2011 Infiniti M56 Sport Review: Luxury Sedan with Style and Speed

The 2011 Infiniti M56 Sport boasts a 420-hp V8, advanced suspension, luxury features, and cutting-edge safety. Here's a closer look.

Infiniti has introduced the all-new M-series for 2011—a stable of six luxury sport sedans that include the M37 and M56 models. From the entry-level Infiniti M37 with its 3.7-litre V6 starting at $52,400 MSRP, to the cream-of-the-crop Infiniti M56 Sport, a 5.6-litre, 32-valve V8 starting at $73,400, the company has covered the gamut of uncompromised performance, luxury, and style for the 4-door fanatics such as myself, offering a wide range of products at all high-end price-points. Fortunately, I had the opportunity to test the latter: the 2011 Infiniti M56 Sport—a well-crafted saloon that will certainly give its German counterparts a run for their money.

2011 Infiniti M56 Sport Review
2011 Infiniti M56 Sport. Photo: Amee Reehal

2011 Infiniti M56 Price

Just to break it down, the M56 mid-size sedan comes in three versions, all sharing the same 5.6-litre 32-valve V8 powerplant, all making 420 horsepower and 417-lb ft of torque. They include:

• Infiniti M56: starting at $66,200
• Infiniti M56x AWD, starting at $68,700 with added AWD
• Infiniti M56 Sport, starting at $73,400, an RWD with significant added performance features

2011 Infiniti M56 Sport Review
2011 Infiniti M56 Sport. Photo: Amee Reehal

Exterior styling

Dimensions:

  • Length: 194.7 inches
  • Width: 72.6 inches
  • Height: 59.1 inches
  • Wheelbase: 114.2 inches
2011 Infiniti M56 Sport Review
2011 Infiniti M56 Sport. Photo: Amee Reehal

The M56 Sport’s exterior styling with long, flowing lines exudes elegance and a sense of motion, while the more beefy styling cues, including the curvy fenders, shouldlines, and front grill, make it clear this sedan offers more than just class. It means business—the vast 20-inch 5-spoke wheels wrapped in 245/40R20 w-rated performance tires validate this aggressive persona.

Features include aluminum doors, hood, and trunk; sporty dual exhaust with chrome finishers; power-folding/heated outside mirrors with reverse tilt-down feature; rain-sensing, variable intermittent front windshield wipers; and auto-on/off HID Xenon headlights with the Adaptive Front lighting System (AFS). Overall, Infiniti has managed to sculpt a sedan that is both elegant and aggressive—not an easy task, but the M56 Sport certainly pulls it off.

2011 Infiniti M56 Interior

2011 Infiniti M56 Sport Review
2011 Infiniti M56 Sport. Photo: Amee Reehal

Key interior features:

  • Premium leather-appointed seating
  • Heated and ventilated front seats
  • Infiniti Hard Drive Navigation System
  • Bose premium audio system
  • Dual-zone automatic temperature control
  • Intelligent Key with push-button ignition

The cabin is stunning and well sculpted, with soft-touch leather and touches of silver-powdered wood accents throughout, inspired by a unique heritage of Japanese lacquering techniques. The exterior design cues flow into the cabin, creating a comfortable, well-tailored atmosphere where everything is intuitive and makes sense.

2011 Infiniti M56 Sport interior with model in driver seat
2011 Infiniti M56 Sport. Photo: Amee Reehal

The unique waterfall-inspired centre console is not only designed well, void of invasive buttons and dials, but it’s also easy to navigate, employing perhaps the best interface I’ve used in a long time—toggling between menus via the primary dial front and centre is made simple and intelligent, incredibly convenient when linked to an iPod.

2011 Infiniti M56 Sport Review
2011 Infiniti M56 Sport. Photo: Amee Reehal

Standard features only with the M56 Sport (within the M56 lineup) include a Bose Studio Surround sound system with a digital 5.1-channel setup, including small speakers on the seats next to the headrests; sport-trimmed, paddle shifter equipped steering wheel and shift knob; sport-bolstered and trimmed front seats; power tilt and telescopic steering column; and a unique climate control system called Forest Air with auto circulation, breeze mode, Plasmacluster air purifier, and Grape Polyphenol filter…no idea what these mean but they’re all features feel great. The Infiniti hard drive navigation system with an 8-inch touch-screen is standard on all M56 trims.

The Infiniti M56 on the road

2011 Infiniti M56 Sport Review
2011 Infiniti M56 Sport. Photo: Amee Reehal

Super-responsive, scrolling through the gears, the M56 Sport handles brilliantly (very ‘butter-ery,’ as I explained to my wife; she didn’t get it). Infiniti claims the all-new M is even more responsive because of its next-generation Zero-lift Front Midship Platform, providing more balance to this RWD.

2011 Infiniti M56 Sport Review
2011 Infiniti M56 Sport. Photo: Amee Reehal

Taking the M56 into sharp corners is fun and effortless, and acceleration is graceful, so don’t expect to get thrust into your seat; power is consistent throughout the rpm range. Stopping power is impressive, too: aluminum 4-piston opposed calipers with 14-inch vented discs up front and 2-piston opposed 13.8-inch vented discs in the rear. The new Infiniti Drive feature includes various driving modes, including Standard, Snow, Sport, and Eco.

2011 Infiniti M56 Sport side view with door open and model getting out
2011 Infiniti M56 Sport. Photo: Amee Reehal

Some safety features found standard on the M56 Sport include the Blind Spot Intervention System Lane Departure Warning (LDW), and Lane Departure Prevention (LDP)—both very valuable features that essentially warn the driver when a vehicle is present in the blind spot and when the M56 veers outside its lane, respectively. Also, standard Active Tracing Control and Distance Control Assist (DCA): ensure an appropriate distance between the M56 and the vehicle ahead.

2011 Infiniti M56 Sport rear shot with model walking to car
2011 Infiniti M56 Sport. Photo: Amee Reehal

2011 Infiniti M56 Specs

CategorySpecification
Engine5.6L V8
Power420 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm
Torque417 lb-ft @ 4,400 rpm
Transmission7-speed automatic with manual shift mode and downshift rev-matching
Drive TypeRear-wheel drive (RWD) or available all-wheel drive (AWD)
SuspensionIndependent double-wishbone front and rear suspension
Brakes4-wheel disc brakes with ABS
Wheels20-inch aluminum-alloy wheels
TiresFront: P245/40R20, Rear: P275/35R20
Fuel EconomyEPA-estimated 16 mpg city / 25 mpg highway (RWD), 16 mpg city / 23 mpg highway (AWD)
Fuel Tank Capacity20 gallons
Up Next:
Author:
Amee Reehal
Amee Reehalhttps://www.ameereehal.com/
Shooting cars and bikes professionally since film was a thing, for over 20 years, Amee has collaborated with the major automakers and agencies, and his work has been published in various global outlets including MotorTrend, GlobeDrive, SuperStreet, Chicago Tribune, PerformanceBMW, and others. He’s an automotive writer and founder/managing editor of TractionLife.com, focusing on digital marketing & SEO for the past ten years (backed by a marketing degree, go figure). Find him travelling, spending time with his kids and family. Or golfing, poorly.