This in turn could lead to some misinterpretation of published reliability ratings of vehicles that do not go into the full story of a particular model’s engine reliability. They point out because of this, however, that rather than the engine being adversely affected so much, that the weakest part of a turbocharged car could be in its powertrain. Although, some models do come with a 6-speed transmission. You have to look at the powertrain and the model as a whole.”Īccording to CR analysts, turbocharged engines typically are paired with 8-, 9-, or 10-speed automatic transmissions that take on the brunt of forces from the added power during acceleration. But it’s not so easy to generalize about reliability for turbocharged engines. “The idea with a smaller engine, especially a four-cylinder, is that you’re going to get decent fuel economy without giving up power. It’s a smaller engine, but you’re still getting a decent amount of power,” says Mike Quincy, autos editor at Consumer Reports. “ Generally speaking, turbocharging is a great idea. In fact, that is a question posited in a recent Consumer Reports news piece that discusses the reliability of engines in makes and models of cars that come with a turbocharger feature. You can easily imagine that with the added stressors placed on a turbocharged engine, that it could lead to a decreased engine life in relative comparison to non-turbocharged engines referred to as “naturally-aspirating vehicles.” Here is an informative short video that demonstrates the details of how a turbocharger works on an engine:Ĭonsumer Reports on Turbochargers and Engine Reliability When the turbocharging kicks-in from increased exhaust gases hitting a fast spinning fan, more air is brought into the engine leading to additional air provided to the fuel air mixture, which results a significant increase in explosive power within the cylinders. The beauty behind turbocharging is that it forces more air into the engine only when the driver needs added acceleration such as during lane changes and passing or, just getting out of the way of an impending accident. The ratio seems a bit slow and the wheel is rather lifeless in your hands.Turbocharging four-cylinder vehicles is one way auto manufacturers design cars that not only have respectable gas economy, but can still have the punch of a six-cylinder or larger engine vehicle once the “pedal is put the metal” in a four-cylinder car. This example features the standard steering setup and it's mediocre at best. No, there's nothing inherently wrong with how this Infiniti carries itself, the vehicle is just not that engaging. It may look as sporty as a tracksuit, but the QX55's driving dynamics don't jive with the wrapper. As Roadshow Managing Editor Steven Ewing described in his QX55 first drive review, "There's a sharp initial response to turn-in, but … Direct Adaptive Steering continues to disappoint with its inconsistent feedback that varies between vague and totally disconnected." If you can avoid this feature, it's probably best to. In practice, Direct Adaptive Steering leaves much to be desired. This allows engineers to fine-tune the steering feel, or change the ratio however they want for better handling, in theory, at least. With this elaborate Infiniti design, those components are replaced by sensors, software and electronics. Normally, a steering wheel is physically connected to a vehicle's front tires through a series of shafts, joints and other hardware. Sometimes it surges, other times it sags, though it always gives the impression there's a little too much going on under the hood. The QX55 absolutely screams off the line, thanks to abundant torque and favorable gearing, so it feels plenty quick, but the power delivery tends to be inconsistent, a bit lumpy. I don't automatically hate these "gearboxes" like some people do, but this one, regrettably, isn't well matched to the powerplant. The engine is matched to a continuously variable transmission. Even though it sounds entirely synthesized, emitting a hoarse moan when wound out (amplified by the active sound-enhancement system), the QX55's engine is buttery smooth and punches well above its weight class.ĭespite its impressive zeal and refinement, all is not perfect with this Infiniti's powertrain. Eager to run, this force-fed I4 delivers a competitive 268 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. This little dynamo automatically adjusts how much it squeezes each incoming air charge, shifting the compression ratio between 8:1 and 14:1 depending on driving conditions. The QX55 is hustled along by Nissan and Infiniti's ingenious variable-compression 2.0-liter turbocharged engine. This is where the horses live, all 268 of 'em.
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