If you're one of the many who love the coddling that goes with any visit to

an Infiniti dealership, but you're in the market for a sport-utility, take

heart. With the arrival of the new Infiniti QX4 you can have both.

And you can probably thank your Infiniti dealer for this addition to

the lineup. In recent years the purveyors of Nissan's luxury cars have

been wistfully watching the steady growth of the luxury sport-utility market,

particularly the sales that were lost to the new entries from Acura and

Lexus.

In particular, the incremental uptick in sales that went to Honda's

Acura division, when it added a rebadged version of the Isuzu Trooper to

its lineup, provoked a howl from the Infiniti dealer body.

The dealer outcry, obviously, did not go unheeded. During the development

of the popular Pathfinder, Nissan also worked out a parallel plan for an

upscale version to wear an Infiniti badge. And here it is.

Since the new Pathfinder represents a complete redesign, including an

all-new unitbody chassis--a major investment for Nissan--you'd expect considerable

commonality between Pathfinder and QX4, and that's exactly what you get.

This is not a bad thing. The new unitbody chassis is much stiffer than

the traditional pickup truck body-on-frame approach still used by most

sport-utility manufacturers, and should keep squeaks and rattles at bay

for much longer. It also provides a solid platform for anchoring suspension

components, which allows more latitude for tuning those components to deliver

optimal ride and handling.

The QX4 also shares the Pathfinder's 3.3-liter V6, and on this front

we'd say the commonality is just okay. Although this engine has good torque

characteristics, its 160 horsepower is modest for this class, particularly

in a vehicle as heavy as the QX4. At 4275 pounds, the QX4 is about 250

pounds heavier than the heaviest version of the Pathfinder, thanks to its

vast load of standard luxury features.

The V6 engine is mated to an electronically-controlled four-speed automatic

transmission, a point of difference from the Pathfinder, which comes with

a five-speed manual gearbox and offers the automatic as an option.

A bigger point of difference is the QX4's standard All-Mode 4WD system,

activated by a three-position switch. Similar in concept to the Explorer's

4-wheel drive, the All-Mode system can be set for rear-drive only, automatic

all-wheel drive that varies the front-rear torque split on a basis of available

traction and a locked mode that divides torque equally between the front

and rear so all the wheels churn equally. Unlike the Explorer, there's

also a low range 4WD, engaged by a separate transfer case shifter, for

max traction in really tough or gooey going.

The visible difference is as you see. There's a little bit of 21st century

in that bluff-bowed grillework, with its multiple air intakes, and plastic

cladding spiffs up the side panels.

Infiniti obviously doesn't want anyone to confuse the QX4 with the Pathfinder,

and we think there's not much danger of that happening.

With a base price of about $36,500, plus an Infiniti emblem you expect

posh, and that's exactly what you get in the QX4. Creamy leather, power

adjustability on almost everything that adjusts, plenty of woodgrain, excellent

audio, automatic climate control and a big center console with enough elbow

space for both front seaters to use without territorial squabbles.

The front bucket seats are as comfortable as they are attractive, and

the whole interior reflects a level of quality that's appropriate for this

brand name. Which is to say high indeed.

In fact, if it weren't for the high seating position, it would be easy

to think you'd just climbed into a luxury sedan, an impression that's reinforced

by the driving experience.

This is a sumptuous and pleasant place to be as the miles roll by--provided

you happen to be in one of the front seats. The rear seat is another story.

There's just barely enough space back there for adult-size people, or at

least for people with adult-size legs.

The Pathfinder's exterior dimensions expanded in its redesign, but its

rear seat legroom didn't, which is unusual considering the emphasis placed

on this commodity in other designs, such as the best-selling Ford Explorer.

Something else that didn't make total sense to us was the QX4's running

boards. The idea is to make it easier to deal with a sport-utility's higher

step-in, but once you've stepped up you find yourself ducking and bending

to climb in. But, it works nicely if you're short.

About the only redeeming virtue we can think of for these add-ons is

that they make it easier to get at stuff you've loaded onto the roof rack.

Generally speaking, the more luxurious the vehicle, the less likely

it is to ever venture off the pavement, a sport-utility axiom that's reflected

in the QX4's ride quality and handling. While there's enough muscle in

the springs and shocks to handle the possibility of off-road use, the tuning

is skewed in favor of keeping all the occupants comfy on paved roads, be

they smooth or be they gnarly.

We were impressed with the QX4's ability to smooth out small bumps and

potholes. It's very close to the kind of ride quality you'd associate with,

say, Infiniti's Q45 luxury sedan--firm, controlled and quiet. There's hardly

a trace of road noise filtering up through the suspension, and engine sounds

are generally subdued, at least until you put the pedal right to the floor.

Considering its imposing mass, the QX4 is surprisingly handy in quick

maneuvers, a function, perhaps, of its relatively low roofline and ride

height, which helps to keep the center of gravity low, at least by sport-utility

standards.

We liked the precise response of the power rack and pinion steering

system--another car-like attribute--while braking performance is better

than average for a vehicle in this size and weight class.

However, car-like acceleration isn't part of the deal here. The Pathfinder/

QX4 V6 is willing enough, but it's hitched up to too much mass to produce

zippy getaways. Yes, that's true of most sport-utilities, but even in this

deliberate world the QX4's straight ahead performance stacks up as only

average.

On the other hand, the sturdy V6 has decent low-end grunt, which is

what you want if you're trundling around out in the woods somewhere. And

even though the QX4 isn't really cut out for really tough terrain, it has

enough ground clearance--8.3 inches--to handle Forest Service trails and

the like. A skidplate under the rear differential--part of the QX4's standard

equipment--helps out for this kind of work, too.

It's also capable of towing a good-sized trailer, although we think

testing the 5000-pound upper limit would require patience.

There's an intangible involved with the QX4 that we haven't discussed, and that's what goes with ownership of any vehicle wearing an Infiniti emblem. Infiniti has earned exceptionally high marks for taking extra good care of its customers, a policy that's paid high loyalty dividends and a significant factor to be weighed in your purchase decision.

Beyond that, the QX4 delivers all the luxury features you'd expect of a vehicle in this price class. Aside from the optional power moonroof, there's really not much to add to the standard equipment.

It's beautifully appointed and finished, inside and out, and it's a very smooth operator on all kinds of surfaces.

There are probably better choices if you're in a hurry, or have lots of passengers on a regular basis. But in the world of classy, quiet, luxurious sport-utility vehicles, the QX4 is worthy of its brand name.