With effort it is possible for designers to make two similar vehicles assume different personalities. The QX4's silhouette is clean and attractive, with careful detailing in the rear door handles, which are cleverly concealed in the C-pillars. Strong horizontal lines visually lengthen the body, while large fender flares provide a broad-shouldered toughness. You'll have to look carefully to differentiate QX4 from Pathfinder in side view.That's not the case when viewed from the front. Large air intakes, headlamp clusters and bumper-mounted fog and driving lights are unique to the QX4. Whether the blocky but efficient nose seems just right or slightly over-the-top is a matter of individual taste. It grew on us during the test period and definitely gave the Infiniti its own identity. Less was done by the stylists in back, but the careful breaking up of flat surfaces with trim in contrasting colors looks good. Shopping for a QX4 is easy. A single model is offered with a long list of standard features. Automatic transmission, leather upholstery, wood trim accents, automatic-controlled air conditioning, AM/FM/CD/cassette 6-speaker sound system, power assists for windows, mirrors, door locks and front seats (the driver's seat has eight adjustments), a built-in HomeLink transmitter for gates and garage doors, remote keyless entry and much more are included with the standard model. Three package variations add a power glass sunroof alone or sunroof plus heated seats, a 6-disc CD changer placed under the front passenger's seat and rear window wind deflector, or all of those amenities plus a limited-slip rear differential. Our test QX4 was fully equipped. Considering the modest $1900 gap between least- and most-expensive versions, we recommend opting for the comfort and convenience. We also recommend the optional limited-slip rear differential for improved traction over slick surfaces.
|