say high indeed.
In fact, if it weren't for the high seating position, it would be easy
to think you'd just climbed into a luxury sedan, an impression that's reinforced
by the driving experience.
This is a sumptuous and pleasant place to be as the miles roll by--provided
you happen to be in one of the front seats. The rear seat is another story.
There's just barely enough space back there for adult-size people, or at
least for people with adult-size legs.
The Pathfinder's exterior dimensions expanded in its redesign, but its
rear seat legroom didn't, which is unusual considering the emphasis placed
on this commodity in other designs, such as the best-selling Ford Explorer.
Something else that didn't make total sense to us was the QX4's running
boards. The idea is to make it easier to deal with a sport-utility's higher
step-in, but once you've stepped up you find yourself ducking and bending
to climb in. But, it works nicely if you're short.
About the only redeeming virtue we can think of for these add-ons is
that they make it easier to get at stuff you've loaded onto the roof rack.
Generally speaking, the more luxurious the vehicle, the less likely
it is to ever venture off the pavement, a sport-utility axiom that's reflected
in the QX4's ride quality and handling. While there's enough muscle in
the springs and shocks to handle the possibility of off-road use, the tuning
is skewed in favor of keeping all the occupants comfy on paved roads, be
they smooth or be they gnarly.
We were impressed with the QX4's ability to smooth out small bumps and
potholes. It's very close to the kind of ride quality you'd associate with,
say, Infiniti's Q45 luxury sedan--firm, controlled and quiet. There's hardly
a trace of road noise filtering up through the suspension, and engine sounds
are generally subdued, at least until you put the pedal right to the floor.
Considering its imposing mass, the QX4 is surprisingly handy in quick
maneuvers, a function, perhaps, of its relatively low roofline and ride
height, which helps to keep the center of gravity low, at least by sport-utility
standards.
We liked the precise response of the power rack and pinion steering
system--another car-like attribute--while braking performance is better
than average for a vehicle in this size and weight class.
However, car-like acceleration isn't part of the deal here. The Pathfinder/
QX4 V6 is willing enough, but it's hitched up to too much mass to produce
zippy getaways. Yes, that's true of most sport-utilities, but even in this
deliberate world the QX4's straight ahead performance stacks up as only
average.
On the other hand, the sturdy V6 has decent low-end grunt, which is
what you want if you're trundling around out in the woods somewhere. And
even though the QX4 isn't really cut out for really tough terrain, it has
enough ground clearance--8.3 inches--to handle Forest Service trails and
the like. A skidplate under the rear differential--part of the QX4's standard
equipment--helps out for this kind of work, too.
It's also capable of towing a good-sized trailer, although we think
testing the 5000-pound upper limit would require patience.