MW The 2024 Infiniti QX55 review: This sleek, roomy fastback luxury SUV stands up to its European rivals
By Colin Ryan
Pricing starts at $50,000
Pros
StylishStandard all-wheel driveRelatively affordable
Cons
In-cabin tech offering a bit dated
What's new?
Standard wireless chargingStandard memory driver's seatNew shifter
The 2024 Infiniti QX55 is a compact luxury SUV with a fastback roof, in the same vein as a few European rivals. Pricing starts at $50,000.
You know that difference between the BMW X3 and the X4, or the Mercedes-Benz GLC SUV and the GLC Coupe? Well, it's the same deal with this QX55 and the Infiniti QX50 SUV. If your first question is: "Why on earth would someone buy any kind of SUV that has less rear space than a regular SUV?" then please check out the separate review of the QX50.
If, however, you say to yourself: "Yes, I get it. Trade a little practicality to gain more style and look less common. Who needs all that rear space anyway? The thing I like most about SUVs is the high driving position," then read on. The 2024 QX55 might just be your next vehicle purchase.
The thing about the QX55 is that it delivers the coupe-like SUV concept at a lower price than its rivals. Whether that's a deal worth taking is up to each potential buyer.
Infiniti launched the QX55 for the 2022 model year, although the QX50 on which it's based came out for 2019.
What's new for 2024
A few small but welcome changes come to the 2024 Infiniti QX55. A wireless charging pad and a memory driver's seat now come standard on the base Luxe trim. This SUV also gets a new shifter derived from the bigger QX60.
2024 Infiniti QX55 pricing
The 2024 Infiniti QX55 starts at $50,000. That's for the entry-level Luxe trim, which still comes with AWD as standard and plenty of driver assistance features. The mid-range Essential model begins at $54,950, and the top Sensory model starts at $58,500.
QX55 Luxe $50,000 QX55 Essential $54,950 QX55 Sensory $58,500
These are manufacturer's suggested retail prices and don't include the $1,195 factory-to-dealer delivery fee (destination charge).
Other coupe-like SUVs offer more prestige and arguably more engaging driving experiences, so it might be worth stretching to $51.5K for an Audi Q5 Sportback or $55K for a BMW X4. The Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe also starts in the mid-50s. If anyone is interested, the regular QX50 starts at around $41,000 but with a more basic trim level.
See: The 2024 BMW X4 review: Pricing, engine, tech and safety for this luxury compact SUV
Before buying a new QX55 luxury SUV, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should be paying. Resale values are about average, similar to the Audi and BMW (XE:BMW).
Check out: 10 of the best luxury cars you can get for less than $40,000
Power, ride and handling
The turbocharged engine in the QX55 makes 268 horsepower, more than the base units in the BMW X4 and Audi Q5 Sportback. Engine power hasn't resulted in class-leading performance, though. Taking about 6.4 seconds to sprint from standstill to 60 mph puts the QX55 behind both German rivals.
Active Trace Control is standard. It applies subtle braking to individual wheels to help the QX55 and its driver track through corners with precision. Despite standard 20-inch wheels wearing run-flat tires, we've found the ride quality to be comfortable enough, yet still on the sporty side.
Active noise cancelling plus acoustic glass for the front side windows do what they can to suppress road roar, although sound deadening hasn't created a particularly tranquil cabin. Our main disappointment, though, is the use of a continuously variable transmission $(CVT)$. These don't supply the quick responses of a counterpart with actual gears and have a tendency to drone when working the drivetrain hard.
The large rear pillars hinder over-the-shoulder vision. But blind-spot monitoring and rear parking sensors are standard, addressing that little issue.
We've spent hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of compact luxury SUVs, including the Infiniti QX55.
Fuel economy
The QX55 achieves 25 combined mpg (22 city, 28 highway). For comparison, the Q5 Sportback and BMW X4 both return 24 combined mpg.
Roomy interior
With so many vehicles adopting a driver information/infotainment touchscreen arrangement in a single unit, the QX55's dashboard looks like it could have been designed several years ago. In fact it was, because the closely related QX50 launched for the 2019 model year.
The QX55 has two touchscreens, set vertically in the center console. The 8-inch upper display handles navigation and shows the feed from the reversing camera. The lower 7-inch screen deals with the sound system, phone integration, and temperature controls for the climate system and front seats.
Speaking of front seats, they're comfortable, power-adjustable, and come with heating as standard. The rear seats split and fold in 60/40 fashion. Rear passengers have 38.7 inches of legroom - good for the class and the same amount as the QX50 SUV - plus 36.9 inches of headroom. Admittedly, that's where the QX50 has the upper hand, but fastback luxury SUVs aren't bought for this attribute.
Luggage space goes from 26.9 to 54.1 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. This is better than the Audi Q5 Sportback or the BMW X4.
Check out: The 2024 Mercedes-Benz CLA review: Pricing, specs and more for this stylish, subcompact, luxury sedan
Sleek exterior
The 2024 QX55 makes an undeniable visual impact, regardless of whether each beholder thinks it's beautiful. At least it doesn't do anything odd with its grille, and the standard wheel size is a substantial 20 inches. The headlights of the Luxe trim sport a black inner trim. The Essential and Sensory versions are fitted with self-leveling cube-design LED headlights. The power-folding side mirrors are heated. The rear door handles have a capacitive touch function to unlock, and they also come with the same LED welcome lighting as the handles up front.
Our favorite features and tech
All-wheel driveAll-wheel drive (AWD) is standard in the 2024 QX55, great for tackling wintry conditions or just getting power to the ground. To optimize fuel economy, the system sends power to the front wheels most of the time. When conditions dictate, it can direct up to half the available drive to the rear wheels.
ProPilot AssistThis is adaptive cruise control with stop/go and steering assistance. It's standard across the 2024 QX55 SUV range and helps alleviate the dullness of long stretches of freeway.
Wireless Apple CarPlayLuxury vehicles should make life more convenient. The 2024 QX55 SUV contributes to this by enabling Apple $(AAPL)$ iPhone users to keep their devices in their purses or pockets and integrate with the infotainment system without the aid of a cable.
Sliding/reclining rear seatsAlthough the 2024 QX55 SUV has a sloped roof, Infiniti hasn't ignored the needs of rear passengers altogether. Their seats can slide to achieve decent legroom. And if their heads are too close to the ceiling, the seatbacks can recline a little.
Around View Monitor/Moving Object DetectionComing in at the midlevel Essential trim, this is a 360-degree camera system. It's a great help when maneuvering in tight spaces.
Hands-free tailgate operationPart of the top Sensory trim's standard equipment, all it takes is a wiggle of the foot under the rear bumper to open.
See: Some cool future car tech from this year's CES
Engine and transmission
Like a lot of vehicles, the 2024 QX55 has a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine. But nothing outside of the Nissan/Infiniti camp has variable compression. Fixed compression is the usual approach because making it variable requires some clever and involved engineering. The idea behind it is to optimize fuel economy under light loads yet still deliver plenty of punch when required. Output is 268 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque, which goes to all four wheels through an automatic transmission.
4-year/60,000-mile warranty
Infiniti's new-car warranty is 10,000 miles better than most competitors, with coverage lasting four years or 60,000 miles. The powertrain is protected for six years or 70,000 miles, which is typical. There's also complimentary scheduled maintenance for three years and roadside assistance for four years, each regardless of mileage.
Safety ratings
Neither the QX50 nor the QX55 has been tested fully by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), but this generation QX50 did receive a maximum 5-Star overall score from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). It's likely the QX55 would perform similarly. Standard safety features include forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, and lane departure warning/lane departure prevention.
KBB's car review methodology.
This story originally ran on KBB.com.
-Colin Ryan
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February 08, 2024 05:01 ET (10:01 GMT)
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