The 2023 Infiniti QX55 starts at $50,345 in the United States and at $57,390 in Canada, freight and delivery charges included.
Attractive design, good interior fit and finish, decent fuel economy.
Outdated infotainment system, jittery ride on bumpy surfaces, not many customization options.
It may be difficult for some luxury brands to keep their lineup fresh and modern, while the German manufacturers boast a massive portfolio of cars, crossovers and SUVs. It seems as though there’s always a new Bavarian product being introduced every month, while new models from other worldwide brands appear at a much slower pace. Case in point: the 2023 Infiniti QX55 one of the brand’s restrained lineup of five models.
Truthfully, the QX55 could be considered an offshoot of the existing Infiniti QX50, or if we prefer, a coupe-like variant of the QX50 compact crossover. The company flaunted the QX55 as the spiritual successor to the much-loved Infiniti FX, going as far as stating that it pioneered the coupe-like utility vehicle niche in 2002 before the BMW X6 came along in 2008. It arguably did without even realizing it.
On the other hand, the FX was much sportier and performance-focused than the 2023 Infiniti QX55, as it was equipped with V6 and V8 engines. The QX55 borrows the QX50’s powertrain, a turbocharged 2.0L four developing 268 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, managed by a continuously variable automatic transmission. The engine is called VC-Turbo for its trick variable-compression technology, which the brand says serves up power or fuel efficiency, according to the driver’s pressure on the go-pedal. All-wheel drive is also standard, which favours the front wheels under normal driving conditions, and can quickly shift up to 50% of available power to the rear wheels as soon as the front ones start to slip.
The QX55 has quite a few competitors which, interestingly, most are equipped with turbo 2.0L four-cylinder engines as well. The Audi Q5 Sportback packs 261 horsepower, while BMW X4 xDrive30i gets 248 horsepower. The Buick Envision has 228 hp, the Acura RDX has 272, the Range Rover Evoque has 246, the Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 Coupe has 255 and the Volvo XC60 has 247 or 295 hp. The Lexus NX gets a 203-hp 2.5L four, a 275-hp turbo 2.4L four, a 239-hp hybrid and a 302-hp plug-in hybrid. The base Genesis GV70 is equipped with a 300-hp turbo 2.5L four.
Well skip the 349-hp Audi SQ5, the 382-hp BMW X4 M40i, the 385-hp Mercedes-AMG GLC 43 Coupe, the 375-hp Genesis GV70 3.5T and the 455-hp Volvo XC60 Recharge, as they’re all sportier, faster and costlier variants of the 2023 Infiniti QX55’s rivals. There is no performance-focused QX55, or QX55 Red Sport as it potentially be called. But that’s ok, as most sales of all these compact crossovers should all be of the more docile powertrains anyway.
As for fuel economy, the QX55’s city/highway/combined ratings are set at 22/28/25 or 10.4/8.3/9.4 L/100 km, and premium fuel is required. During our test, we managed a decent 25 mpg or 9.5 L/100 km.
In both the United States and Canada, the 2023 Infiniti QX55 is offered in Luxe, Essential and Sensory trim levels. Standard features include 20-inch wheels wrapped in 255/45R20 tires, a power sunroof, a power liftgate, rear park sonar, dual-zone climate control, leather upholstery, heated front seats, 12-way driver and 8-way passenger power-adjustable front seats, a six-speaker sound system, wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto, blind spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control and ProPILOT Assist semi-autonomous driving.
The Essential trim adds adaptive front lighting, rain-sensing windshield wipers, front park sonar, a power-adjustable steering column, a heated steering wheel, driver’s side position memory, ventilated front seats, a 360-degree camera system, navigation, SiriusXM Traffic and a 16-speaker Bose Performance Series sound system. The range-topping Sensory trim also benefits from a hands-free liftgate, semi-aniline leather seating, a 12-way power front passenger seat, heated rear outboard seats, open-pore wood trim, three-zone climate control, extended ambient interior lighting and head-up display.
Pricing ranges from $50,345 to $58,995 in the U.S. and from $57,390 to $64,890 in Canada, freight and delivery charges included.
Why You Should Buy a 2023 Infiniti QX55
- We like the QX55’s organic design, which stands out in the crowd of compact crossovers.
- Interior fit and finish is beyond reproach, with rich-feeling materials. The available Bose sound system is very good.
- Fuel economy isn’t too shabby, as most of its rivals consume as much or more fuel. That said, the Lexus NX and the Volvo XC60 B5 are slightly thriftier on gasoline.
- The QX55’s suspension isn’t too sporty or firm, so overall seat and ride comfort are appreciable.
Why You Shouldn’t Buy a 2023 Infiniti QX55
- The vehicle may be fresh off the production line, but it feels old in the way it drives. To be more precise, the QX55’s platform doesn’t seem as stiff as those of other brand-new models on the market. Badly maintained roads will send shockwaves through the body and suspension, diminishing the vehicle’s ride comfort.
- The VC-Turbo engine’s complex internal design promises high power and low consumption, but in real-world driving, it fails to overachieve in any way compared to its competitors. Its output is fine, its fuel economy is fine, and that’s it. At least we haven’t heard of engine reliability issues so far, which is good.
- The QX55’s infotainment and climate system needs updating. While the two-screen setup isn’t bad, as we can consult the navigation map on top and still browse through system menus below, the graphics are severely outdated and its processing power could be quicker.
- While rear-seat legroom is among the most generous in the compact segment, front-seat legroom is among the worst. As for all other dimensions, the QX55 ranks average, though its cargo volume of 26.9 cubic feet or 762 litres with the rear seatbacks upright isn’t great.
Final Word
The 2023 Infiniti QX55 doesn’t amaze for its performance, its handling or its avant-garde on-board technology, and there aren’t many interior customization options to choose from. As a result, the Japanese crossover has trouble keeping up with its German adversaries. However, its pricing is competitive. It’s a crossover to be enjoyed over time, for those who’ll appreciate its elegant design and quality craftsmanship.
