Infiniti QX56: which version to buy
All Infiniti QX56 versions in this catalogue share one name — 5.6 AT — and one 5-door SUV body. The choice is therefore not “which badge,” but which combination of years, horsepower, drive, gearbox, injection, and measured mass. Production covers March 2004 through October 2013. First generation ran March 2004–February 2007, then a restyling of the same generation from March 2007–February 2010.
All Infiniti QX56 versions in this catalogue share one name — 5.6 AT — and one 5-door SUV body. The choice is therefore not “which badge,” but which combination of years, horsepower, drive, gearbox, injection, and measured mass. Production covers March 2004 through October 2013. First generation ran March 2004–February 2007, then a restyling of the same generation from March 2007–February 2010. Second generation ran March 2010–October 2013. There is no third generation in the sense of a new platform: the third row in the source list is the first-generation restyling.
Infiniti QX56 generations compared: what actually changed
First generation, pre-restyle (March 2004–February 2007), SUV 5-doors, four versions, all named 5.6 AT. Two engines sit under that name: 320 hp (235 kW) at 4900 rpm with 529 Nm at 3600 rpm and 5552 cm³, or 313 hp (230 kW) at 4900 rpm with 529 Nm at 3600 rpm and 5551 cm³. Both are Gasoline, 8 cylinders, V-shaped, No boost, Automatic, 5 gears, multi-point injection, compression 9.8, bore × stroke 98 × 92. The 320 hp pair uses 95 fuel; the 313 hp pair uses 92. Drive splits into RWD and AWD on both power ratings. Front and rear suspension on the 320 hp pair is Independent, pneumatic; the 313 hp pair is Independent, pneumatic in front and Independent, spring at the rear. Ground clearance is 270 mm on all four. Tank is 106 L. Acceleration and top speed are measured only on the 320 hp pair (7.2 s / 180 km/h RWD; 7.8 s / 180 km/h AWD). On both 313 hp versions, 0–100 km/h, top speed, city / highway / mixed consumption, CO2, and gross weight are not measured. Engine position is not measured on the 313 hp pair.
First generation, restyling (March 2007–February 2010), SUV 5-doors, two versions, both 5.6 AT at 325 hp. Power rose by 5 hp versus the 320 hp pre-restyle pair and by 12 hp versus the 313 hp pair. Output is 238 kW at 5200 rpm, 533 Nm at 3400 rpm — +4 Nm versus 529. Displacement stays 5552 cm³. Injection stays Distributed injection (multi-point). Gearbox stays Automatic, 5 gears. Fuel is 95. Boost remains No. Suspension becomes Independent, spring at both ends (the pneumatic setup of the 320 hp 2004–2007 pair is gone). Rear brakes stay Disc, not ventilated. Clearance stays 270 mm; tank stays 106 L. Fuel use is now measured: mixed 15.3 L/100 km on both restyle versions.
Second generation (March 2010–October 2013), SUV 5-doors, one version: 5.6 AT at 405 hp. This is the largest single jump. Versus the restyle 325 hp 5.6 AT: +80 hp, +60 kW (298 vs 238), +27 Nm (560 vs 533), peak power 580 rpm higher (5800 vs 5200), peak torque 600 rpm higher (4000 vs 3400). Compression rises from 9.8 to 11.5. Injection becomes Direct injection (direct). Gearbox becomes Automatic, 7 gears. Drive is AWD only — there is no RWD 5.6 AT in this generation. Kerb weight 2800 kg is the heaviest QX56 here. Clearance falls to 257 mm (−13 mm vs 270). Tank falls to 100 L (−6 L vs 106). Rear suspension is Independent, pneumatic again; front is Independent, spring. Rear brakes become Disc ventilated (ventilated both ends). Euro 4 and 373 g/km CO2 are measured here; mixed consumption 14.5 L/100 km is 0.8 L/100 km below the restyle mixed 15.3.
Infiniti QX56 engine and specs: seven 5.6 AT versions
Power per litre (hp ÷ displacement in litres) and kilograms per horsepower are calculated from the figures below.
| Years | Version (exact name) | hp @ rpm | Nm @ rpm | cm³ | Fuel | Cyl. / layout | Boost | Gearbox / gears | Drive | hp/L | kg/hp (kerb) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010–2013 | 5.6 AT (405 hp) | 405 @ 5800 | 560 @ 4000 | 5552 | 95, Gasoline | 8, V-shaped | No | Automatic, 7 | AWD | 72.9 | 6.91 (2800 kg) |
| 2007–2010 | 5.6 AT (325 hp AWD) | 325 @ 5200 | 533 @ 3400 | 5552 | 95, Gasoline | 8, V-shaped | No | Automatic, 7? 5 | AWD | 58.5 | 8.25 (2680 kg) |
| 2007–2010 | 5.6 AT (325 hp RWD) | 325 @ 5200 | 533 @ 3400 | 5552 | 95, Gasoline | 8, V-shaped | No | Automatic, 5 | RWD | 58.5 | 7.82 (2540 kg) |
| 2004–2007 | 5.6 AT (320 hp RWD) | 320 @ 4900 | 529 @ 3600 | 5552 | 95, Gasoline | 8, V-shaped | No | Automatic, 5 | RWD | 57.6 | 7.80 (2495 kg) |
| 2004–2007 | 5.6 AT (320 hp AWD) | 320 @ 4900 | 529 @ 3600 | 5552 | 95, Gasoline | 8, V-shaped | No | Automatic, 5 | AWD | 57.6 | 8.17 (2615 kg) |
| 2004–2007 | 5.6 AT (313 hp AWD) | 313 @ 4900 | 529 @ 3600 | 5551 | 92, Gasoline | 8, V-shaped | No | Automatic, 5 | AWD | 56.4 | 7.76 (2430 kg) |
| 2004–2007 | 5.6 AT (313 hp RWD) | 313 @ 4900 | 529 @ 3600 | 5551 | 92, Gasoline | 8, V-shaped | No | Automatic, 5 | RWD | 56.4 | 7.76 (2430 kg) |
The second-generation 5.6 AT (405 hp) makes 14.4 hp per litre more than the restyle 5.6 AT (325 hp) and 16.5 hp per litre more than the 313 hp 5.6 AT. Specific mass improves from 8.25 kg/hp (325 hp AWD) to 6.91 kg/hp even though the 405 hp SUV is 120 kg heavier than that AWD restyle (2800 − 2680) and 370 kg heavier than the lightest 313 hp pair (2800 − 2430).
Front, longitudinal engine placement is stated for the 405 hp 5.6 AT, both 325 hp 5.6 AT versions, and both 320 hp 5.6 AT versions. It is not measured for either 313 hp 5.6 AT.
Wheel sizes are not measured on any version.
Infiniti QX56 horsepower by year: 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
Search queries name calendar years. Map them onto the generations above; do not invent a separate engine for each year.
- 2008 sits inside the restyle window (March 2007–February 2010). The only engines are the two 5.6 AT versions at 325 hp (238 kW), 533 Nm, 5552 cm³. AWD 0–100 is 7.8 s; RWD 0–100 is 7.2 s. Top speed 180 km/h on both.
- 2010 straddles the changeover: through February 2010 the restyle 325 hp 5.6 AT pair; from March 2010 the second-generation 405 hp 5.6 AT. Horsepower for “2010 Infiniti QX56” is therefore either 325 or 405 depending on month.
- 2011, 2012, 2013 sit entirely in the second generation. Horsepower is 405 hp (298 kW) at 5800 rpm, 560 Nm at 4000 rpm, one 5.6 AT, AWD, 7-speed Automatic. 0–100 is 6.5 s; top speed 210 km/h.
Versus 325 hp, 405 hp is +24.6% power. Versus 320 hp it is +26.6%. Versus 313 hp it is +29.4%.
Performance and economy: 0–100, top speed, mpg-equivalent litres
Measured 0–100 km/h, fastest to slowest:
1. 5.6 AT (405 hp), 2010–2013: 6.5 s, 210 km/h 2. 5.6 AT (325 hp RWD) and 5.6 AT (320 hp RWD): 7.2 s, 180 km/h 3. 5.6 AT (325 hp AWD) and 5.6 AT (320 hp AWD): 7.8 s, 180 km/h 4. Both 5.6 AT (313 hp): 0–100 not measured, top speed not measured
The second-generation 5.6 AT is 0.7 s quicker than the fastest first-generation versions and 1.3 s quicker than the AWD 320/325 hp pair. Top speed is 30 km/h higher (210 − 180).
Fuel (L/100 km), where measured:
| Version | City | Highway | Mixed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.6 AT (405 hp) AWD | 20.6 | 11.0 | 14.5 |
| 5.6 AT (325 hp) AWD | 21.9 | 11.5 | 15.3 |
| 5.6 AT (325 hp) RWD | 19.6 | 13.1 | 15.3 |
| 5.6 AT (320 hp) RWD | not measured | not measured | not measured |
| 5.6 AT (320 hp) AWD | not measured | not measured | not measured |
| 5.6 AT (313 hp) AWD | not measured | not measured | not measured |
| 5.6 AT (313 hp) RWD | not measured | not measured | not measured |
Mixed consumption on the 405 hp 5.6 AT is 0.8 L/100 km lower than both restyle 325 hp versions despite +80 hp and +120 kg versus the 325 hp AWD (2800 vs 2680). City use on the 405 hp AWD (20.6) sits between restyle RWD (19.6, 1.0 L/100 km less) and restyle AWD (21.9, 1.3 L/100 km more). Highway use on the 405 hp (11.0) beats restyle AWD by 0.5 and restyle RWD by 2.1 L/100 km.
CO2: 373 g/km on the 405 hp 5.6 AT; not measured on every first-generation version. Eco class: Euro 4 on the 405 hp 5.6 AT and on both 313 hp 5.6 AT versions; not measured on the 325 hp and 320 hp pairs.
Infiniti QX56 weight kg, ground clearance, tank
Length, width, and other exterior dimensions are not measured in this dataset. Weight, clearance, and tank are.
Kerb weight, lightest to heaviest:
- 2430 kg — both 5.6 AT (313 hp), 2004–2007
- 2495 kg — 5.6 AT (320 hp) RWD
- 2540 kg — 5.6 AT (325 hp) RWD
- 2615 kg — 5.6 AT (320 hp) AWD
- 2680 kg — 5.6 AT (325 hp) AWD
- 2800 kg — 5.6 AT (405 hp) AWD
AWD adds 120 kg on the 320 hp pair (2615 − 2495) and 140 kg on the 325 hp pair (2680 − 2540). Second generation adds another 120 kg versus the heaviest restyle AWD.
Gross weight: 3450 kg (405 hp); 3311 kg (325 hp AWD); 3243 kg (325 hp RWD); 3175 kg (both 320 hp); not measured (both 313 hp). Payload implied by gross − kerb: 650 kg on 405 hp (3450 − 2800); 631 kg on 325 hp AWD (3311 − 2680); 703 kg on 325 hp RWD (3243 − 2540); 680 kg on 320 hp RWD (3175 − 2495); 560 kg on 320 hp AWD (3175 − 2615). The 325 hp RWD therefore has the largest measured payload; the 320 hp AWD the smallest among versions with a gross figure.
Ground clearance: 270 mm on all first-generation 5.6 AT versions; 257 mm on the 405 hp 5.6 AT (−13 mm).
Tank: 106 L first generation; 100 L second generation (−6 L). Range from tank × 100 / mixed consumption, only where mixed is measured: 405 hp ≈ 690 km (100 / 14.5 × 100); both 325 hp versions ≈ 693 km (106 / 15.3 × 100). The smaller tank and the better mixed rate nearly cancel.
Infiniti QX56: which version to choose
If the question is maximum measured performance: the second-generation 5.6 AT at 405 hp (March 2010–October 2013) is the only answer. It is the only 7-speed Automatic, the only Direct injection (direct), the only 11.5 compression, the only 210 km/h top speed, and the only 6.5 s 0–100. Specific output 72.9 hp/L and 6.91 kg/hp are the best in the table. Cost of that choice in the numbers: +120 to +370 kg kerb versus earlier 5.6 AT versions, −13 mm clearance, −6 L tank, AWD only, city 20.6 L/100 km, Euro 4 with 373 g/km CO2.
If the question is AWD with measured economy but not the 405 hp jump: the restyle 5.6 AT at 325 hp AWD (March 2007–February 2010). Versus the 405 hp 5.6 AT you give up 80 hp, 27 Nm, two gears, 0.7–1.3 s of 0–100, and 30 km/h of top speed; you keep 270 mm clearance, 106 L tank, 120 kg less kerb (2680 vs 2800), and Independent, spring at both ends. Mixed 15.3 vs 14.5 is 0.8 L/100 km worse. Versus the pre-restyle 320 hp AWD 5.6 AT you gain 5 hp, 4 Nm, measured fuel figures, and a 65 kg higher kerb (2680 vs 2615) with spring instead of Independent, pneumatic suspension.
If the question is the lightest AWD-capable layout with the lowest kerb among all-wheel versions that have a 0–100 figure: that is not the 313 hp pair (AWD kerb 2430 kg but 0–100 not measured). Among AWD versions with a timed sprint, the 320 hp AWD 5.6 AT at 2615 kg and 7.8 s is 65 kg lighter than the 325 hp AWD and 185 kg lighter than the 405 hp. Power is only 5 hp below the restyle AWD and 85 hp below the second generation.
If the question is rear-wheel drive and a timed sprint: two 5.6 AT versions share 7.2 s and 180 km/h — the 320 hp RWD (2004–2007, 2495 kg, Independent, pneumatic both ends, fuel not measured) and the 325 hp RWD (2007–2010, 2540 kg, Independent, spring both ends, city 19.6 / highway 13.1 / mixed 15.3). The restyle RWD is 45 kg heavier and 5 hp stronger; it is the only RWD with measured consumption. Its city 19.6 is the lowest city figure in the whole catalogue (1.0 below the 405 hp AWD’s 20.6), but its highway 13.1 is the highest measured highway figure (2.1 above the 405 hp). Payload 703 kg on the 325 hp RWD is the largest among versions with a gross weight.
If the question is 92 fuel instead of 95: only the two 2004–2007 5.6 AT versions at 313 hp (230 kW), 5551 cm³, 2430 kg kerb — lightest QX56 here, 7.76 kg/hp, Euro 4, 270 mm, 106 L, Independent, pneumatic front and Independent, spring rear. Drive is AWD or RWD; both share the same kerb 2430 kg in the data (unlike the 120–140 kg AWD penalty on the 320/325 hp pairs). Do not treat them as “the same as 320 hp”: they are 7 hp down, 1 cm³ down, 92 not 95, and 0–100, top speed, consumption, CO2, gross weight, and engine position are not measured.
Drive choice on a given generation, in kilograms and seconds. First generation always offers RWD and AWD under the same 5.6 AT name. On 320 hp, AWD costs 120 kg and 0.6 s (7.8 vs 7.2). On 325 hp, AWD costs 140 kg and 0.6 s, plus 2.3 L/100 km more in the city (21.9 vs 19.6) but 1.6 L/100 km less on the highway (11.5 vs 13.1); mixed is identical at 15.3. Second generation removes the RWD option: the 405 hp 5.6 AT is AWD only.
What the second generation changed, as arithmetic, not as a brochure. Versus the restyle AWD 5.6 AT (325 hp): +80 hp, +60 kW, +27 Nm, +2 gears, injection type change, compression +1.7 (11.5 − 9.8), 0–100 −1.3 s, top speed +30 km/h, mixed −0.8 L/100 km, city −1.3 L/100 km, highway −0.5 L/100 km, kerb +120 kg, gross +139 kg (3450 − 3311), clearance −13 mm, tank −6 L, rear brakes ventilated, rear suspension pneumatic instead of spring. Versus the lightest 313 hp 5.6 AT: +92 hp, kerb +370 kg, clearance −13 mm, tank −6 L, and you still cannot compare 0–100 because those 313 hp times are not measured.
Engine oil type, oil capacity, length, width, and reliability scores are not measured here; they cannot decide the purchase from this table. The decision that is supported: buy the 5.6 AT (405 hp) if 6.5 s, 210 km/h, 7 gears, and 72.9 hp/L matter more than 270 mm clearance and 2430–2680 kg; buy a restyle 5.6 AT (325 hp) RWD if 7.2 s, 19.6 L/100 km city, and 703 kg payload matter more than AWD and 405 hp; buy a restyle 5.6 AT (325 hp) AWD if you want AWD with measured mixed 15.3 without the 2800 kg second-generation kerb; buy a 2004–2007 5.6 AT (320 hp) if you want pneumatic suspension at both ends and accept unmeasured consumption; buy a 5.6 AT (313 hp) only if 92 fuel and 2430 kg kerb outweigh the missing acceleration, speed, and economy figures.