The Infiniti QX55 looks swanky with its coupe-like design, has an opulent and comfortable interior, and comes loaded with features and tech. But so do many other luxury crossovers so the QX55 has a tough time standing out. Its starting price is also higher than many rivals.
Base Price: $54,250
As Tested: $56,580
Horsepower: 268
Mileage: 22 mpg city/28 mpg highway/25 mpg combined
The QX55 was introduced for the 2022 model year and was based on the QX50. For 2023, leather upholstery and some additional driver assistance tech become standard.
The 2023 QX55 comes in three trims: Luxe, Essential and Sensory. The Luxe trim starts at $49,150 which is above average for a luxury SUV. The Essential trim starts at $54,250 and the Sensory at $57,800. All-wheel drive is standard on all trims. There’s room for five passengers in two rows of seating.
All trims get the same engine: a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that makes 268 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. The transmission is a continuously variable automatic.
Performance is ok but the QX55 doesn’t have the dynamic handling of its competitors. The QX55 is quick off the line and there’s enough power for passing and merging at freeway speeds; however, the engine can get loud when pressed. The CVT shifts smoothly but can be a little slow. The ride is mostly smooth but you will notice some bumps and rough roads. The steering is rather numb and there’s some body lean when cornering. Brakes are responsive.
Fuel economy is about average for a luxury compact SUV. EPA ratings for my tester are 22 mpg city and 28 mpg highway with a combined rating of 25. I got 24 mpg during my week with a mix of city and highway driving.
The cabin looks luxurious, filled with quality materials such as leather upholstery, metal accents, and soft-touch plastics. Fit and finish are excellent with every stitch in place. The dual-screen infotainment system dominates the center dash. Seats are comfortable and very supportive. Taller passengers in the front row enjoy generous leg- and headroom. The second row is also roomy and will easily accommodate two average-size adults.
Standard features include proximity keyless entry, remote start, push-button start, rearview camera, dual-zone automatic climate control, leather upholstery, heated front seats, infotainment system with a seven-inch- and an eight-inch touchscreens, six speaker audio system, satellite radio, Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay, wired Android Auto, five USB ports, Wi-Fi hot spot, automatic high-beam headlights, and a moonroof.
Available features include a surround-view camera system, head-up display, tri-zone automatic climate control, ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, heated steering wheel, 16-speaker audio system, navigation, and adaptive headlights.
Standard driver assistance technologies include front and rear collision warning with pedestrian detection, forward automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning with lane-keep assist, ProPilot Assist (adaptive cruise control with lane centering), blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, and rear parking sensors.
Available driver assistance technologies include traffic-sign recognition and front parking sensors.
The infotainment system is Infiniti’s InTouch system which has two touchscreens. There’s an eight-inch touchscreen at the top of the dash and a seven-inch touchscreen below it. The top touchscreen has navigation as well as Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The bottom screen houses audio, climate and vehicle settings. Unfortunately, the graphics look old school and the system can be slow to respond. On the plus side, several physical buttons and a control knob let you make common adjustments without having to use the touchscreen.
Cargo space is decent for the class. There are 26.9 cubic feet with both rows of seating in place and 54.1 cubes with the second row folded. A power liftgate is standard and a hands-free power liftgate is available.
The good:
Stylish, coupe-like exterior
Lovely interior
Lots of standard and available features and tech
Standard Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
The not-so-good:
Infotainment system needs upgrading
Relatively high starting price
Pricing info:
My tester starts at $54,250. The illuminated kick plate is $485. Welcome lighting with logo is $650. Destination charge is $1,195 bringing the grand total to $56,850.
Bottom line:
The 2023 Infiniti QX55 looks great with its coupe-like exterior and comes well-equipped with features and tech. That may enough to make it an appealing pick for some, but it doesn’t really stack up well against the likes of Acura, BMW and Mercedes-Benz.
