The Car Connection Expert Review
Likes
- Pleasing exterior style
- QX55’s even prettier
- Good driver-assistance tech
- Reasonable base price
Dislikes
- Gets too expensive too fast
- So-so fuel economy
- Not much fun
- Annoying twin-screen setup
Buying tip
features & specs
While light on personality and fun, the Infiniti QX50 and QX55 can appeal for their clean lines and reasonable base pricing.
What kind of vehicle is the 2024 Infiniti QX50? What does it compare to?
The QX50 and its rakish QX55 sibling are small luxury SUVs. Compare them to the BMW X3 and X4 as well as the Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class.
Is the 2024 Infiniti QX50 a good SUV?
Infiniti’s entry-level crossover SUV has pleasant styling and an appealing base price, though its powertrain underwhelms and its twin-screen infotainment can frustrate. It’s a 6.2 on the TCC scale. (Read more about how we rate cars.)
What's new for the 2024 Infiniti QX50?
The QX50 and QX55 see no major tweaks for 2024.
Sharing underpinnings, powertrains, and most features, the QX50 and QX55 differ only in styling. The QX50 wears a more conventional long-roof SUV shape, while the QX55 has a sportier, coupe-esque roofline that means a slight reduction in rear-seat headroom and cargo space.
Inside, they share a pleasant, if somewhat dated design with a twin-screen infotainment system that can be a bit tricky to operate. Infiniti charges quite a bit for an interior that barely qualifies as luxurious with its so-so materials, too.
The only engine choice is a 2.0-liter turbo-4 rated at 268 hp. This engine features a trick variable compression system, but it seems a bit wasted here since the QX50 is neither particularly quick nor particularly thrifty at 25 mpg combined. The continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) hardly livens things up, either. With a soft but uninspired suspension tune, the QX50 adds up to a largely forgettable driving experience.
It’s reasonably spacious inside, though, with good front seats and decent cargo room.
Infiniti’s standard feature set impresses, though. You’ll get adaptive cruise control with limited hands-free ability, blind-spot monitors, active lane control, wireless Apple CarPlay, and wired Android Auto compatibility, much of which costs extra on the QX50’s primary rivals.
How much does the 2024 Infiniti QX50 cost?
The base QX50 Pure runs $42,045 to start, which buys synthetic leather upholstery, a wireless charging pad, and a few other niceties. All-wheel drive costs $2,000 more, and the lineup can quickly climb to $60,000 for the top Autograph trim level. Base versions offer a reasonably compelling value, though.
Where is the 2024 Infiniti QX50 made?
In Mexico.
2024 INFINITI QX50 Styling
The 2024 Infiniti QX50 is a stylish small SUV.
Is the Infiniti QX50 a good-looking car?
It’s a nice effort, even if some rivals boast fresher styling. We rate the 2024 QX50 and QX55 at 6 out of 10 thanks to their exterior lines. Their interiors don’t impress, though.
Both models start off with the same curvy lines up front including a broad grille and thin headlights that sweep back into the fenders. From the side, they differ. The QX50 has a relatively conventional profile, albeit with some styling intrigue due to its swoopy rearmost roof pillar. The QX55’s roof slopes rearward in a hatchback-like fashion. It’s definitely the more distinctive of the two, even if it has less cargo space.
The cabin has a dual-screen infotainment system that’s not particularly well integrated, at least compared to multi-screen efforts seen on a wide range of luxury models from Europe and Detroit.
Infiniti is stingy about paint colors on the cheapest trim, too.
2024 INFINITI QX50 Performance
The 2024 Infiniti QX50’s advanced engine hides in the background.
Infiniti squeezes some impressive tech under the QX50’s hood, but the benefits are tough to notice. This tech earns the range a 6 out of 10. Otherwise, the driving experience is rather ordinary.
Is the Infiniti QX50 4WD?
It can be. All-wheel drive costs about $2,000 more, though it’s standard with the QX55.
How fast is the Infiniti QX50?
It’s not as peppy as you’d expect. The 2.0–liter turbo-4 puts out a decent 268 hp and it makes use of a high-tech advanced variable compression system that should improve response while keeping fuel economy in check. It doesn’t really do either, at least in our testing. The standard CVT is a dullard, sapping engine power. The QX50 never feels especially peppy.
It rides well enough, at least on the standard 19-inch alloy wheels. Other versions with 20-inchers can be a bit choppy over rough pavement, though they’re hardly firm. Light steering further emphasizes the non-sporty experience. It’s quiet and comfortable enough on the highway to be a decent long-distance cruiser.
If anything, the QX50 is largely forgettable to drive, and that’s a shame since BMW’s X3 proves that a small luxury SUV can be both engaging and refined.
2024 INFINITI QX50 Comfort & Quality
The 2024 Infiniti QX50 makes decent use of its interior space.
While not decadent in its most reasonably priced trims, the 2024 Infiniti QX50 has a relatively spacious cabin. It’s a 7 thanks to comfy from seats and a big cargo area.
Standard power adjustment for the front seats is an asset, even though they’re wrapped in synthetic leather on the base trim. Real leather is optional, and top versions come with gorgeous semi-aniline hides.
The rear seat offers nearly 40 inches of legroom, but it’s narrow and the bench is a bit low to the ground.
The 31.4 cubic-foot cargo area more than doubles in size with the rear seatbacks flopped down in QX50 form. Opt for the rakish QX55 and those figures slide to 26.9 cubes with the seats up and just 54.1 cubic feet with them down.
Interior trim is fine across the line, but we’d like to see wider availability of nicer materials.
2024 INFINITI QX50 Safety
The 2024 Infiniti QX50 comes with impressive driver-assistance tech.
How safe is the Infiniti QX50?
It should be a good choice, though we land at a 7 since we don’t have complete crash-test data yet.
The 2024 Infiniti QX50 earns its points based on a five-star rating from the NHTSA and generous crash-avoidance tech including automatic emergency braking and active lane control. Infiniti’s ProPilot Assist tech includes a particularly good adaptive cruise control system that does an exceptional job of keeping the QX50 centered in its lane and away from other vehicles at highway speeds.
2024 INFINITI QX50 Features
The 2024 Infiniti QX50 is a good buy in base trim, but it gets expensive fast.
Stick to the cheapest version of the 2024 Infiniti QX50 and it can be a compelling buy. It’s an 8 out of 10 thanks to good standard fare, an impressive warranty, and a big infotainment screen.
The lineup starts at $42,045 for the Pure trim. It includes Infiniti’s full package of crash-avoidance and driver-assistance tech, synthetic leather trim, power-adjustable front seats, wireless Apple CarPlay, wired Android Auto, and a wireless charging pad.
The 4-year/60,000-mile warranty also includes three years of basic maintenance.
Which Infiniti QX50 should I buy?
The base version is just fine, though plan to spend $2,000 more if you want all-wheel drive. The Luxe trim, which costs $45,345 to start, adds a big sunroof, leather seats, Bose audio, and a power liftgate.
Opt for the shapely QX55 and you’ll have to skip the base Pure version. Its lineup kicks off at $51,195 in Luxe trim with similar specs to the more practical if less pretty QX50.
How much is a fully loaded Infiniti QX50?
Running north of $60,000, the top Autograph trim includes lovely quilted leather and open-pore wood trim, but its price tag opens up a wide range of high-end rivals that deliver a more upscale experience overall.
2024 INFINITI QX50 Fuel Economy
The 2024 Infiniti QX50’s high-tech engine doesn’t deliver impressive fuel economy.
Is the Infiniti QX50 good on gas?
It’s not as good as its variable compression engine and CVT would otherwise indicate. It’s estimated at just 23 mpg city, 29 highway, 25 combined with front-wheel drive, or 22/28/24 mpg with all-wheel drive. Those figures earn it a mediocre 3 on the TCC scale. There’s no hybrid version here, either.
