The 2023 QX50 struggled against other premium compact SUVs from top brands despite its dashing looks and gorgeous interior. However, the QX50’s lackluster performance compared to its luxury classmates is due to its variable compression 2.0-litre turbo-four engine which is touted as revolutionary but falls short on fuel efficiency and performance. promised performance.
QX50 owners have expressed satisfaction with the QX50’s exterior styling and ride feel. However, the QX50 suffers in other respects, most notably the powertrain and fuel economy. Infiniti may want to beef up these attributes, and we hope it helps bridge the gap between the QX50 and its rivals.
asked owners to rank the SUV into 10 primary attributes: ride feel, ride comfort, exterior style, safety feel, fuel economy, hill climbing and descent, interior design, infotainment, powertrain, and tuning and starting .
Infinity QX50 excels in exterior styling and driving feel
Among these features, QX50 owners voted exterior styling and ride feel as their favorite attributes of the compact SUV. The QX50 looks fresh to the market, thanks to its beautiful curves and sleek lines, told by its powerful-looking clamshell hood, dual-arch grille, and 20-inch alloy wheels (and 20-inch tires) that give it a bold and good looking.
For the 2023 model year, Infiniti introduces a new “Sport” trim in place of the previous Essential trim, which comes in a more masculine, street-ready look to woo its predominantly female target buyers. It also features a bold black treatment that extends to the 20-inch wheels, roof rails, nameplates, front grille and other exterior elements.
Driving the QX50 is great. Hard acceleration puts the turbocharger in high gear, which causes the compression ratio to drop to avoid engine knocking. With Sport mode engaged, the continuously variable transmission (CVT) maintains a constant gear without jolts, keeping the engine exactly where you want it. Overall, the QX50 offers a smooth ride with optimal dynamic handling to easily navigate rough roads, while providing a quality drive on the highway.
Eye-catching aesthetic touches and an excellent driving feel are not enough for the QX50 to win the competition in the premium compact SUV segment. In the JD Power 2022 APEAL study, the QX50 ranked 12th out of 15 luxury compact SUVs, while its big brother, the QX50, leads the category.
More room for improvement for the Infiniti QX50’s powertrain and fuel economy
Under the QX50’s clamshell bonnet is a 268hp 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine with revolutionary variable compression technology. Even so, the car’s half 6-second acceleration from 0 to 60 mph makes it slower than other brands, like the BMW X3, which are livelier despite not having the new engine design.
Additionally, the car features dual exhausts that release a sporty growl at wider throttle openings. Unfortunately, even with the active noise cancellation and active sound enhancement working through the car’s speaker system, the engine makes an awkward noise that’s a bit at odds with the SUV’s painstakingly crafted interior ambience and driving quality.
The revolutionary variable compression engine doesn’t deliver the promised levels of power and fuel economy, as real-world testing shows the car to be less fuel-efficient than Infiniti claims. According to , the front-wheel QX50 averages 23 mpg city and highway, while the AWD version’s efficiency levels are rated at 22 mpg city and 28 highway. The truth is, these figures are no better than competing brands with simpler engine designs.
