Infiniti QX4

Infiniti QX4: which version to buy

If you are choosing among Infiniti QX4 versions, the catalogue has one generation (July 1996–September 2003), one body (SUV 5-doors), and three mechanical packages: 3.3 AT (168 hp, AWD), 3.5 AT (243 hp, RWD), and 3.5 AT (243 hp, AWD). There is no second generation to “wait for,” and no restyling counted as a separate generation. The decision is engine size plus drive, not year badge.

If you are choosing among Infiniti QX4 versions, the catalogue has one generation (July 1996–September 2003), one body (SUV 5-doors), and three mechanical packages: 3.3 AT (168 hp, AWD), 3.5 AT (243 hp, RWD), and 3.5 AT (243 hp, AWD). There is no second generation to “wait for,” and no restyling counted as a separate generation. The decision is engine size plus drive, not year badge.

The 3.5 AT with RWD is the lightest and the fastest 0–100 km/h figure in the set. The 3.5 AT with AWD buys the same 243 hp engine and keeps AWD, at a higher kerb weight. The 3.3 AT is the only 3275 cm³ engine and the only version with a measured gross weight. Fuel consumption, CO2, eco class, and wheel sizes are not measured on every version; length and other exterior dimensions are not measured in this dataset.

Infiniti QX4 generations: what actually changes

Generation 1 ran from 1996-07-01 to 2003-09-30 as an SUV 5-doors with 3 versions. Searches for 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2003 Infiniti QX4 specs all land on this same generation: production dates on 3.3 AT, 3.5 AT (RWD), and 3.5 AT (AWD) are identical (1996-07-01 to 2003-09-30). A model year in a classified ad does not add a new engine table in these data.

Across all three versions the chassis labels match: independent spring front, independent spring rear, ventilated disc front brakes, drum rear brakes, 210 mm ground clearance, 80 L tank, Gasoline, no boost, front longitudinal engine, distributed injection (multi-point), 6 cylinders, V-shaped, 4 valves per cylinder, Automatic with 4 gears, 95 fuel, 177 km/h top speed. What you pay extra for, in numbers, is displacement, output, drive, kerb weight, and 0–100 km/h — not a different body or a later generation.

Infiniti QX4 specs: three versions side by side

3.3 AT engine size is 3275 cm³, compression 7.9, bore × stroke 91.5 × 83. Both 3.5 AT versions share 3498 cm³, compression 10, bore × stroke 95.5 × 81.4. Displacement gap is 223 cm³ (3498 − 3275). Power gap is 75 hp (243 − 168), or 44.6% more on either 3.5 AT. Torque gap is 93 Nm (359 − 266). Specific output: 3.3 AT is 168 / 3.275 ≈ 51.3 hp per litre; each 3.5 AT is 243 / 3.498 ≈ 69.5 hp per litre. Peak power rpm is 4800 on 3.3 AT versus 6000 on both 3.5 AT; peak torque rpm is 2800 versus 3200.

The two 3.5 AT rows are not the same car: same 243 hp, same 3498 cm³, different drive (RWD vs AWD) and different kerb weight.

Infiniti QX4 horsepower, 0–100, and mpg

0–100 km/h: 3.3 AT 11.2 s; 3.5 AT RWD 9.1 s; 3.5 AT AWD 9.3 s. Versus 3.3 AT, the RWD 3.5 AT is 2.1 s quicker; the AWD 3.5 AT is 1.9 s quicker. Between the two 3.5 AT versions, AWD costs 0.2 s (9.3 − 9.1). Top speed is 177 km/h on all three — extra horsepower does not raise the listed maximum.

City, highway, and combined fuel consumption: not measured on 3.3 AT, 3.5 AT (RWD), and 3.5 AT (AWD). CO2: not measured. Eco class: not measured. There is no mpg ranking in these data; do not treat a missing figure as “this version uses less fuel.”

Infiniti QX4 weight, ground clearance, tank — dimensions not measured

Kerb weight: 3.5 AT RWD 1900 kg; 3.3 AT 1940 kg; 3.5 AT AWD 2025 kg. RWD 3.5 AT is 40 kg lighter than 3.3 AT (1940 − 1900) and 125 kg lighter than AWD 3.5 AT (2025 − 1900). AWD 3.5 AT is 85 kg heavier than 3.3 AT (2025 − 1940).

Mass per horsepower (kerb / hp): 3.3 AT 1940 / 168 ≈ 11.55 kg/hp; 3.5 AT RWD 1900 / 243 ≈ 7.82 kg/hp; 3.5 AT AWD 2025 / 243 ≈ 8.33 kg/hp. The RWD 3.5 AT is the lowest mass per hp; 3.3 AT carries about 3.73 kg more per hp than that RWD 3.5 AT (11.55 − 7.82).

Gross weight is 2335 kg on 3.3 AT only (payload 2335 − 1940 = 395 kg). Gross weight on both 3.5 AT versions: not measured. Ground clearance 210 mm on all three. Tank 80 L on all three. Wheel sizes: not measured on all three. Length and other exterior dimensions: not measured — year-specific “2001 Infiniti QX4 dimensions” / “2002 Infiniti QX4 weight” queries still resolve to these kerb figures, not to a year-by-year size table.

Which Infiniti QX4 version to buy

Buy 3.5 AT (243 hp, RWD) if the numbers you care about are acceleration and mass per hp. It is the only RWD Infiniti QX4 in the catalogue: 243 hp, 359 Nm, 3498 cm³, 1900 kg, 9.1 s to 100 km/h, 7.82 kg/hp. Versus 3.3 AT you gain 75 hp and 93 Nm, lose AWD, cut 40 kg, and cut 2.1 s off 0–100. Versus the other 3.5 AT you keep the same engine and give up AWD for 125 kg less kerb mass and 0.2 s on 0–100. Top speed stays 177 km/h. Gross weight is not measured.

Buy 3.5 AT (243 hp, AWD) if AWD is required and you still want the 3498 cm³ engine. Same 243 hp, 359 Nm, 10.0 compression, and 69.5 hp/L as the RWD 3.5 AT, with AWD like 3.3 AT. You pay 125 kg versus RWD 3.5 AT and 85 kg versus 3.3 AT, and 0–100 is 9.3 s (0.2 s slower than RWD 3.5 AT, 1.9 s faster than 3.3 AT). Ground clearance stays 210 mm; you are not buying extra listed clearance. Gross weight not measured.

Buy 3.3 AT if you want AWD at the lowest listed power and the only measured gross weight (2335 kg, 395 kg above 1940 kg kerb). Engine: 3275 cm³, 168 hp at 4800 rpm, 266 Nm at 2800 rpm, compression 7.9, 51.3 hp/L. Versus either 3.5 AT you give up 75 hp and 93 Nm and take 11.2 s to 100 km/h. Versus RWD 3.5 AT you keep AWD and add 40 kg. Versus AWD 3.5 AT you keep AWD and save 85 kg, with 1.9 s more to 100 km/h. Peak torque arrives 400 rpm lower than on the 3.5 AT (2800 vs 3200).

What extra output does not buy: a higher listed top speed (177 km/h on all three), a larger tank (80 L on all three), more listed ground clearance (210 mm on all three), a different gearbox family (Automatic, 4 on all three), or a later generation. Fuel use, wheels, length, CO2, and eco class stay not measured, so they cannot break the tie.

Is an Infiniti QX4 a good car in catalogue terms: three Gasoline V-shaped 6-cylinder versions, no boost, one SUV 5-doors generation, AWD on two of three. Reliability, engine-bay layout drawings, and engine-swap fitment are not measured here. For sale prices are not in these data.

Short arithmetic: need AWD and 243 hp → 3.5 AT (AWD). Need the lowest kg/hp and the 9.1 s 0–100 → 3.5 AT (RWD). Need AWD plus the only gross-weight figure and accept 168 hp / 11.2 s → 3.3 AT.