I purchased my QX-4 about two months ago (in December of 2001). I bought one with all the options with the single exception of the back seat video entertainment system. I also added several dealer options (wind deflectors, "pet fence," etc.) I'd recently purchased a 2002 I-35 for my wife (about four weeks prior) so I obviously liked the dealership.

I like the looks and features of the QX-4. The leather interior coupled with the use of real birdseye maple wood creates a very nice feel. The controls generally seem well placed and the dash display is easy to read.

I appreciate being able to adjust the headlight height (angle) setting from the dash. Four preset positions are available to allow you to compensate for shifts in body angle caused by cargo and towed loads. With the Xenon headlights, it really throws a strong beam out ahead and it could blind oncoming traffic if you didn't compensate for body angle shifts that raise the nose.

I have dislikes about some aspects of the vehicle too. The running boards look nice, but in wet weather it's difficult to get in or out without dragging your pants leg across the wet running board. The seat heaters are nice, but they don't get nearly as warm as the ones in the I-35. It's a silly ploy on the manufacturer's part to package the limited slip differential with the seat heaters so that you can't get one without the other, but since I wanted both, I wasn't put out by it.

Perhaps the biggest disappointment was the "Intelligent Cruise Control." It cost about $800 more than the standard system and I wish now I didn't have it.

First, an explanation of the "intelligent" aspect. With the system engaged, a five-laser system detects when I near a car in front and it slows my vehicle down, even applying the brakes if it's warranted. It will then maintain a suitable distance behind the car in front until either I change lanes, the car in front moves over a lane or it accelerates to a speed faster than what my cruise control is set for.

That's great and it does a good job. The problem is that the laser system is affected by rain, fog, direct sunlight and dirt on the laser window. The system works with the windshield wipers off or in the "intermittent" mode, but by design it shuts off if you set the windshield wipers to run continuously (slow or fast). The reason for this is understandable, heavy rain can block the laser beams and interfere with the system's ability to detect cars ahead.

The system also refuses to work if the sun is low on the horizon and you're driving nearly straight into it. Again, it's understandable because direct bright light blinds the laser detection system.

Fog (or dirt on the laser window) doesn't shut the system off, but because of the reduced visibility, the laser detection system may become erratic and you can't depend on it to recognize the distance to the car ahead.

I wouldn't mind all this if I had the option to turn the "Intelligent" part of the system off and still had standard cruise control available, but that isn't possible. It's all or nothing. I live in the Pacific Northwest. I frequently see a lot of light rain, and there are times when I'd like to use the cruise control but it isn't available because the wipers are on.

Perhaps a petty complaint; I sometimes find it difficult to get into this vehicle without lightly brushing my head across the upper edge of the door opening. Leaning forward eliminates the problem, but it's not like I'm an unusual size (5' 10") or an odd body proportion.

The engine has sufficient horsepower for the vehicle's weight to really move it along. I have the tow package, but haven't tried towing yet. Gas mileage is consistent with the EPA rating. I typically get 20 mpg on the freeway, in town it runs 11 to 14 mpg. You should be aware that this engine requires premium fuel, not regular, and that adds 10 to 20 cents a gallon to the cost.

I usually drive it with the drive train selector in the "2-H" position, the "Auto" position engages more rotating components in the drive train and that seems to degrade the mileage 1 or 2 mpg. The dealer assures me that I won't need tire chains with this 4-WD system and I hope they're right. I've been to Firestone and several auto parts stores trying to find a set and I've been told that no one makes them for a P245-65R17 tire. They may be available from specialty houses as a custom size.

The BOSE radio system is fine, but the range of adjustment for bass and treble is not as broad as I had expected. Since I have the navigation system, there's a six-disk CD changer in the rear. Our I-35 with navigation system and rear CD changer allows you to pull the navigation CD out of the dash and push in a music CD and play it. The QX-4 doesn't permit this though, you can put a music CD in the dash unit but the system doesn't know what to do with it.

On that topic, I like the navigation system. It's a touch-screen interface where the I-35 has a joy-stick interface and touch-screen seems much easier to use. The voice guidance is handy in getting you over unfamiliar road to someplace you've never previously been. As others have noted on previous models, the system uses a CD-based disk and it takes several (5 disks I think) to cover the whole country. It comes with one CD, additional disks are over $100 each.

The one real disappointment for me regarding the navigation system was that while the system is full of business and street details in the large-city metro areas, it's pretty weak in small rural towns. Most small towns are little more than a dot regardless of the number of streets they actually contain. Even at that though, the system still shows all the connecting highways so it'll at least get you to the town.

The ride in the vehicle is comfortable around town, but I can't recommend it for long trips. To be fair, it's a truck, but the bottom line is that the ride can get "choppy" on certain road sections. In general I don't find the front seats comfortable after about three hours. The back seats are not comfortable for large adults, there's adequate knee room but not enough foot room. It's OK for a 20-minute ride, but not for a two-hour ride.

The interior space seems to be less than one might expect. Four people and a large dog feel like a very full load and little space is left for luggage. Leave the dog home though and the luggage space is adequate.

A purchasing note, the dealership was willing to show me their invoice on the car and the numbers agreed with information I'd acquired though other sources. Both the I-35 and the QX-4 were (cash) purchased under MSRP by about $2,500.



Amount Paid (US$): 41,400
Condition: New
Model Year: 2002
Model and Options: 2002 QX-4