2008 Infiniti QX56 Styling

STYLING | 8 out of 10

The 2008 Infiniti QX56 commands attention with its muscular stance and its power grille, while inside it strikes a more luxurious pose. Reviewers across the Web give it high marks in both areas, though some find the exterior shape a little controversial.

“If 'chrome-y' were a word, it would certainly apply to the 2008 Infiniti QX56,” Edmunds observes, noting the big ute’s “love-it-or-hate-it styling” is a “liability in a segment where appearances are everything." They call it the equal of the Lincoln Navigator and Cadillac Escalade in the “battle of the bling SUVs.” While Automedia says “the QX won't offend folks who may have grown up with Suburbans, and their take-no-chances, predictable good looks,” they point out the QX56’s “enormous” headlamps and “chiseled” fender outlines. Despite an update to its shape, in fact, little has changed with the Infiniti SUV since last year, according to Cars.com: "The only readily visible difference between the front end of a 2007 QX56 and the new 2008 model is in the grille. Whereas the 2007 model has flat horizontal chrome bars, the 2008 model gets notched ones, and there are new chrome pegs between them."

There are few disagreements on the Infiniti 2008 QX56's interior, however. Autoblog points out "some new, visually pleasing interior elements...which features more wood and soft-touch materials." Cars.com agrees, reporting that the Infiniti QX56's "revised interior styling looks richer than before, with greater use of wood trim on the dash and doors." Edmunds suggests that "if its styling agrees with you, then the rest of the 2008 Infiniti QX56 should, too, thanks to an improved interior" in which "real wood trim and soft leather trim continue to decorate the cabin." It “no longer immediately strikes one as a leather-lined derivative of the workaday Nissan Titan pickup cab,” they say.

Conclusion