We drove a $50,000 Infiniti QX50 luxury SUV to see if it's ready to rival Audi, Acura, and BMW. Here's the verdict.
Here it is! Our second generation 2019 Infiniti QX50 test car.
It replaced the long-serving first-generation QX50 that began life more than a decade ago as the EX.
In the Infiniti line up, the QX50 slots in above the Mercedes GLA-derived QX30 crossover and...
... The three-row Nissan Pathfinder-based QX60.
In the marketplace, the QX50 will be tasked with competing against the Audi Q5, ...
... Acura RDX, ...
... BMW X3, ...
... Cadillac XT5, ...
... Lexus NX, and ...
.... Mercedes-Benz GLC.
Let's start from the outside in. First things first, the QX50 is a real looker. The sculpted sheet metal with its numerous creases, curves, and angles make for a modern and stylish crossover SUV.
Up front, the QX50 is standard issue Infiniti complete with the corporate grille.
According to Infiniti, the QX50 boasts a slippery 0.32 coefficient of friction.
The rear end is dominated by the twin exhaust outlets, a subtle roof-top spoiler, and a liftgate.
Also, check out the Hofmeister kink on D pillar! Very nice!
In contrast to the bold exterior design, the interior is stylish, but much more restrained.
In front of the driver is a button-heavy, but well-designed leather-wrapped steering wheel.
Beyond the steering wheel is a pair of concise analog gauges flanking a digital information display.
The QX50 is equipped with the twin-screen infotainment system found across the Infiniti lineup. It features an eight-inch upper touchscreen that's home to the navigation and the multi-view 360-degree camera system as well as ...
... A seven-inch lower touchscreen that houses the climate controls, entertainment functions, and various apps. This is low-point of our experience with the QX50's cabin.
We first experienced the QX50's twin-screen infotainment system back in 2014 during our review of a Q50 sedan. Back then, we found the navigation system to be archaic and the processor speed to be lagging. Fast forward nearly half a decade and the bar for what is a great infotainment system has shifted dramatically.
What was decent back in 2014 simply won't cut it today. And while Infiniti has certainly made an effort to tweak and enhance the system, it hasn't done enough.
The user interface is confusing and unintuitive. The two touchscreens are very different in layout and tactile feel, which creates an odd incohesive user experience.
In addition, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are not available.
The infotainment system can also be manipulated using this rotary controller.
However, the 16-speaker Bose stereo proved to be quite impressive, delivering a crisp and clear sound.
In addition to the great stereo, the QX50 is also available with an impressive suite of in-car and drivers assistance tech including a head-up display, forward emergency braking with pedestrian detection, predictive forward collision warning, remote start, backup collision intervention, adaptive cruise control, and rear cross traffic alert.
The QX50's rear cabin boasts ample room for two full-size adults.
However, the raked roofline limits headroom for the tallest amongst us.
The large panoramic roof really gave the cabin a open and airy feel.
Overall, the QX50's cabin proved to be an inviting and comfortable place to be. Material and build quality are solid. Active noise cancellation has made the cabin a quieter place to be.
Lift up the power-rear hatch ...
... And you'll find an impressive 31.4 cubic feet of cargo. Fold down the seats and that figure goes up to a voluminous 65.1 cubic feet.
Pop open the hood and you'll find the centerpiece of the QX50 experience. It's the first variable compression ratio engine ever used in a production car. The 2.0-liter, turbocharged, four-cylinder engine produces 268 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque.
The VC technology allows the engine to operate at a low 8:1 compression ratio which helps it deliver more power and low-end grunt when needed, but it can shift to a high 14:1 ratio for better fuel efficiency during highway cruising.
The engine is hooked up to a continuously variable transmission that can send power to all four wheels.
The 2019 QX50 delivered a 0-60 mph time of 6.4 seconds during testing by Motor Trend.
Source: Motor Trend.
The QX50's all-wheel-drive system and 8.6 inches of ground clearance puts it on par with other crossovers in the segment.
So, what's it like to drive?
The Infiniti QX50 is a solid performer. Its well-sorted steering and suspension make it a pleasure to drive.
The new turbocharged VC engine delivered as advertised. It's punchy under hard acceleration and smooth and relaxed in highway cruising. The Environmental Protection Agency expects 24 mpg fuel economy in the city, 30 mpg on the highway, and 26 mpg combined for the all-wheel-drive version. Add one mpg for front-wheel-drive models.
While the VC engine delivers the goods, it was let down by the continuously variable transmission Infiniti paired with it. The CVT simply doesn't do an effective job in maximizing the capabilities of the engine. Under hard acceleration, the CVT forces the engine to the upper end of the rev range. It's a common occurrence in transmissions of the type, but the result is a less refined feel that's unbecoming of a vehicle of the QX50's genre. In addition, others such as the Subaru Ascent proved you can pair a turbo-four-cylinder with a CVT in a large SUV and have it not sound like an underpowered economy car when you floor it on an on-ramp.
Our verdict.
The Infiniti QX50 is so wonderfully likable and yet infuriating. It boasts great handling, a comfortable ride, a quiet cabin, and some seriously stylish sheet metal.
But glaring faults always seem to spoil the experience. For instance, the brilliantly executed interior and cabin ergonomics are spoiled by the infuriatingly obtuse infotainment system. And the driving experience created by the innovative engine and the well-sorted suspension is ruined by the clunky transmission.
All in all, the 2019 Infiniti QX50 is a very good luxury compact crossover SUV and a major step forward for the brand. But it's a few tweaks away from perfection.
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