2001 Infiniti's
QX4 Sport Utility Vehicle
Brute
Strength Draped in a Cloak of Elegance
by Courtney Caldwelll Road
& Travel Magazine took possession of a 2001 Infiniti QX4 sport utility vehicle
in August to spend an intimate 6 months with this smooth operator. Sure, we tested
it in the Catskill Mountains of upstate New York last March where two feet of
snow was expected to show off its brute strength, agile handling, and suave moves
in the face of adversity. But, as luck would have it, that particular trip was
marred by unseasonably warm weather. The most slip-sliding we did was in the cascading
puddles streaming down the roadside from the melting snow. And naturally, on our
last night there, after the test drive was over, it snowed snowflakes the size
of Rhode Island. Ok, the size of golf balls.
Impressed
with the Qx4 nonetheless, with its low-to-the-ground hugger appearance, yet elegant
and sophisticated lines, we knew we had to have more, see more, do more. So we
called Infiniti and asked how many first borns we'd have to give up in order to
get one for 6 months. Their gracious reply was none; it's yours for the taking.
And so they delivered. Our
long term Qx4, a mysterious mix of luxury and sport sedan, showed up on our doorstep
drenched in a classic white coat of shiny armor with silver metallic trim. Not
like John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever. More like Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca.
Can't get much more elegant than that. It's athletic styling was formidable but
not threatening, nor too masculine as some SUV's can be. This is definitely a
man's, or woman's SUV. While androgynously accepting to either sex, it never loses
touch with its commanding grace and powerful persona on or off the road. Entrance
into the QX4 is like entering a luxury home you might see in Architectural Digest.
Luxurious leather seats provide comfort from shoulders to knees no matter what
your height or width. The rich velvety feel of the steering wheel is saturated
with wood so soft to the touch, it's hard to believe it came from a tree. The
dash and console, a soft blend of tan and beige hues, is so uniquely fashionable
that In Style, not Infiniti, comes to mind as the designated designer. This perfect
combination of attributes come together so well that it's easy to forget you're
driving a truck. Room
is one of the Qx4's best features. Vertical and horizontal electric bucket
seats offer incomparable comfort with spacious leg and head room, for all size
drivers and passengers. With the fully loaded model (which is a must), two-temperature
fanny warmers are available for cold winter days when stockings are just not enough.
The back seat has room enough for two large adults, or a family of kids and animals.
The cargo area offers infinite space for near anything, or as we used to say in
the old days, a two-body trunk, indeed. The adjustable roof rack picks up
the slack for anything too long, too much, or too wide. Always remember, though,
when loading an SUV, the center of gravity shifts. This means driving your SUV
more slowly and cautiously when loaded. The
sound system in the Qx4 is superior to most which we like a lot and expect in
a vehicle of this quality. The only challenge we found was the location of the
radio control knobs. They are placed right beneath the air conditioning controls
and look and feel identical. Out of pure habit, it's easy to reach out and turn
the wrong knob to lower the sound. Until you get used to the positioning of which
is where, it forces you to take your eyes off the road to see where the correct
knob is. We recommend that owners of the Qx4 be sure to make all the appropriate
adjustments with radio and A/C BEFORE leaving the driveway. The
ride and handling surprised us the most. One would expect a vehicle of this size
to move like a slug in the slow lane of 66. In spite of its elegant style and
graceful beauty, it does appear too big to boogie. One trip down the highway of
harmony and we had a new attitude. This baby can haul ass. The Qx4 has no
problem keeping up with the Jones' with its 240 horse-power engine, and when they
get in the way, our long term lover rolls right over them. It has amazing pick
up and passing power, something we like a lot at RTM. Getting out of the way,
or away from, is what we like doing best. We
could get into the gas issue but common sense prevails here. You don't need to
be a rocket scientist to figure this one out. With the cost of gas today, the
"full size" of this iron stallion, and it's powerful engine, suffice
it to say, if you can't afford the gas, you probably can't afford to own a Qx4.
The asking price for our fully loaded long termer borders $40 G's. This
looker is definitely for those who want to be seen in something they can be proud
of. It's a head turner. There's no shortage of lookie-loos when driving our Qx4
around town. It's like having a thoroughbred dog. Everybody stares and if they
can, stops to ask us a bevy of questions about it, which we're proud to
answer. Gee, I wonder if Infiniti is giving commissions?. There's
only one thing about the Qx4 that we don't like. Getting out! The running boards
along the side stick out too far. When exiting the vehicle the back of your calves
scrape along the running boards. On one particular day, it was raining and I happened
to be wearing a white business suit. When I exited the vehicle, the back of
my pants picked up the road sludge that had accumulated along the boards as I
was driving. At first, I thought it might be just me at 5'1" so I had a few
taller people try it; men and women, and found the same result. But, it's not
enough to deter our love for this vehicle. As in all things and people, there's
always a flaw. And, flaws can be corrected. Other
than that, we couldn't be happier with Infiniti's Qx4. They've done a remarkable
job at blending luxury and brute. It's got that James Bond sort of feel about
it. Strength, courage, and animal magnitude, cloaked in a fine cape of luxury,
style and elegance. Just the way it should be. Stay
tuned for our next review as we drive the Qx4 from Michigan to Boston in the dead
of winter. This, we expect, should unveil and reveal what a beast of this nature
is really made of. However, like all things fine and elegant, we do expect it
to get better with age. Road
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