And to what end? Not aerodynamics, though there's only so much you can do with a very large box. The EPA's claims to the contrary, 800 miles of open freeway netted just 16 mpg on average with the adaptive cruise control set at 70 mph. Given its girth, it would be excusable if not for a pair of instruments that won't let you forget how fast you're burning through your tank. In just 15 miles, the needle on the gas gauge is starting to move off the full mark. By 25 miles, it's completely off.

If this isn't enough to give your wallet a coronary, the calculated range feature will push it over the edge. Estimating anywhere from 360 to 410 miles on a full tank, the computer's eternal optimism starts to come off as mockery. After burning through a quarter of a tank, the range has only dropped an unrealistic 15 miles. It catches up with reality somewhere around the 3/8s mark, and our best observed range was just 330 miles running it into the red.

When you're not suffering from range anxiety, you'll notice that QX56 isn't a bad place to spend time. It's cavernous inside and is loaded with every feature you can think of, from a wireless rear-seat DVD system to heated seats in the first two rows to power-folding third-row seats to second-row seats you can fold and tumble from the front seat with the push of a button. Infiniti's new navigation and infotainment system features a much-improved user interface, though some menus such as the Bluetooth system are hard to find. Overall though, the new dash and center stack are a clean design and pretty user-friendly.

Despite all its luxury, the QX56 won't let you forget it's a massive SUV at heart. If the fuel burn doesn't do it, you'll remember the moment you try to put something in the back on the impractically high load floor. Or you'll remember when the transmission downshifts just like the one in your old truck, or when you get sick of the steering wheel's bus-like 3.5 turns lock-to-lock.

You may even remember when your hand lands on the giant silver knob that controls the driver-selectable four-wheel drive modes, which is the same time you'll remember you've never used it. Not just because the Bridgestone Dueler tires on those double-deuces look only slightly more useful off-road than drag radials, but because, well, you'd hate to get your $60,000-plus luxury SUV all scratched up. Maybe you'll remember to throw it on just for fun next time you go to the lake house. It's a pity, because the capability is there in the rare instance it should actually be called upon.

Never mind all that. The QX56 will look fantastic parked in front of that multi-million dollar house in the exclusive neighborhood. It'll do a fine job of transporting the kiddies to soccer practice in more comfort than all but the most recent presidential limos, and reminding your neighbor who's got the biggest ego. All for just $60,750 out the door after destination charges. Wait, you wanted all the fancy bits too, right? Make that $70,000-plus, and skip that third martini at lunch for the next few weeks.

2011 Infiniti QX56 4WD
Base price	$60,750
Price as tested	$73,095 (est)
Vehicle layout	Front-engine, 4WD, 7-pass, 4-door SUV
Engines	5.6L/400-hp/413-lb-ft DOHC 32-valve V-8
Transmission	7-speed automatic
Curb weight	5850 lb (mfr)
Wheelbase	121.1 in
Length x width x height	208.3 x 79.9 x 75.8 in
0-60 mph	6.1 sec
Quarter-mile	14.8 sec @ 94 mph
Braking 60-0	130 ft
Lateral accel	0.71 g (avg)
MT figure eight	28.4 sec @ 0.58 g (avg)
EPA city/hwy fuel econ	14/20 mpg
Observed fuel econ	16 mpg
CO2 emissions	1.20 lb/mile (est)
On sale in the U.S.	July 2010