Skip to main content

2012 Infiniti M56x Review

2012 infiniti m56x review front angle
Image used with permission by copyright holder
2012 Infiniti M56x
MSRP $65.00
“For those who drive a lot and need V8 power and space, the M56x is the best sedan we’ve driven all year. That said, it can’t touch other luxury cars in terms of acceleration and tech features.”
Pros
  • Lots of space for people and stuff
  • AWD system steps up handling
  • Just has that very refined feel
Cons
  • V8 wakes up at extra-legal speeds, except we don't live in Germany
  • Outclassed by rivals
  • Features that should be standard at this level are optional

“Why you can trust Digital Trends – We have a 20-year history of testing, reviewing, and rating products, services and apps to help you make a sound buying decision. Find out more about how we test and score products.“

If you could only use one word to describe the Infiniti M, it might be this: refined.

Recommended Videos

In the 2012 model, which we tested for a week, there were no improvements to the 420-horsepower V8 engine, no added luxury accoutrements, and no new interior changes. Yet, driving this luxury sedan for the first time (since we did not review the 2011 version) and comparing it against the Infiniti M37x (which we did review last year), there is a sense of refinement in how the car drives. Not quite as punchy as the BMW 5 series, or as tech-laden as the Mercedes-Benz CLS 63, the M56x has more in common with the Audi A7 in that some of the superior craftsmanship starts to reveal itself over time.

For starters, the M56x is not a blisteringly-fast car. In our tests, even in the sport mode, the 0-to-60 acceleration was right around 5 seconds, far off the mark set by the Mercedes-Benz CLS 63 AMG we drove just a few weeks ago. In terms of handling, the M56x does not match the adaptive suspension in the Audi A8.

The exterior look of the M56x hints at being larger than the M37x, the latter of which has a more pronounced bubble shape and a longer wheelbase, but in fact they are the same size. The main takeaway we had from the car is that it provides an exceptionally smooth ride. Gliding over potholes is one thing, but the all-wheel drive felt sure on the road. (We only had one minor spin-out when we tried to get the rear wheels to lose traction.)

2012-infiniti-m56x-review-interrior-wheel-dash
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The interior is reminiscent of the M37x, but without quite as much of a cocooning feel, mostly because the vehicle is larger. There are similar cockpit controls for changing the drive mode (you can use the normal mode, sports, mode, snow, and eco) and adjusting climate controls and entertainment.

A few times, we reached for the drive mode selector thinking it was the controller for the entertainment system, since that is the staple of a Mercedes or BMW. The Bose surround system was clear and loud, but not nearly as pristine-sounding as the CLS 63 or as loud as the Cadillac CTS.

Space and handling

What this luxury sedan provides is space, an incredibly smooth ride, and power when you need it. There is plenty of room in the back for passengers, even when the front seats are shifted all the way back. Unlike many European luxury sedans, there is room for three passengers to sit comfortably in the back. Cargo space (at 14.9 cubic ft.) is more than adequate – we stuffed in several sports bags and have room to spare. Headroom is a notch better than the C63, which is geared for fast starts and tight handling.

2012-infiniti-m56x-review-rear-tail-lights
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The ride is smooth and refined without being sporty. You don’t feel like you want to race the person next to you, but everyone in the car will get a better nap on a long commute. The 7-speed transmission does a great job channeling power from the 5.6-liter V8, though, and you might not notice it right away for passing or acceleration. The M56x feels more than capable is at higher speeds, when you get anywhere near 80. The vehicle seems to unleash some hidden blast of energy beyond that point.

Tech features?

Infiniti ratcheted back the gee-whiz features on the M56x in favor of engine power and extra passenger space. On the model we tested, which retails for about $65,000 (base price is $57,000), there wasn’t an option for adaptive cruise control (slowing for the car in front of you), lane departure prevention (gently nudging you back into a lane), or even blind spot indicators. The M56x does provide a back-up camera, GPS navigation, heated steering wheel, and a fold-up privacy blind for the rear window.

The M56x has a few more hidden features which also seem less noticeable at first. The car has a standard feature for hill start assist, for those predicaments when you are perched at a stoplight and there’s a car right behind you. The vehicle will hold you in place when you take your foot off the brake. Another perk: The 10-way adjustable seats provide quite a few positions for a better driving view.

2012-infiniti-m56x-review-front-headlights
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Of course, like any top luxury brand, the M56x also uses xenon headlamps that are super-bright for easier nighttime driving, a stability control system, and ABS brakes.

Infiniti offers a tech package for the M56x that has some of the extra tech features like blind sport warning and adaptive cruise control. Of course it will cost you: $3000 for the package. 

For mileage, the V8 power wins out over fuel economy. In our tests, we clocked in at about 22 mpg, which is just barely under the rated 23 mpg highway rating, and that was mostly highway driving back and forth to work and just a few miles of city driving. The M56x can dip well below 20 mpg if you tend to drive in start-stop situations. The smooth ride becomes most apparent at highway speeds, as does the smooth shifting of the 7-speed transmission. This is a traveller’s car, not as much intended for urban excitement.

Conclusion

In the end, the Infiniti M56x falls in the same league as other luxury cars we’ve tested recently, including the Audi A7, the BMW 5, and even the Mercedes CLS 63. The ride is arguably smoother. At high speeds, the power under the hood is superior to the BMW 5 for sure, and even gives the A7 something to think about. There’s no contest compared to the C63 – the M56x falters in that upper segment.

For those who drive long hours and need V8 power and space, the M56x is the best sedan we’ve driven all year. That said, it can’t touch other luxury cars in terms of acceleration and tech features.

John Brandon
Former Digital Trends Contributor
The week in EV tech: From sky-high dreams to ground-level drama
tesla robotaxi feud alef in transition flight

Welcome to Digital Trends’ weekly recap of the revolutionary technology powering, connecting, and now driving next-gen electric vehicles. 
Buckle up, folks — this week we’re taking off with a look at the futuristic dream of flying electric cars possibly gliding above U.S. roads sooner than you think. But before we get carried away, let’s bring it back down to the bumpy road of present-day realities.
Even if you’re mostly interested about the tech powering the electric vehicle (EV) revolution, it’s become increasingly hard to avoid the politics around it: You guessed it, we’re talking about this week’s public feud between Tesla CEO Elon Musk and U.S. President Donald Trump.
What does this have to do with EV tech? Well, quite a lot actually. For starters, the technology behind Tesla’s Autopilot and Full-Self Driving (FSD) modes may return in the crosshairs of regulators: Despite the names, these are still driver-assist features that require active driver supervision, and until Trump’s election, they had been under heavy scrutiny by safety regulators for several years.
Last year, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration  (NHTSA) launched an investigation into 2.4 million Tesla vehicles equipped with FSD. Big questions remain about the driver-assist system's performance under adverse, yet naturally-occurring conditions such as fog, sun glare, rain, and snow.
When Musk, who spent about $275 million to help elect Trump, was appointed to head a newly-created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), it raised more than a few eyebrows about his power and influence over the regulators who are supposed to oversee traffic safety, and therefore Tesla.
It didn’t help that the Trump administration followed Musk’s recommendations and relaxed crash-reporting requirements put in place since 2021, while also relaxing rules to accelerate the deployment of fully-automated robotaxis.
The Trump/Musk clash takes place just as Tesla is due to launch its robotaxi pilot progam in Texas later this month. While Trump is now threatening to pull billions of dollars in government subsidies and contracts from Musk’s companies, it’s unclear whether he might pressure the Department of Transportation to again tighten the regulatory screws on Tesla. What is clear is that Trump has never been a fan of electric vehicles and is already trying to end federal subsidies on EV purchases and leases. And while he had made a big deal about buying a bright red Tesla Model S back in March, Trump now says he wants to sell it.
Back to the tech
Meanwhile, Tesla is still required to respond to information and data requests from NHTSA regarding the safety of its robotaxis by July 1. And ultimately, it should come down to the performance of the technology.
For Autopilot and FSD, Tesla has opted for less expensive navigational tech relying on multiple onboard cameras that feed AI machine-learning models. But especially for so-called adverse driving conditions, it’s the more expensive technology relying on a blend of pre-mapped roads, sensors, cameras, radar, and lidar (a laser-light radar) which has received the nod of regulators.
Waymo, the sole robotaxi service currently operating in the U.S., and Zoox, Amazon’s upcoming robotaxi service, both use that blend of navigational tech.
For its robotaxis, Tesla is said to have upped its game in terms of autonomous driving with its Hardware 4 (HW4) technology, which does include radar sensors and promises enhanced environmental perception.
Will that be enough for Tesla to convince regulators, catch up with Waymo, or compete effectively with Zoox?
We’ll have to wait and see.
Flying cars
In a recent edition, we noted that while consumer confidence about robotaxi technology is on the rise, most people also want more data before they hop into a self-driving vehicle.
What about flying taxis? According to a recent survey by Honeywell, nearly all U.S. airline fliers, or 98%, said they would consider using a so-called electric vertical take-off and landing vehicle, or eVTOL, as part of their travel journey.
But while the buzz around flying electric vehicles has mostly focused on air taxis— like Archer Aviation’s Midnight, expected to fly athletes around the 2028 LA Olympics, or Joby’s slick air taxi, backed by Toyota — one California startup is shooting for something a little more... driveable.
Meet Alef Aeronautics, a Bay Area company that wants to put the “car” back in “flying car.” This week, Alef announced it has received over 3,400 pre-orders for its electric flying vehicle, the Model A — and get this: it’s not a futuristic prototype gathering dust in a lab. Alef says production could begin by the end of 2025, or early next year.
On the ground, the Model A operates like a low-speed electric car, complete with hub motors in the wheels and—wait for it—a real steering wheel. You can legally drive it at up to 25 mph on public roads, parking it in a normal garage like any other EV. It’s refreshingly manual in an increasingly hands-free world.
But when it's time for lift off, the steering wheel takes a backseat. For vertical takeoff and flight, the Model A transforms into a drone-like aircraft. Its cabin rotates sideways to create lift, and eight electric rotors—controlled by a flight system and joysticks—take over. No pedals, no yoke, just a bit of joystick magic (or autopilot, if you prefer).
The Model A has already received the nod from regulators for test flights.
While the $300,000 price tag won’t fit everyone’s budget, the company is clearly betting on a future where you don’t have to choose between a car and a flying machine—you can have both.

Read more
8 key things you need to know from Apple’s WWDC 2025 event
From a fresh look and updated names, to new features, more intelligence and live translation
iOS 26, iPadOS 26 and macOS 26 shown on devices.

The WWDC 2025 keynote ran for just over an hour and a half. For those of you who don't fancy sitting through the whole presentation, we've pulled out the key things you need to know from the latest Apple event.

1. Welcome to the 26 club

Read more
Tesla’s robotaxi service is almost here, but it’s not the car you want to see
Silver Tesla Model Y Juniper side

Tesla chief Elon Musk has said that the automaker is aiming to launch its robotaxi service on June 22, in Austin, Texas.

“Tentatively, June 22,” Musk said in a post on X on Tuesday, adding: “We are being super paranoid about safety, so the date could shift.”

Read more