We’re spending 12 months with this Infiniti QX50, reviewing the full ownership experience with ongoing updates.
QX50 Maintenance, Part II
By Richard Homan on June 30, 2019
Price: $49,685 | Price yours
Current Odometer: 15,812 miles
Latest MPG: 20.51 mpg
Lifetime MPG: 21.0 mpg
Maintenance/Service Costs: $269.17
Days out of Service: 0
The one-year-anniversary victory lap that our long-term 2019 Infiniti QX50 gets to run — as its 12-month stint in our test garage comes to an end — included the luxury SUV’s 15,000-mile check-up. We called our local Infiniti dealer for an appointment and she happily accommodated our afternoon request.
Our dealer stay of just about an hour and a half was completely without surprise — as our time with the QX50 has been. Our small silver Infiniti got a fresh five quarts of synthetic oil and a fresh oil filter, plus a tire rotation to distribute the wear, front and rear. Our dealer also checked the belts, topped off the fluids, and sent us away with a free wash. Price: $133.63, which is consistent with other Infiniti dealers in the area.
By stretching the QX50’s mileage to over 15,000 miles in one year, we managed to travel further than the average for U.S. drivers — even a few thousand more than the average California traveler. What’s worth noting is that during that time, while our Infiniti’s oil definitively showed evidence of wear the night before each of our two maintenance servicings — one at 7,500 and the other at 15,000 — it was surprisingly “clean” for a small-displacement turbocharged engine — which has to work harder for its horsepower.
Even better, we never had to add a dram of oil — or any other fluid — during the QX’s tenure at our offices. Besides regular maintenance, little air in the tires was all that it asked for. And at that 15,000-mile maintenance check, the wear on both the tires and the brakes were as consistent, even and reassuring as an In-N-Out burger and chocolate shake.
In This Case, Numbers Don’t Lie
by Richard Homan on June 14, 2019
Price: $49,685 | Price yours
Current Odometer: 15,164 miles
Latest MPG: 19.78 mpg
Lifetime MPG: 21.0 mpg
Maintenance/Service Costs: $135.54
Days out of Service: 0
We’ve got to admit that with the time in our long-term Infiniti QX50 growing short — July marks one full year — our thoughts remain warm towards the compact luxury SUV.
As you can read in some of the posts below, those of us who have taken our families out for an adventure in the QX find it roomy, comfortable and quiet enough for two rows of uninterrupted conversation. Likewise, the do-it-yourselfers in our gang found the Infiniti more than a match for some substantial cargo loads that would challenge anybody else in this class.
The Infiniti’s cold, hard numbers back up these assertions of superiority: Our Infiniti lives at or near the top spot in both 2nd-row headroom and legroom, while somehow — simultaneously — owning the honors for being able to absorb cargo. No other vehicle in the class does that — not the Mercedes-Benz GLC, not the Audi Q5, and not the Acura RDX.
If you need to compare, those numbers look like this in the QX50:
- Rear headroom: 39.1 inches
- Rear legroom: 38.7 inches
- Cargo space behind the second row: 31.4 cubic feet
- Cargo space with the 2nd-row seatbacks folded down: 65.1 cubic feet
Our QX50’s ability to keep the outside world outside is confirmed by our sound-meter tests. During normal driving at 50-65 mph on roads and highways, we found that the QX50 cabin registered 65-68 dB of interior noise. Those quiet numbers are comparable to next-size-up class of European luxury SUVs.
So if your priorities are hauling people or packages, the Infiniti QX50 doesn’t disappoint.
A Weekend in the Infiniti QX50
by Andy Bornhop on April 30, 2019
Price: $49,685 | Price yours
Current Odometer: 13,723 miles
Latest MPG: 20.5 mpg
Lifetime MPG: 20.8 mpg
Maintenance/Service Costs: $135.54
Days out of Service: 0
It felt good to get back in the QX50, if only for a weekend.
Last Sunday, four of us loaded into KBB’s long-term Infiniti SUV for a trip to the Mt. Wilson Observatory, which overlooks Los Angeles from a perch 5,710 feet high in the San Gabriel mountains. Mt. Wilson—famous for being the place where Edwin Hubble discovered that the universe is expanding—also is home to several radio and TV transmission towers, including those for local stations KTLA and KTTV.
Some miscellaneous observations about the QX50:
–It’s comfortable. The four of us fit well inside, where we appreciated the width, the nicely stitched leather and the generally handsome interior design. Moreover, after we strolled around the Mt. Wilson facility for a couple of hours (and checked out the 100-inch telescope, completed in 1917), the QX50’s seats felt especially soft, with plenty of cornering support that was appreciated later on our trip back down the mountain.
–It’s quiet. We had easy conversation during our whole 140-mile round trip, never needing to raise our voices to be heard.
–Eco mode, designed to maximize fuel efficiency, cuts too much power. As a result, the driver must use lots more throttle to keep up with traffic. And even then, it sometimes feels like something’s still holding the vehicle back. Our solution: Use the Standard or Sport driving modes and keep it there.
–Also, the power delivery can be uneven, especially in Eco. Sometimes, the QX50 responds crisply to throttle; other times, it’s sluggish, as if the vehicle’s stuck in too high of a gear. In this situation, we suspect the continuously variable transmission (CVT) has switched up quickly to a higher “ratio” to maximize fuel economy, but it does this before turbo boost has arrived to enable the engine to make good power.
–In its defense, Infiniti’s crossover SUV climbed Mt. Wilson with ease, and accommodated four adults in good comfort. And one time, when we needed to make a sketchy multi-point U-turn on a narrow side road maybe 1.5 lanes wide, we totally appreciated the 360-degree birds-eye camera, which let us know exactly how much we could back up each time before inching forward again.
For astronomy nuts, hikers or anybody simply wanting fresh mountain air and a superb view of Los Angeles, Mt. Wilson warrants a visit. And the luxurious all-wheel-drive Infiniti QX50, despite its minor foibles, is a great way of getting there.
Generous Cargo Capacity for Your Stuff
by Richard Homan on April 9, 2019
Price: $49,685 | Price yours
Current Odometer: 13,228 miles
Latest MPG: 17.8 mpg
Lifetime MPG: 20.9 mpg
Maintenance/Service Costs: $135.54
Days out of Service: 0
As the great philosopher Sessions once said, “It’s great to have a place for your stuff.” Truer words were never uttered when it comes to owning a luxury SUV. Opportunity to unlock and load our long-term Infiniti QX50 came in the form of a former KBB editor – Bob Nagy – getting ready to move cross-country. He had three bookshelves that I wanted, and I needed, and we needed a cargo hauler to do the job.
When I suggested our QX50, Nagy brought out his doubts. “Are you sure that it’ll take them?” he asked. “Get ready to be surprised,” I answered. But the one who was really surprised (kinda shocked, actually) was me.
Before
With the 2nd-row seats folded down, our Infiniti swallowed Bob’s bookshelves easily and yawned for more. Always up for a dare, I made it home with my cargo and grabbed every guitar I own (plus the banjo), my oversized bag of golf clubs, and my tennis bag, and challenged the QX50 to a cargo eating contest.
The bigger-than-I-realized Infiniti SUV won the challenge cleanly and still had room for more – and never blocked my view out the back window while I was driving.
With the huge moonroof, our 2019 Infiniti QX50’s cargo capacity is 64.4 cubic feet (65.1 without the moonroof). Among its competitors, only the BMW X3 even comes close to matching that (62.7 cubic feet). But mere numbers mean nothing to anyone – take a look at the photo and you’ll start to get a sense of how much cargo the Infiniti’s design can accommodate. The squared-off floor was very welcoming to loading my stuff in and getting it out again, and I never even used the bonus storage area beneath the floor.
When it’s time to do bullet points for the 2019 Infiniti QX50’s advantages, cargo capacity should be near the top of the list.
After
Audio Road Test of Infiniti QX50 Bose Performance Series
by Matt Degen on March 11, 2019
Price: $49,685 | Price yours
Current Odometer: 11,998 miles
Latest MPG: 20.6 mpg
Lifetime MPG: 21.0 mpg
Maintenance/Service Costs: $135.54
Days out of Service: 0
Like other luxury SUVs, the 2019 Infiniti QX50 is available with an upgraded audio system. This one comes courtesy of Bose, and it boasts 16 speakers, a significant step up from the standard six.
Called the Bose Performance Series, this premium audio system packs a significant punch for only $900 more. The hitch is, it’s only available if you spring for the top-end QX50 Essence. That trim starts at $43,350, compared to a base model’s $36,550.
As the resident audiophile in our office, I subjected the Infiniti QX50’s Bose system to my usual Audio Road Test. Is it worth your money?
The short answer
For the TL;DR crowd, the answer is: “Yes, but…”
Is the system reason in itself to justify buying the top-line QX50 Essence? No. But if you’re already intent on the QX50 Essence, it makes sense to spend the extra $900, both to enjoy now and to make the Infiniti more enticing upon resale.
All in all, it sounds and looks good. I mention that latter aspect because you might notice the speaker design before even turning on the system. The brushed grilles of the door-mounted speakers have a polished, upscale look.
Sound-wise, the acoustics are clean and crisp and reach admirably loud levels without distortion. It sounds about what I’d expect from a $900 system — though nowhere near as good as the $850 Burmester option in the Mercedes-Benz GLC. In addition to sounding better for less money, that upgraded audio in the Mercedes rival to this Infiniti can be had in even a base trim level.
Missing abilities
The bigger issue audio lovers may have with this Bose system is part of a larger one involving the Infiniti’s tech system: What’s missing that is even more apparent than what’s here.
Despite the QX50 being all-new, its infotainment system already feels outdated. Yes, the twin screens look cool and I for one am happy that it still has a CD player, which more and more new cars are abandoning. But in the missing column is Apple CarPlay and Android Auto phone integration and the ability to play FLAC files.
That first point will affect far more people. CarPlay and Android Auto are game changers, integrating your smartphone’s functionality onto a car’s screen. And while most other new cars have adopted one or both, compatibility with these smartphone systems isn’t even optional in the QX50. You can still connect and play music from your phone via Bluetooth wireless connectivity or via USB cable, but it’s not as easy as just hitting a familiar screen icon as you would on, say CarPlay.
The second matter, the inability to play FLAC files, will aggravate music lovers who appreciate quality. FLAC are digital music files with CD-quality resolution. Think of them as high-quality MP3s. They can be created from CD’s when ripping, or bought from music sites. I have thumb drives loaded with albums ripped from compact discs into FLAC format. Unfortunately, the Infiniti couldn’t play them. Many new vehicles have the ability to play FLAC-encoded files along with the more popular MP3 format, but the Infiniti isn’t one of them.
Also, aside from basic tone settings and the like, there aren’t many ways to tailor the sound. In other luxury SUVs, you have options for everything from the level of surround to which passenger’s ears should get priority. Maybe Infiniti’s thinking is that simple is better.
A final quip is the lack of metadata to go along with the media. For example, in other vehicles, if you import a CD, you’ll get the name of the album, tracks, and maybe even album art. In the Infiniti, it just listed generic “Track 1” and so forth.
The takeaway
In and of itself, the Infiniti’s upscale Bose audio system sounds good enough. But “good enough” just isn’t anymore for audio upgrades in a luxury SUV such as ours that is kissing the $50k mark. So yes, if you’re committed to the QX50, and committed to buying this top-trim version, spend the nominal amount more and get the Bose audio. Just be aware of what it isn’t as much as what it is.
A New Kind of Range Anxiety
by Richard Homan on February 25, 2019
Price: $49,685 | Price yours
Current Odometer: 11,356 miles
Latest MPG: 19.2 mpg
Lifetime MPG: 21.0 mpg
Maintenance/Service Costs: $135.54
Days out of Service: 0
We discovered a new kind of range anxiety while heading to work in our long-term Infiniti QX50.
This time, instead of wondering if we had enough electricity to get us where we needed to go, we went below a quarter of a tank in the Infiniti SUV and the range-to-empty readout gave us “—” instead of helping us stay confident by counting down the miles-to-panic below 20 with actual numbers (instead of —).
As you can see from the analog needle gauge, we had almost a quarter of a tank indicated.
Nevertheless, the complete lack of context made me anxious. Our QX50 is certainly not the only vehicle out there that cuts off the range indicator reading at the time when you need it most, but this was particularly unnerving. When I got to the office — after filling up, of course — I relayed my dismay around the watercooler and asked the group if it was possible that all vehicles were so ungenerous. To my delight, our Matt Degen was able to produce a photo almost exactly like the one I took of the Infiniti’s gauge. This one was from his friend’s Mazda CX-5 showing the miles-to-empty counter going down to the finality of “1.”
I’m hip that there’s extra margin built into these indicators — that CX-5 had plenty more than one mile left before empty — but it would help if the counters wouldn’t stop counting when it means the most. Otherwise, paying attention to the lower end of the range indicator makes no sense.
Our First Test of the Infiniti Warranty
by Richard Homan on February 8, 2019
Price: $49,685 | Price yours
Current Odometer: 11,055 miles
Latest MPG: 18.9 mpg
Lifetime MPG: 21.1 mpg
Maintenance/Service Costs: $135.54
Days out of Service: 0
Through no direct fault of its own, our long-term Infiniti QX50 allowed us to test the generosity of its company’s 4-year/60,000-mile Basic warranty.
It all started one afternoon when one of our editors tried to slide open the center console cover protecting the cup holders, USB ports, a small cubby area, and the portable-device charger (formerly known as the cigarette lighter). Because the locking mechanism for the sliding cover was more robust than the plastic tab that’s used to move the slider, it won the battle and the plastic tab broke.
With equal measures of irritation and frustration, we approached our dealer to see what could be done to replace the tab. Imagine our surprise when the service manager told us that, rather than just the plastic tab, the entire console pocket (which includes the cup holders and cubby area as well as the complete slider mechanism and cover) would have to be replaced. Now imagine our further surprise and delight when we were told that the console pocket – a $499.85 item – would be replaced under warranty.
The very next day, our replacement part came in and all we lost was a little time at the Infiniti dealership while the new console pocket was installed at zero dollar-cost to us. In the end, our dealership service experience was excellent, but we were a little put off that it took a $500 part to replace a slot-in plastic tab.
Post-fix, we discovered that the slider-locking mechanism continues its pernicious refusal to easily release the slider cover, so now we treat it with more “mechanical sympathy” than before. We’d wager that the 2020 Infiniti QX50 will be less resistant to opening than the one we’ve got on our 2019.
Our QX50 Gets its First Maintenance Check-up
by Richard Homan on January 23, 2019
Price: $49,685 | Price yours
Current Odometer: 9,908 miles
Latest MPG: 20.9 mpg
Lifetime MPG: 21.3 mpg
Maintenance/Service Costs: $135.54
Days out of Service: 0
Hurtling happily towards the 10,000-mile mark, our long-term Infiniti QX50 reminded us that it was time for its first service: basically, a simple oil change. Per our ability to follow directions, we made an appointment with our local Infiniti dealer and were pleased to receive immediate attention at the appointed time of reservation.
The dealership was bustling, but not over-crowded, with a well-lit lounge for service department customers to Wi-Fi in while waiting for their vehicles.
Our service advisor gave us an estimate of $145 and three hours for the work. In the end, the work came in at $135.54 parts and labor for a tire rotation, along with inspection of the tires, belts and hoses, plus the oil change with an oil filter replacement and six quarts of Mobil 1 synthetic oil. They also washed the exterior, and yes, they did manage to take three hours to complete the work. And I watched them reset the tire pressures to spec.
In the end, what should have been a pretty straightforward bit of maintenance turned out to be just that. All of the inspected parts still had plenty of life left in them, and the tires were wearing evenly after almost 10,000 miles — about 20% of a normal all-season tire’s lifespan.
After the servicing, our QX50 was running pretty much the same as when we dropped it off. That’s actually a compliment when you think about it. Because with the exception of being a little thirstier at the gasoline pump than we expected, the Infiniti SUV has been a good travel partner over the past six months, both around town and on a few ambitious road trips. So far, it’s aging well and we look forward to seeing what’s in store for the next six months.
Holiday Travel
by Richard Homan on January 9, 2019
Price: $49,685 | Price yours
Current Odometer: 9,587 miles
Latest MPG: 20.9 mpg
Lifetime MPG: 21.4 mpg
Maintenance/Service Costs: $0.00
Days out of Service: 0
In order to visit my family in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains during the December holidays, I barreled up the spine of California along Interstate 5 and Highway 99 in our long-term Infiniti QX50.
The ride and the weather were just cloudy enough to be beautiful, and in relative time – when a long trip in a good car seems shorter than a shorter trip in a bad car – the journey in the Infiniti SUV seemed to breeze by. The seats – with lumbar support – gave my lower back the break it needed, and the ancient-looking Infiniti InTouch infotainment system (wired up to the $900 Bose 16-speaker audio system) put me in podcast and Old 97’s heaven. I just wish the touch-screen display had a time slider that would show how long the song/podcast is and how much time was left, rather than simply the elapsed time.
Another thing I really appreciated during the long-highway road trip in the QX50 is how the Intelligent Cruise Control system wasted no time in getting us back up to speed after the Infiniti sensed that a slower vehicle in front of us was no longer an obstacle. It was often downright assertive, though never aggressive.
Loaded with Christmas gifts, luggage and golf clubs (just in case), our 2019 QX50 even let me grab an extra case of eggnog for the festivities and store it securely.
Ready for Your Close Up?
by Lyn Woodward on December 21, 2018
Price: $49,685 | Price yours
Current Odometer: 8,658 miles
Latest MPG: 19.9 mpg
Lifetime MPG: 21.4 mpg
Maintenance/Service Costs: $0.00
Days out of Service: 0
Shooting car review videos isn’t your normal 9-5 job. Certainly, the driving I do while shooting isn’t normal driving. Don’t get the wrong idea, what we do is 100-percent legal and not stunt driving, but there are plenty of precision maneuvers we execute in order to get shots.
Car-to-car shooting is exactly what it sounds like. Our camera mounts onto the back of one car, usually a 2015 Honda Pilot. The camera operator sits in the passenger’s seat while operating the camera. The camera assistant drives, while the hero car we’re shooting footage of trails behind. That’s the car I drive.
Not long ago we shot our long-term introduction of our 2019 Infiniti QX50. I’ve written about this vehicle before. It took me on a great road trip down to sand dunes for a killer off-road rally. This, however, was going to be a very different driving experience.
Action!
“Okay, let’s do a swap and pass.” The director wants me to swap lanes behind him while the camera car is inches away from mine. With my turn signal on, we switch lanes, the cars are so close the cross-traffic alerts on the QX50 go off. This is good, because there’s a GoPro camera set up inside, and this demonstrates to video viewers how those alerts work. As we switch lanes and I use the paddle shifters to downshift a gear, sometimes two, ensuring a great burst of acceleration, making the pass more impressive on camera.
With some cars, achieving that instant acceleration is tougher than with others. With the QX50, thanks to its world-class variable compression turbocharged engine, it’s not hard at all. I’m not so effusive about the continuously variable transmission it’s mated to, which hampers power delivery more than I’d like. Hence, my using the paddle shifters in manual mode for more control.
Linear brakes
As soon as I pass, I engage the brakes, so I don’t gain too much ground on the camera car. I maneuver the QX50 back into place, into what we call “the pocket.” It’s a spot about a foot off either the right or left rear corner of the camera car and we set up our next shot. I appreciate the dynamic performance of the QX50. While there isn’t a lot of feedback from the road in the drive-by-wire steering, my inputs are quickly recognized by the computer that steers the car, and I’m able to put it exactly where I want it and when.
The QX50’s brakes aren’t harsh as in some other luxury vehicles. Sticky stoppers are great when driving on a track, but for getting smooth running footage I prefer something with a little more finesse.
When we’re done shooting, once again I’m a bit disappointed to give the car back to its Kelley Blue Book mentor. For all its foibles, he certainly snagged a good one in the Infiniti QX50. Check here for more updates on the Infiniti QX50 and head to YouTube to see us driving it completely legally and not like stunt women.
Taking the edge off
by Matt DeLorenzo on December 10, 2018
Price: $49,685 | Price yours
Current Odometer: 7,418 miles
Latest MPG: 20.8 mpg
Lifetime MPG: 21.4 mpg
Maintenance/Service Costs: $0.00
Days out of Service: 0
Having driven the rear-drive biased predecessor of the 2019 Infiniti QX50, I could appreciate the enthusiast chops that crossover possessed, thanks largely to its shared underpinnings with the Infiniti G sedan and coupe. While it was fun to toss that version around on twisty roads, the package was tight and had its drawbacks in day-to-day use as a people hauler and commuter.
That’s where the all-new QX50 is such a revelation. Its move over to a more traditional crossover platform that uses a transversely mounted engine biased towards the front axle results in a larger, more usable package and a more relaxed ride. I wouldn’t call the QX50 soft by any means, but it has a well-controlled ride that is adaptable to all sorts of situations. Especially welcome is the way it handles the uniquely LA phenomenon of “freeway hop” where the uneven road surfaces can cause a bit of head toss in a tautly suspended vehicle. The QX50 will have none of that, thank you. It’s comfortable, smooth and easy to drive.
Another benefit of the new layout is that the QX50 is wider than the model it replaced, which also adds an interior that invites you to spread out. With its emphasis on a more upscale experience, roomy interior and comfort, the QX50 is better matched to the expectations of buyers in this segment.
Playing in the Sand Box
by Lyn Woodward on November 12, 2018
Price: $49,685 | Price yours
Current Odometer: 7,257 miles
Latest MPG: 20.0 mpg
Lifetime MPG: 21.4 mpg
Maintenance/Service Costs: $0.00
Days out of Service: 0
Driving for some people is a necessary evil. For me, unless I’m really stuck in the traffic weeds, it’s one of the things I love to do most. So, when I tell people I drove almost 1,000 miles last week, not everyone gets as excited as I do.
Taking our long-term Infiniti QX50 on my 4-day mileage haul was a calculated move — not for its luxury SUV status, but because of its all-wheel-drive capability. You see, while the first part of my epic road trip was going from our Kelley Blue Book offices in Irvine up to Willow Springs International Raceway almost 140 miles away. The next part of my trip, a little under 300 miles down to the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area about 150 miles east of San Diego, required a lot more traction.
Mixed bag would be the way to describe my initial feeling about the in-car experience in the QX50. The seats are soft enough that they don’t create pressure on any one point in my legs or back, but they’re supportive and made a 5-hour drive feel shorter. My posterior welcomed that comfort some 900 miles later upon the return home. However, between the high-speed wind and road noise, the sound of the engine and the whirring of the continuously variable transmission, the cabin is anything but peaceful. Rising above the cacophony requires elevated radio or Bluetooth volume if you want to hear above it. And about ten minutes into my drive I tried to close the center console cubby that conceals the USB ports and the handle broke off in my hand. Hmmmmm.
Though one thing I really missed was having my iPhone able to connect to Apple CarPlay. The infotainment system is one of the most dated around and could use a refresh. You see, I was heading to the sand dunes, and not an exact street address, I needed to input latitude and longitude coordinates into the navigation system in order to find my destination. From what I could surmise, there was no way to enter those on Infiniti’s nav system. Thus, the phone was hooked up and stuck onto the front windshield.
Destination successfully located, I piloted the QX50 onto the sand highway that winds around Glamis, which are massive mountains of sand and part of the larger Algondones Dunes that stretch 45 miles by six miles along the California, Arizona and Mexico borders. The landscape is otherworldly, so much so that George Lucas filmed the Tatooine scenes from Return of the Jedi here.
So, what is an Infiniti QX50 doing in sand dunes? With its on-demand all-wheel drive capability, the QX50 actually should be able to drive on sand. My purpose for taking it there was to watch the end of the 2018 Rebelle Rally, a 2,000-km navigation rally that started in Lake Tahoe, Nevada and finished in the intimidating Southern California mountains of cat litter. This all-women’s event doesn’t allow competitors to rely on GPS systems or technology whatsoever. Teams must find checkpoints of varying difficulty along the 7-day course that traverses winding dirt roads along the desert, rocks and boulders in Johnson Valley, and dry lakebeds and rutted washes using only a compass and a map. Their phones are taken away at the starting line and all contact with the outside world is shut down.
Forty-two teams, comprised of a driver and navigator, from five countries competed in the third annual event this year. I had the honor of participating in it last year, and let me tell you, this competition is the real deal, as are the 84 women doing it. Thusly, so are their vehicles.
Driving in and out of the dunes was no problem for the QX50. I aired down the tires to about 20 psi for better traction on the soft sand and put the transmission in its manual setting so I could better control the power and torque from the variable compression engine when I needed to throttle out of soft terrain situations. Overall, the QX50 didn’t even hint at getting stuck. In fact, I was feeling so good about it, I was tempted to grab a partner and head out into the ever-shifting mounds. Alas, the rules, and the mentor of the QX50 I was using would not have been too happy about that.
The Rebelle isn’t just an event for 4×4 off-road vehicles. A crossover class specifically for SUVs without a low gear and only all-wheel-drive capability exists. As such, it provides a great proving ground for manufacturers. I’m sure that had our Infiniti SUV entered the competition, while it would have ended up a lot dirtier than as a school drop-off/pick-up vehicle, but it would have fared just fine.
Rebelle Rally creator and off-road legend Emily Miller is so adamant that a bone-stock vehicle right out of the showroom can be a contender in the Rebelle, she created a special class designation for it. While we mostly see vehicles like the Infiniti QX50 in the parking lot at Trader Joe’s, they are more capable than most people give them credit for.
With its VC engine’s 268 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque, the turbocharged 4-cylinder delivers power readily, smoothly and judiciously — especially when in Sport mode. I wouldn’t doubt that the QX50 could make a showing in an event such as the Rebelle. Plus, it would make for a luxuriously comfy ride while driving those 2,000-plus miles in a week.
On my last night in the desert, I even put down the rear seats and slept in the back because the wind was howling and my tent looked more like a beach volleyball court than a nice place to sleep. It proved just as comfortable as sleeping on the sand only with a slight incline as the seats don’t fold down completely flat.
Hmmmmm, maybe if we still have the QX50 this time next year I can pitch our running it in the Rebelle!
Dealing with Harsh Sunlight
by Allyson Harwood on November 2, 2018
Price: $49,685 | Price yours
Current Odometer: 6,577 miles
Latest MPG: 24.8 mpg
Lifetime MPG: 21.6 mpg
Maintenance/Service Costs: $0.00
Days out of Service: 0
It’s very easy to take sun visors for granted. Most of the time, you don’t need them, and visually, they’re the same color as the headliner and they sit nearly flush with it, so they just blend in. That was the case for me with the visors in our long-term Infiniti QX50. I had no opinion of them either way – until I was driving home from work as the sun began to sink lower in the sky. That’s the exact moment I discovered the sun visors in the Infiniti QX50 are not the typical rectangular shape. That may seem like a small thing, as if I’m nitpicking about an aesthetic style choice. But the sun was in my field of vision, appearing just at the top left corner of the windshield. I pulled the visor down, and lo and behold, the visor is curved, its left side leaving a gap that was just the right size for the glare of the sun to come beaming through. The up side was that once I tilted the visor to the left, it blocked that top left corner, but as the road curved, I was turning the visor left, then straight, then left again to keep the sun out. In another vehicle, keeping the visor in front, hinged down, would have sufficed. For most people, most of the time, this won’t be a factor, but if your daily drive involves being on the road at times when the sun is in your eyes, this could quickly become a pet peeve.
The highlights so far
by Richard Homan on October 18, 2018
Price: $49,685 | Price yours
Current Odometer: 6,028 miles
Latest MPG: 24.8 mpg
Lifetime MPG: 21.4 mpg
Maintenance/Service Costs: $0.00
Days out of Service: 0
Racking up miles on our long-term 2019 Infiniti QX50 has been too easy. We’re well ahead of the yearly average of around 14,000 miles, and we’re noticing some things that really stand out, like, every time we drive the SUV.
1. Willing Power: While we are generally still trying to catch the fuel economy numbers we were promised by the EPA, our Infiniti has been consistently getting the nod from editors for its ability to make quick work of short acceleration times. Even with a full load of five passengers, the QX50’s turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder breathes easy and reaches highway cruising speeds without strain. On uphill grades and when passing opportunities present themselves, the engine’s 280 lb-ft of torque takes over the CVT automatic transmission under hard acceleration and gets the job done.
2. Class-leading roominess: In our five months behind the wheel of the 2019 Infiniti QX50, this compact luxury stuff-and-people hauler has yet to meet a challenge it can’t handle. Rear-seat passenger complaints are non-existent, and the rear cargo area behind the second row has grown from one of the smallest in the class to one of the biggest. Bonus points go to the QX50’s wide-opening rear liftgate, easy-to-load liftover height, and a valid, usable storage area for tools and smaller items under the rear floor.
3. An exterior that’s easy on the eyes: This is something that we can’t convince you of, but the pictures tell the story. So do the folks who’ve photographed it and the ones who have parked it in their driveways for a day or two. Our QX50 makes any scene that it’s included in look a little bit better. From the handsome scowl on its face to the sharpened, swept profile, the new QX50 will improve the moment of your arrival from almost any angle. We’ve lived with our Infiniti SUV for long enough to get used to it, and every time we take it in, some fresh detail on it takes us in as well.
Searching for (and finding!) California Condors
by Andy Bornhop on October 15, 2018
Price: $49,685 | Price yours
Current Odometer: 5,613 miles
Latest MPG: 22.7 mpg
Lifetime MPG: 21.2 mpg
Maintenance/Service Costs: $0.00
Days out of Service: 0
It’s quite a success story, that of the California Condor. As recently as 1987, there were only 27 of these humongous birds in existence, but a U.S. government recovery program (involving captive breeding and reintroduction into the wild) has been so successful that there are now 463 California Condors living in the wild or captivity in California, Utah, Arizona and Baja California. Even so, these prehistoric-looking condors, with a massive 9.5-foot wingspan, remain one of the rarest bird species in the world.
And one of the few places you can see these condors in the wild is at the Bitter Creek National Wildlife Refuge near Maricopa, California. Which drew KBB staffer Andy Bornhop to the place last Saturday, accompanied in KBB’s long-term Infiniti QX50 by his wife Patty, sister Rosie, and brother-in-law Greg.
Andy reports:
The QX50 proved to be a great choice for our day-long adventure. We had signed up for a tour hosted by Friends of the Condors, a volunteer group that assists the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, so we needed vehicle for four that would also be at home on the dirt roads of the refuge, a former cattle ranch.
In this duty, the Q50 shined. All four of us fit comfortably in the QX50, and the cargo area swallowed our four folding chairs with ease, along with an odd assortment of backpacks, jackets, binoculars and a cooler. Even with the driver’s seat set all the way back, there’s adequate legroom in back, and the rear seatback reclines a bit for added comfort.
On the road there, heading north on Interstate 5 through a rainy L.A., I was struck by how quiet and comfortable the QX50 is, and how it’s a vehicle that masks its speed. At one point, headed west on Route 166 at the southern edge of the San Joaquin Valley, I felt like we were cruising at 60 or 65 mph, but when I looked down at the speedometer it showed we were traveling at 80 mph! The VC-Turbo engine wasn’t straining at all to maintain that speed, and even though the QX50 was heavily loaded, the suspension damping worked well on the high-speed dips we later encountered on 166.
On the dirt roads of the refuge (which is closed to the public except for occasional tours), we caravanned at low speeds to reach a couple of different lookout areas. We lowered the tire pressures to 30 psi (33 is the recommended everyday pressure) to improve grip and ride quality on the bumpy dirt. Moreover, we put the air conditioning on recirc to keep dust out of the QX50’s luxurious cabin, and on one tight uphill switchback, the QX50’s all-wheel-drive system kept us going with nary a concern.
After our tour (in which we saw several wild condors and perhaps a dozen others in a fenced release pen), we returned to Orange County on Hudson Valley Road, via the town of Pine Mountain Club. It’s a gloriously twisty road, and, once again, even though the QX50 was heavily loaded, it felt impressively composed. I drove at a mildly aggressive pace that kept my passengers from getting sick, enjoying every undulating curve and scanning the sky on occasion in hopes of seeing yet another flying giant.
As we approached home, the QX50’s low-fuel warning light went on, so we stopped for fuel and checked the fuel economy. In our 333-mile adventure of mixed driving, the Infiniti QX50 burned 14.67 gallons of premium unleaded, which equates to 22.7 mpg.
Although that’s not close to matching the 30.1 mpg that fellow KBB staffer Michael Harley managed in our last QX50 update, let’s not forget that he was trying to get good fuel economy. We, on the other hand, were trying to see some California Condors, one of the rarest birds on earth. Which we did. In the wild and free. Yippee!
Found: 30-plus miles per gallon
by Michael Harley on September 19, 2018
Price: $49,685 | Price yours
Current Odometer: 5,009 miles
Latest MPG: 24.4 mpg
Lifetime MPG: 21.4 mpg
Maintenance/Service Costs: $0.00
Days out of Service: 0
Quite frankly, we’ve been having some trouble matching the EPA fuel economy numbers that our long-term Infiniti QX50 is supposed to be achieving. Fortunately, our Mike Harley has discovered the secret to optimizing mpg. Here’s what he found on his mega-commute:
“I’ve got a terribly long 86-mile commute across the entire L.A. Basin, which I complete in the early hours of each morning — essentially beating the traffic. Taking advantage of the situation, I reset the trip odometers after I merge onto the highway and then note the fuel economy at the end of the 70-minute journey.
The 2019 Infiniti QX50 AWD, which is rated at 30 mpg highway, nailed its EPA estimate by delivering a near spot-on 30.1 mpg during my commute — I used ECO mode and adaptive cruise control the entire time, essentially avoiding the need to engage the engine’s turbocharger. That’s the best efficiency we’ve noted since the crossover SUV arrived, and it’s darn good for a vehicle of this size. Highway cruising range is bladder-busting!
Nobody can tell the engine is altering its compression ratio from within the cabin — there’s no surge of power or alteration in the sounds coming from under the hood. For the most part, the 4-cylinder sounds like the one in the current Nissan Altima, with the same lackluster drone as the CVT seamlessly alters its ratios — it’s not exciting in the least bit. (My suggestion to Infiniti: Pipe a deep exhaust note into the cabin through the audio system.) In fact, if it weren’t for the abundant torque, the driver wouldn’t even know the 4-cylinder is turbocharged.”
An interior worth knowing well
by Richard Homan on September 5, 2018
Price: $49,685 | Price yours
Current Odometer: 4,735 miles
Latest MPG: 21.7 mpg
Lifetime MPG: 21.2 mpg
Maintenance/Service Costs: $0.00
Days out of Service: 0
On a drive to lunch the other day with one of our KBB editors, I mentioned that the next update for our long-term Infiniti QX50 would be about the interior. Unbidden, my colleague responded with, “That’s one of my favorite things about this vehicle.” We agree on that, as do most of this compact luxury SUV’s drivers.
Our Infiniti is easy to get into and out of, and it’s an easy car to get comfortable in. The front seats really do your lower back a favor, especially on long journeys — like the road trip I took to Las Vegas — and the 2nd-row seats give even full-size adults a roomy place to ride. Further back, the QX50 boasts one of the biggest cargo areas among compact luxury SUVs, with a low liftover for packing and a nifty hidden storage area beneath the rear floor panel.
For the driver, the Infiniti’s thick, leather-wrapped steering wheel offers a good, relaxed handshake, and the instrument panel gives a clear, sharp and direct description of how (and what) the QX50 is doing. Navigating through the information screens in the center of the instrument panel is a cinch via buttons on the steering wheel, with tiny icons that tell you where you are in relation to the other available screens.
In living every day with the 2019 Infiniti QX50, two other things were also worth pointing out driving it. First, the interior’s vibe is completely modern but still full of practicality, like the wide, comfortable center-console armrest that hit us just right when relaxing. Second, we suggest that if you’re shopping the new QX50, be sure to sit in the driver’s seat and imagine yourself changing lanes to the left. We found ourselves double-checking our mirrors due to a fairly narrow sliver of visibility over our left shoulder, between the B- and C-pillars. Alternative, the view to the right is worry-free.
Our next update will give you a deeper dive into our Infiniti QX50’s dual-screen infotainment/controls system and the value of the Bose Performance Series audio setup.
What’s our QX50 like to drive?
by Richard Homan on August 21, 2018
Current Odometer: 4,421 miles
Latest MPG: 19.5 mpg
Lifetime MPG: 21.1 mpg
Maintenance/Service Costs: $0.00
Days out of Service: 0
One of the most important questions to ask about our long-term 2019 Infiniti QX50 is, “What’s it like to live with?” To answer that question, obviously, you have to ask another vital question: What is Infiniti’s compact luxury SUV like to drive? Well, thus far, our Liquid Platinum QX50 Essential AWD model has brought a fair share of driving satisfaction in a lot of different ways.
On both long road trips and jaunts around town, our QX50’s VC (variable compression) turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-4 engine has made more friends than it has cynics on staff. That’s because we like on-tap power when we can get it, and with the 2019 QX50, we can get it. Even though its 4-cylinder engine produces less horsepower than the V6 in the model it replaced (268 vs. 325), this all-new engine — next to be seen in the 2019 Nissan Altima — cranks out 280 lb-ft of useful torque between 1,600 and 4,800 rpm, which is exactly where you want for passing (everybody else) on the road. Off-the-line launches are easy, rather than snap-to-attention quick.
The new QX’s other driving inputs — steering, braking, and the continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) — will never be mistaken for sportingly responsive, but you’ll get comfortably used to their casual behavior. Our suggestion is that you choose “Sport” in the Drive Mode selector, take the fuel-economy hit and leave it at that. You’ll be a lot happier.
Speaking of fuel economy, even in Comfort mode, we’re finding it difficult to approach the 24-mpg/city and 30-mpg highway numbers that the EPA gives the QX50. So far, we’re seeing pretty consistent fuel economy numbers in the low 20s.
On the open highway, the ride is pretty darn good for a compact SUV, but with a little more road rumble coming through the floor than we’re used to on small luxury utes. That said, the ride comfort isn’t compromised a bit. After a long-distance shakedown cruise through the California desert, one of our editors emerged from the Infiniti as fresh as when he started (and he’s usually a whiner about his lower back).
In the next update on our 2019 Infiniti QX50, we’ll dive deeper into what the crossover SUV is like to live in. Here’s a sneak preview: It’s roomier than we’d have ever guessed, and especially comfortable.
High compression equals high power? Not necessarily.
by Andy Bornhop on August 6, 2018
Current Odometer: 2,810 miles
Latest MPG: 21.0 mpg
Lifetime MPG: 23.1 mpg
Maintenance/Service Costs: $0.00
Days out of Service: 0
First time in KBB’s new long-term 2019 Infiniti QX50, which I drove over the weekend. Because the variable-compression engine is this new crossover’s piece de resistance — reportedly endowing this luxurious SUV with the fuel economy of a 4-cylinder, but the power of a V6 — I arranged it so that the turbocharger boost and compression ratio would be displayed on the QX50’s instrument panel, right between the speedometer and tachometer.
For turbo boost, there’s a digital representation of an analog gauge, and at peak boost, it indicates about 15 psi. It’s easy to read, and it makes perfect sense.
On the side showing the new QX50’s variable compression ratio, the vertical graph is marked “Power” at the top and “Eco” at the bottom. Most people, it’s safe to say, will associate Power with high compression (14.0:1) and Eco with low (8.0:1).
That, however, is incorrect.
In the 2019 Infiniti QX50, Power actually is the low-compression setting and Eco is high. What gives? Aren’t cylinder heads milled to bump compression and raise power?
Traditionally, yes, but that’s not what’s happening here.
In the QX50, turbocharger boost is used to make power. For an engine to accept boost with reduced risk of harmful pre-ignition or detonation, the compression ratio is kept low. And during steady-state cruising on the highway, when boost typically isn’t needed, the VC-Turbo switches toward higher compression (Eco) as it squeezes all possible mileage out of every drop of premium-grade fuel.
You can see it while driving. In the Standard drive mode, if you take off slowly with gentle throttle and stay out of turbo boost, the compression ratio stays near the Eco setting (high engine compression). But when you drive with more normal amounts of throttle and turbo boost is produced, you’ll see the compression ratio automatically move toward Power (low engine compression) so the VC-Turbo can accept all that boost.
Also noteworthy: When I encountered a steep grade on my way to work, I kept the QX50’s throttle fairly consistent just to see what would happen. As load increased on the engine, I could see boost build and compression lower automatically, allowing the VC-Turbo engine to make better power without need for me to add a significant amount of throttle or turbo boost. It’s fascinating, this technology, and we can’t wait to see how the 2019 Infiniti QX50 fares during the rest of its long-term stay at KBB.com.
Introduction
by Richard Homan on July 21, 2018
- Price: $49,685
- Powertrain: 268-horsepower 2.0-liter variable-compression turbocharged inline-4
- EPA city/highway fuel economy: 24/30
For a compact luxury SUV that starts at around $37,500, we were a little surprised that our QX50 ran close to the $50,000 mark. In the end, we got the top-level Essential AWD which, as the name directly states, included the optional all-road/all-weather performance of all-wheel drive (AWD). Choosing a front-wheel drive (FWD) version of the QX50 — the standard at every level — will save you $1,800 to start, but won’t save you much on long-term premium gasoline costs as the AWD carries barely any fuel-economy penalty.
Keep in mind, however, that you can equip an Essential QX50 that will reach as high as $58,000. On the other hand, Predictive Forward Collision Warning system (Infiniti says it can “see” two cars ahead, rather than the usual one) and automatic emergency braking come standard in every new QX50.
Tell me about that engine
The only engine available throughout the 2019 QX50 lineup is a new 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder that’s capable of varying its compression ratios to deliver impressive power (268 horsepower and a doubly impressive 280 lb-ft of torque through the lion’s share of the powerband), or stay off boost in favor of fuel economy — estimated city/highway miles-per-gallon numbers are 24/31 for the FWD models and 24/30 with AWD.
Delivering that big power to the wheels is the job of a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT).
Outside/Inside
The 2019 Infiniti QX50 is living proof that you need to see a vehicle in person before you buy it. From many angles the little SUV looks gorgeous, but its exterior also provides other angles capable of splitting the beauty contest judges right down the middle.
The new SUV’s interior, however, is a master’s class in space management. The seats are comfortable, and even the tallest of our drivers noted that the compact SUV’s interior never feels cramped. Even the rear seats allow for adult-sized passengers to ride without doubt of their comfort. Behind that second row, however, lies one of the most generous cargo areas in the class.
The “Essential” trim level means more standard features…
Choosing the Essential trim in a 2019 QX50 levels you up into an elite area of the QX50 universe where you’ve got access to features unavailable at the midrange “Luxe” and first-tier “Pure” trims. Our long-term QX50 came standard with plenty of luxury and high-tech benefits that you just can’t get on the lower-trim versions. These top-shelf premiums include leather upholstery, navigation, the superstar-view Around View Monitor (a 360-degree birds-eye-view that makes parking and unparking precious simple), and tri-zone automatic climate control.
Also standard, but not exclusive to the Essential, is a legit, full-on 2-row-plus panoramic moonroof. Conspicuous by its absence, however, are Apple CarPlay and Android Auto — the infotainment mainstays by which all cars appear to be judged these days.
…but we added some options, too
While our new QX50 didn’t come with the semi-self-driving ProPILOT Assist, we did include ProAssist Package. One step below the ProPILOT Assist setup, ProAssist — a bargain at just $550 — delivers smart cruise control with Distance Control Assist, and rear cross-traffic alerts along with Backup Collision Intervention.
Somewhat less of a bargain at $1,200 was the Premium Heat Package (essentially heated front seats and steering wheel). If music means anything to you, we’d definitely recommend stepping up to the QX50 Essential’s $900 16-speaker Bose Premium Audio Package for first-class sound. Naturally, we stepped right up.
Next Impressions
In the coming months, you’re invited to come aboard as we explore the 2019 Infiniti QX50, digging deeper into the new engine, listening louder to the Bose audio, driving it every day, and seeing what Infiniti’s newest SUV is really like to live with in the real world.
Be sure to bookmark this page to get quick access, as we publish regular updates to this review.
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