BEHIND THE WHEEL: My kind of driving adventure in the 2021 Infiniti QX50
It was simple, all I had to do was get behind the wheel and let it drive.
I was headed to Palo Duro Canyon’s Doves Rest Cabins in the 2021 Infiniti QX50 Autograph AWD.
The first luxurious offering I noticed as I sunk in behind the wheel was the plush leather and “very” comfortable seats.
There was plenty of power in the 2.0L variable compression engine too with 268 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque.
All wheel drive and 300-pound towing capacity – not bad.
Luckily, I didn’t need to tow or be towed on my little West Texas Infiniti jaunt.
Come to think of it though, on my drive home from West Texas it was dabbling a bit of snow – nothing my little Infiniti crossover could not eat right up.
New on the QX50 for 2021, there have been enhancements added like the now standard content on various grade levels, think a wi-fi hotspot that is standard across the model range and a new trim level appearance package on the QX50 Luxe. There is also a head up display on the QX50 Sensory trim and direct adaptive steering on the QX50 Autograph, the trim I happened to be driving on my little two-night sojourn.
Also new 2021 QX50 add-ons are the side-mounted airbags in the rear seat and heated front seats and a new color option, Mineral Black.
So needless to say driving to Doves Rest Cabins was a breeze.
The cabins are located directly outside the main entrance to Palo Duro Canyon and 16 miles from Canyon, Texas or 30 miles from Amarillo. Take note too, each cabin is incredibly unique in design. Mine was the Durango cabin – rustic and well-appointed with views for literally – miles!
If you are thinking of social distancing this year for the holidays Doves Rest Cabins is going to be an excellent choice. Durango starts at $275 a night and is located on the historic Marshall Ranch. This is one of the cabins in the Doves Rest group that people clammer for since just in the back yard is a sheer drop with majestic views of the canyon wall.
Did I say breathtaking?
A little history note about the area where Durango Cabin is located comes from the Doves Rest Cabins website, “The site where these cabins were constructed was used by Comanche’s as a ‘butchery,’ and it is where the Southern and Quahada Comanche – factoid did you know this was notably the most powerful and many say ruthless Indian tribes in American history – I didn’t either – it is where they roamed. Also, in this area were the Kiowa, and Cheyenne and Arapaho.
It was pure buffalo land and 150 years ago there were millions of these wild creatures in the area. So were these nomad tribes – the hunters of the Great Buffalo and this is the site where these great buffalo hunters drove the animal over the cliff as a hunting technique too.
I was there on the night of the December full moon. As I sat out in the cold looking toward the canyon wall not far away I could hear the night birds, see the canyon in the distance thanks to the beautiful light of the moon while I was wrapped in a warm blanket and thinking about the fire I ended up burning from the night I arrived until the morning I left.
Again, breathtaking, and highly recommended for the holidays.
Oh, and did I mention Longhorn cattle roam nearby in the adjacent pasture and the bright colors of the canyon are a geologist’s dreams?
Well, yeah, that too.
You can also spot wildlife like blue quail, bobwhite quail, Rio Grande turkey, bobcats, mule deer, white-tailed deer, Barbary sheep, coyote, roadrunners, rabbits, and numerous songbirds. I actually heard the coyote the last night I was there singing a song to me as the sun was going down on the horizon and I sat at 3,500 feet above sea level in the heart of the Texas Panhandle (what we Texans call the Great Southern Plains).
I could feel the energy of the place too where the chief of the Quahada Comanche warrior, Chief Quanah Parker and the last of the great warriors fought the battle of Palo Duro Canyon in 1874 near where Doves Rest Cabins are today.
Fast forward to modern times and for outdoor adventures there are more than 30-miles of hiking, mountain-biking and equestrian trails and 1,500 acres for horseback riding.
For those more interested in driving their 2021 Infiniti QX50 Autograph AWD around the area don’t miss Route 66 in nearby Amarillo.
For such a drive from Dallas to Palo Duro Canyon – about six hours in all – the 2021 Infiniti QX50 was roomy so no problems there. Even with the competition like the Audi Q5, Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class, BMW X3 or the Porsche Macan, what I found most appealing about the interior is the poshness of it overall; comfortable and inviting.
When I accelerated without the tunes turned high, I could definitely hear the engine – it is loud when you push the throttle. It was a smooth highway ride to Palo Duro Canyon and even smooth around the Dallas roads and highway. Most readers know I like to feel like I have control behind the wheel and this Infiniti did elicit my respect in that area.
Final note, since this is definitely the kind of vehicle you will want to keep for some time, if you are a traveler and need hauling room you get 31 cubic feet behind the back seat and 65 cubic feet with the 60/40 split-folding rear bench folded flat. There is also a motion-activated power liftgate on the higher trim level. Overall, the features depend on trim and are determined by your daily needs, this Infiniti offers just about anything you might need and will certainly find a way to accommodate your every whim no matter where you roam or if you stay home.
SHOULD YOU NEED TO KNOW
Check out the Dynamic and Dynamic+ steering modes on the 2021 Infiniti QX50.
MILES
Not bad fuel economy on the 2021 Infiniti QX50 with 22 miles per gallon in the city and 28 miles per gallon on the highway.
COST
Starting at $38,975 upwards the 2021 Infiniti QX50 Autograph I drove priced at $61,765.