2023 INFINITI QX50

Every luxury brand has a series of incrementally differing crossover sizes, but the 2023 Infiniti QX50 is holding its own in this increasingly crowded market. While most compact SUVs are destined to endure pounding pavement, the QX50 proves capable of living a double life, deftly dodging obstacles and traversing dirt roads like they’re smooth. But tackling challenging trails isn’t really its forte, and for the most part, the compact SUV is more likely to be found in a line at the Starbucks drive-through than along fire access roads of state parks. But that’s too bad—the QX50 can be a lot of fun getting there.  With the tiny Infiniti QX30 officially gone, at 184.7 inches long, the QX50 is the smallest of the luxury brand’s SUVs. 

The driving force behind the Infiniti QX50 is its more aggressive styling, higher ride height and superior off-road capability compared to its sleek sedan counterpart, the Q50. Currently it’s halfway through its second generation, and for the 2023 model year the QX50 receives a new Sport model design that could combat the suburban optics and styling humdrum of driving a compact crossover like seemingly every other commuter. With five trims, starting with the base Pure, well-equipped Luxe, aggressively styled Sport, and top-of-the-line Sensory and Autograph, it shouldn’t be hard to configure the QX50 exactly the way you want. 

With comfortable seating for five across two rows, the QX50 is snug but not cramped. Setting it apart from competitors that have similar size and power, such as the Acura RDX, Lexus NX and BMW X3, is its reputation for agility. Infiniti made the switch early to drive-by-wire steering in 2013, and has spent the last decade quickening and refining its direct adaptive electronic system. The driver reaps this benefit with the nimble maneuvering you’d expect in a tight little coupe rather than a chunky, albeit attractively carved, little ute. The Japanese brand managed to sell 20,000 QX50s in 2021, but it struggled with only 11,105 in 2022. However, when you add the 5,106 fastback-styled QX55s, the two models sell nearly as well as the roomier QX60, with 16,573 units purchased last year. 

The models are priced well and range from $41,495 to $58,545 (including $1,195 destination fee). The new Sport model helps capture the spirit of its engineering roots with improved styling upgrades. These exterior aesthetic changes may help raise its brand competitiveness against models with better known performance-oriented lineage.

However, in all models drivers will still grapple with the unyieldingly tight second row that befuddles the entire segment. But Infiniti makes the most of its cabin space with a well-equipped electronics suite outfitted with dual stacked touchscreens, standard wireless Apple CarPlay and the most cargo capacity compared to its competitive set. 

The QX50 seems to give style-conscious buyers everything they could want in a luxury compact crossover at an attractive price, except a more fuel-efficient powertrain. But fuel-economy typically comes at the expense of performance or the checkbook or both, and that disrupts the delicate balance that makes the QX50 such an attractive package.

Performance: 14/15

Despite five trims to choose from, all 2023 Infiniti QX50s are backed by the same capable 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine with variable compression that yields up to 268 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. Paired with a CVT transmission with manual paddle shifters (if that’s your thing), Infiniti’s VC-Turbo engine has won numerous awards for its lightweight and compact design that produces V6-like power with ease and efficiency. It’s a winning recipe, and while there may be other compact SUVs with more horsepower, the powerplant feels more than enough for whatever you’re hauling on a regular basis. 

While a compact luxury crossover isn’t the obvious choice for an outdoor-heavy lifestyle, real-world tests of taking the QX50 along dirt roads in the middle of the desert prove manageable. Standard equipped with front-wheel drive, it’s available with all-wheel drive (a $1,500 upgrade on all models except the top Autograph) and has a maximum 8.6 inches of ground clearance. The MacPherson strut front and independent multilink rear stabilizer bar in the rear combined with its responsive steering make the CUV highly maneuverable, and it takes bumps and potholes washed-out roads like a champ (tip: Take it off Sport mode). For the determined, the top-of-the-line Autograph model is capable of towing up to 3,000 pounds when properly equipped.

Its on-road performance brings thrills to daily driving. The acceleration is smooth and satisfying, and although the company doesn’t yet have reported specs for the QX50, it’s easier to reach 60 mph from a standstill than you’d guess or intend. While the luxury cabin keeps the road noise out, the deep engine throttles are a welcome backdrop to otherwise mundane trips. 

Fuel Economy: 10/15

On the highway, drivers can expect up to 29 mpg and 23 mpg for in-city vehicles equipped with standard front drive for a combined 26 mpg in fuel consumption, according to EPA estimates. Subtract 1 mpg for vehicles equipped with AWD. While that sounds good on paper, this reviewer tends to take backroads and side-roads and runs mostly “around town” errands. With 264 miles covered over a week of mostly in-city driving, I traveled an average of 21 mph and returned 22.5 mpg. That’s a tad higher than the 22 mpg AWD estimate.

The fuel use specs are slightly better than some performance-oriented compact crossovers with an equivalently-sized engine, such as the 272-hp 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder found in the Acura RDX, which fetches 22 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway, for a combined 24 mpg. However, both are slightly less economical than the BMW X3, which is estimated to return 23 mpg with city driving using its 248-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder engine, and 29 mpg on the highway for a combined 25 mpg average fuel consumption. While competitive, none of these figures are that great if you’re concerned about carbon emissions or your wallet. 

However, while the Lexus NX 350 uses a 275-horsepower 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that’s estimated to return an on-par 22 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway, it’s also available with a hybrid engine that achieve 39 mpg in combined highway and city driving, while its 203-hp 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that can return up to 28 mpg in combined highway and city driving. Notably, all options take premium unleaded fuel.

Safety & Driver Assistance Tech: 12/15

The 2023 Infiniti QX50 stands out for its long list of standard active safety and driver assistance features on its base Pure model. The standard equipment includes forward emergency braking with pedestrian detection, predictive forward collision warning, blind-spot warning and intervention, lane departure warning and intervention, rear automatic braking, adaptive cruise control, high beam assist and rear cross traffic assist. 

Its standard ProPilot Assist combines many of these features that can keep the vehicle centered in its lane and traveling at a set speed while capable of bringing the vehicle to a full stop should traffic slow. When traffic resumes moving, the vehicle can return to the previously established speed for a hands-on yet semi-autonomous driving assistance system. The only other safety options that aren’t found in the base model include a head-up display, movement detection cameras and traffic sign recognition.

Despite all these technologies, safety systems, and sensors, the IIHS has given the 2022 QX50 a Good rating for its original moderate overlap front and side tests, and marginal for its updated tests. However, its vehicle-to-vehicle front-crash avoidance system received its highest “Superior” rating. NHTSA has given the 2020 QX50 a five-star overall safety rating, and with no major platform changes, the rating carries over to the current model year.

Comfort & Room: 11/15

Although the front row doesn’t offer the most amount of legroom compared to its competitive set, at 39.6 inches, it’s not far behind either. The leatherette-covered seats with standard eight-way power adjustable front seats in the base model are supportive without being too snug. Heated leather-appointed seats come standard on Luxe and above, while the cooled seat feature is added on Sport models and higher along with a heated steering wheel with its control button buried in the electronics. Heated rear outboard seats are included on Sensory and higher. While dual-zone is standard, tri-zone HVAC is included with the top-of-the-line Autograph along quilted leather seating material.

With the front row seats in their forward-most position, the QX50 offers up to 38.7 inches of rear legroom. That’s downright spacious compared to the 36.1 inches found in the Lexus NX and 36.4 inches in the BMW X3. However, both competitors offer more legroom in the front than the QX50. With the front seats slid all the way back, good luck getting an adult passenger to fit in the rear.

The QX50 is one of the few compact crossovers with second row seats that slide forward and recline, but it’s hard to imagine wanting less legroom in the rear than more. But it might come in handy in the rare instance drivers are angling to make the already large cargo floor lengthier, which is one of the problems parents sometimes face trying to fit strollers in the car. 

Infotainment: 14/15

While all native in-cabin electronics systems come with a learning curve, the QX50 has a simple set-up with its dual stacked touch screens, which helps take the pressure off of deciding between the convenience of using smartphone native apps and the embedded infotainment system. 

The standard 8-inch upper screen displays the navigation—either smartphone mirrored or native—and the 7-incher below is dedicated to the vehicle controls. Occupants have their choice of modalities for drilling down menus and selecting screen options, and can use buttons, switches, control knobs and dials to make choices. The semi-joystick like dial helps minimize the need to muck up the displays with fingerprints, but touchscreens are easier while driving. Oddly enough, using wireless CarPlay disables the Wi-Fi hotspot (subscription required), which also makes it hard to take advantage of the standard wireless device charging. Also, there are only four USB ports, which may require passengers jockeying for the right cord and port. 

There’s a lot of buried features that the driver may never use that are included with SiriusXM-owned Sirius Travel Link, like stock prices and movie listings. But its Google address look-up works well—albeit slowly. One of the much-appreciated features of the electronics platform is the easy-access camera button on the center console. While all-digital instrument panels seem to be the path forward, electronically sourced vehicle info was limited to a 7-inch display nestled between the analog speedometer and tachometer.

Cargo Space & Storage: 13/15

The QX50 wins the cargo battles amongst its competitive set. With up to 31.1 cubic-feet of space available with the second-row seats up in vehicles with a moonroof and 31.4 without, the luxury crossover bests the Lexus NX 350 that has only 27.7 cubic-feet, and the Acura RDX—the runner up in this category—offers only 29.5 cubic-feet of storage.

Open up the motion-activated liftgate (standard on Luxe), fold the 60/40-split rear seats flat and the cargo capacity expands to up to 65.1 cubic-feet without the moonroof. The second-row bench that slides forward to give owners a little bit more cargo floor for accommodating bulkier items. Infiniti chalks this flexibility up to its smaller-footprint 2.0-liter turbocharged engine that allows it to carve out more interior cabin space. For more storage capacity, roof rails are standard on the QX50 Luxe models and higher.

Style & Design: 8/10

There is very little to complain about with the QX50 when it comes to looks. Its exterior lines are sleek and expressive, and it gets an aggressive stance from the 19- or 20-inch wheels on which its firmly planted. The cabin is sumptuous and cocoon-like without being too plush; sporty without being too turbo. All models receive a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and interior accents are either painted aluminum in the Pure, Luxe and Sport or open-pore wood in the top two trims. A panoramic moonroof is included on Luxe and higher trims.

Lighting accents are one of the ways that auto makers are trying to set their crossovers apart from their competitors, and the QX50 plays that game well. The top two trims receive cube LED headlamp designs, and optional lighting accents on the kickplates ($485) and logo-marked puddle lamps ($635) improve its night-time presence. But whether or not they’re worth the extra upcharge is a personal decision.

The upgraded Bose audio system proved too powerful for the passenger door in which one of the 12 speakers was embedded, and some songs with heavy bass vibrated the window control button panel in the door unless a carefully placed elbow steadied it. The 16-speaker Bose system included in the Autograph trim seems like it could be too much of a good thing. 

I spent the week chasing down a rattle in the liftgate and eyeing the rear windshield suspiciously after ruling out equipment underneath the cargo floor. These are the type of distractions that may plague any car and could end up driving an owner insane.

Is the 2023 Infiniti QX50 Worth it? Which QX50 is the Best Value? 

Despite the base Pure model being well-equipped with all the safety equipment that you’d want in a modern car with a price point in the low $40,000s, the Sport model seems to be the way to go. While the $44,795 (all prices include the mandatory $1,195 destination fee) Luxe adds some of the trimmings, such as a panoramic roof and leather appointed seats, more style and features beckon with the $49,695 Sport model ($51,695 for AWD) namely elusive native navigation. 

While many drivers rely on their smartphone for directions, it’s not always a reliable option depending on the location and cell tower reception. For the $5,000 more than you’d pay for the Luxe trim (either with or without AWD), buyers also get 20-inch wheels, leather seats, a heated steering wheel, ambient interior lighting, around-view monitor with motion detection for the camera system, 12-speaker audio and dark exterior accents that make the QX50 look and feel more like the luxury brand that they’re buying.

How Much Does it Cost to Insure the 2023 Infiniti QX50?

The QX50’s insurance costs are similar, a slightly higher,  to many of its competitors. According to our data, a typical 30-year-old female driver with a clean record can expect an average annual premium to start at $2,335, though this averages all 50 states. That compares to $2,292 for the BMW X3, $2,260 for the Acura RDX and $2,136 for the Lexus NX. To get a more accurate picture of your potential insurance expenses, visit our car insurance calculator.