If you've got deep pockets, Infiniti's 2008 QX56 could be the SUV for you.

For 2008, it gets a freshened exterior and a highly upgraded interior. The QX56 is a perfect car for those who like contemporary design that pushes the envelope. There's little about the QX56 that says "traditional," and that suits many people just fine.

There's no fake anything when it comes to interior design. That's real aluminum and beautifully polished wood inside the QX56. It's all tastefully applied, too, in keeping with the contemporary theme of the car.

But all that styling doesn't come cheap. The price range on the QX56 is $52,250 to $55,350. It's powered by a 5.6-liter, 320-horsepower V-8 (rated at 12 mpg in the city and 17 mpg on the highway) that gives this SUV more than adequate power for the highway and off the road.

The QX56 is available with either all-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive. And since it's equipped with low range gearing, the QX56 acquits itself well in off-road conditions.

The interior was exceptionally roomy, making it the perfect long-distance traveling machine.

For daily use, Infiniti was smart enough to include a rear camera as standard equipment, a must when you consider the QX56's large size. Even with a camera to assist with parking, getting around in this SUV can be daunting.

For that reason, I'd choose either the Infiniti FX35 or FX45. They're far easier to drive in the city and much sexier looking, too.

There were a couple of problems with the QX56: There's such a bewildering number of controls and knobs in the center stack that it takes time to master them, even with help from the owners manual. And some of the audio system controls were located in odd places. Also, the QX56's engine is noisier than many of its competitors.

On the other hand, I loved the third-row, power-folding seat. And the sheer comfort and interior room was phenomenal.

If I could make one change to the QX56, it would be to give this model its own styling and look. Even with some changes to the grille and trim, it still looks too much like the much cheaper Nissan Armada -- the two vehicles share bodies. And that's not fair to what is otherwise a wonderful product. That also can't be helpful to salespeople at Infiniti dealers whose image-conscious customers don't want a product that looks like a dolled-up version of a much cheaper car or truck.

Infiniti's done such a terrific job differentiating its other products; it's time for Infiniti to turn its attention to the QX56 and give it a well-deserved transformation and differentiation, too.