The 2023 Infiniti QX50 boasts a roomy and quiet cabin and ample cargo space. However, outdated technology features and a perplexing driving character keep the QX50 from being a top pick in the segment.
The 2023 QX50 is Infiniti's entry-level luxury SUV positioned below the larger three-row QX60 and the enormous QX80. There is also the QX55, which is based on the QX50 and sports a sloping coupe-like roofline, and we review that separately.
On the upside, it's one of the more affordable models in the small luxury SUV segment yet offers a generous number of standard features. Its luxurious cabin is spacious for passengers, and there is plenty of cargo room. The QX50 also offers a distinctive multi-tone interior with suede-like trim on the top-spec Autograph trim.
Unfortunately, the QX50 comes up short in other areas, all of which you can read about in detail in our Expert Rating below. As part of our small luxury SUV search, we recommend also taking a look at the Germans — the Audi Q5, BMW X3 and Mercedes GLC — as well as the practical Acura RDX and impressive Genesis GV70.
Edmunds Expert Rating
edmunds TESTED
Driven, tested, rated by automotive expert Clint Simone
Average
7.4
out of 10
We drove the 2023 INFINITI QX50 on our test track and on real roads. Our Edmunds team conducts rigorous independent vehicle testing, driving 500,000 miles a year.
Performance
6.5/10
How does the QX50 drive? The QX50 lacks the polish we expect from a luxury SUV. Power isn't necessarily the problem. At the Edmunds test track, our QX50 sprinted from 0 to 60 mph in 6.7 seconds, which is an average time for a small luxury SUV with a base engine. It's all about how the QX50 goes about its business. For one, it's slow to respond. Press on the gas and it takes a beat or two before everything really gets going. This quality can get annoying when you want a quick burst of power, like when you need to pass a slow-moving vehicle. Around turns, the QX50 is competent, but nothing about its character inspires you to drive harder.
Comfort
8/10
How comfortable is the QX50? The QX50 is decently comfortable. The front seats strike a nice balance of plush and supportive, with enough bolstering to hold you in place around corners. The seat heating and ventilation functions work quickly and powerfully, as does the climate system. Overall noise control is great inside the cabin as well.
The one area we don't love is the ride quality. It feels less settled than the X3 or GLC on bumpy roads. Around town, the Infiniti fails to iron out everyday road imperfections like a luxury SUV should.
Interior
8/10
How’s the interior? The cabin is roomy and has plenty of space but lacks the modern elegance of its competitors. The QX50 is low enough to make hopping inside an easy task for most people. Finding the right driving position shouldn't be a problem — the steering wheel has ample vertical adjustment and can telescope forward and back. Forward visibility is fantastic over the hood, but the rearward view could be better. It's hampered by the chunky rear roof pillars.
Technology
7/10
How’s the tech? Infiniti's two-screen infotainment system is now completely outdated, and after spending time with it, you realize that it creates more problems than it solves. The bottom display, in particular, is largely redundant and unnecessary. The system's reaction time is fine and it offers wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but it's lacking any real intuitiveness.
The QX50's driver assist features are straightforward to use. However, as a whole, they are less capable and slower to react than comparable ones from Mercedes and BMW. Anything beyond a gentle curve on the highway and the lane keeping system begins to have problems keeping the car in the lane. The parking sensors work well, but the quality of the surround-view cameras on the display is grainy.
Storage
8/10
How’s the storage? The cargo area's ample size and helpful features really stand out here. There's plenty of space, and that's even before you fold the back seat or use the in-floor storage. This is one area where the Infiniti holds a competitive advantage over its closest rivals. Storage for smaller items isn't quite as generous as the cargo area is, but it will work fine for most people shopping for an SUV this size. Loading up a child safety seat will be made more challenging by the LATCH anchors tucked between the cushions.
Fuel Economy
7.5/10
How’s the fuel economy? Infiniti likes to tout the QX50's innovative powertrain, but we expected the fuel economy to be better. The EPA estimates the all-wheel-drive QX50 gets 25 mpg in combined city/highway driving, but we managed only 23.8 mpg on our mixed-driving standardized test route. That figure is lower than we'd expect and worse than other four-cylinder SUVs like the Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 and the Audi Q5.
Value
7.5/10
Is the QX50 a good value? While it isn't as sporting as the Germans, the QX50 delivers on the comfort and practicality front, justifying its similar pricing. Be careful with option package selection because some of them are pricey. The QX50's warranty is on par for the class with four-year/60,000-mile basic coverage and six-year/70,000-mile powertrain coverage. There is no free scheduled maintenance, unlike what some other luxury brands offer.
Wildcard
6.5/10
While the QX50 doesn't have any dynamic missteps outside of the transmission, there's not much to get excited over either. It's roundly competent and doesn't shrink away from a curving road. Fun doesn't really enter the equation.
2023 INFINITI QX50 trim level differences
The 2023 Infiniti QX50 is available in Pure, Luxe, Sport, Sensory and Autograph trim levels. A turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (268 horsepower, 280 lb-ft of torque) is standard and uses a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) to power the front wheels. All-wheel drive is optional on all trims except for the Autograph, which includes AWD as standard equipment. Feature highlights include:
Which QX50 trim does Edmunds recommend?
If you don't mind its dark exterior trim and wheels (can be configured with any exterior paint color), the new Sport trim strikes the best balance of features and price. In addition to everything in the Luxe trim, you get premium leather upholstery, heated and cooled front seats, a Bose audio system and a surround-view camera system.
RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.
2021 INFINITI QX50 ESSENTIAL 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo CVT)
Quiet, responsive, fantastic tech. I love the pro pilot assist. The car "experts" love to complain about the cvt transmission. Don't listen to that crap. You won't be able to tell. Infiniti has done a great job with it. Drive the car. See for yourself. The mileage is excellent. (Update after 1 year+. There have been a few electrical blips.. Lost settings that have to be re entered. … But I'm still a big fan)
Absolutely worst company to deal with. Leased a new 2021 QX50 Sensory edition. Tons of electrical issues from time changing, hands free phone buttons not working, crash sensors going off for no reason, inTouch would not work, Android auto wouldn't connect, navigationPOI would bring up results from Canada, (live in Texas) ect. So many trips to the service department and nothing could be … done. Dealership said no one had issues like that must be a faulty car. Bought out the lease and talked us into leasing another QX50 Sensory but this time a 2022. 1 week after leased the map screen went black, the radio keeps going out, the safety alerts are going off. Same thing all over again. 4 months of this after 8 months of the same stuff with the 21. Infiniti Consumer Affairs was pointless and useless. Said their hands were tied because no codes showed up on multiple diagnostics. Which is not accurate. Their suggestion was to get a 2nd opinion from another infiniti dealership. Enter Sewell Infiniti. I explained all the issues they checked it out found codes and were directed by infiniti to completely replace the A/V unit (both center screens) in the car. They completed the change I picked it up on Saturday and on Sunday the map screen blacked out and Monday the radio went out again. Basically they can do nothing to fix their own cars and they basically could give a crap less. They have no interest in dealing with their customers or providing any reasonable options whatsoever. There were 6 other brand new 22 models in the service department waiting to have their A/V units replaced too. Completely insane! Just avoid this manufacturer period! These issues have been going on for at least 3+ years over various models and they clearly have no interest or intent to address them.
I am glad I didn’t let the professional reviews scare me from test driving the QX50. The CVT transmission was not as bad as the reviews stated and I personally thought it was smooth and did not think it was a deal breaker. The cons of the QX50 to me were the odd way of putting it in neutral & not having a spare tire 🛞 having run flats instead. The Pros were the comfort, appearance and … quality of the interior. The acceleration was powerful & surprisingly smooth. The cabin was quiet and the suspension buffered rough Wisconsin roads.
Cargo room was great and I love the look of the exterior. My wife and I really like this SUV❤️
My wife had a 2019 QX50 that was rear-ended and totaled, so we had to buy a new car. She would have been content to buy another QX50, but we ended up with a much better Audi Q5 for about the same price. The Pros and Cons in the Edmunds review of the QX50 sound right-on to me and were consistent from the 2019 to the 2022. The negatives that bother me most ....CVT engagement at low … speed, loose steering, noisy acceleration, headrest tilted too far forward...all weighed against an otherwise very nice vehicle. Plus, the newer 2022 QX50 was actually a step backwards on its display technology....it may be a higher resolution display, but the graphics are just archaic and the map in particular is awful. The Audi is a much more refined vehicle on all fronts and was an easy choice.
We have a limited number of reviews for the 2023 INFINITI QX50, so we've included reviews for other years of the QX50 since its last redesign.
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