"There's an 800-pound gorilla in our long-term garage and its name is QX56," begins a recent blog from associate editor Rory Jurnecka. "Its sheer mass remains a little intimidating for some of our staffers. That said, most have a change of heart after climbing behind the wheel. For all its bulk and heft, the QX56 is remarkably easy to drive, maneuvering on congested roads and freeways with a lightness that is totally unexpected." This is a huge beast of an SUV, the old-school body-on-frame variety, and it's much faster and a better handler than something of its girth has any right to be. Says associate online editor Benson Kong, "I recently found myself in a parking structure that should be restricted to small cars only. Thanks to the easy steering and considerable visibility, the QX was able to glide down several stories while dodging traffic."
| Our Cars |
| Months/mi in service | 7/16,411 |
| Avg econ/CO2 | 15.2 mpg/1.28 lb/mi |
| Energy consumption | 222 kW-hr/100 mi |
| Unresolved problems | None |
| Maintenance cost | $445.96 (2-oil change, inspection, rotate tires, 1-replace cabin air filter) |
| Normal-wear cost | $0 |