2022 Infiniti QX50

With five trims and two drivetrain configurations to choose from, the QX50's asking price varies by quite a margin. The base model in FWD configuration starts with an MSRP of $37,950 in the USA, excluding tax, registration, and a destination fee of $1,025, and the AWD version will cost you $2,000 more at $39,950. The Luxe starts at $41,500, and the AWD version costs $43,500. Pricing for the Essential models ranges from $44,700 in FWD guise to $46,700 for the AWD version. Closer to the top, we get the Sensory, which sells for between $50,000 and $52,000, and the range-topping Autograph will set you back $54,200 for the FWD vehicle and $56,850 for AWD. With every single option ticked, the Infiniti QX50 price will climb to around 70,000 US dollars.

All-wheel drive has nearly completed its takeover of the luxury SUV class, but there are still a few holdouts that offer FWD, and we don't think that's such a bad thing. The QX50, along with competitors such as the Acura RDX, will never be thrown around Laguna Seca, so why bother with torque-vectoring rear differentials and drift modes? The QX50 has been designed to offer maximum comfort, and it does it pretty damn well. FWD models offer little steering feedback but feel accurate enough, and the FWD-biased AWD Autograph features a steer-by-wire Direct Adaptive system does little to improve the inherent numbness of the steering but does have the ability to change steering ratios to suit different speeds and driving styles. The QX50 is best at offering a plush and disconnected driving experience that coddles its occupants instead of thrilling them. Infiniti allows the driver to switch between Eco, Sport, and Personal modes, but we'd suggest sticking it in Eco and enjoying the plush life.

To stand out in the compact luxury crossover segment takes a seriously impressive product, and we're not convinced that the 2022 Infiniti QX50 is a standout vehicle. The exterior styling is handsome but doesn't grab one's attention quite like the Alfa Romeo Stelvio, and its front-wheel-drive bias doesn't lend itself to driver enjoyment and engagement quite as the BMW X3 does. The QX50 is also let down by a particularly incompetent infotainment system, which is a crucial touchpoint in any car in this day and age. The variable-compression engine sounds good on paper but fails to deliver in the real world, and we think Infiniti would have been better off sticking with a conventional setup or even a hybrid powertrain. What it does manage to do well is offer a supremely plush ride that isolates the occupants from the outside world, its standard feature list is impressive, and it provides a ton of space. These are all good things, but we're not sure if it's enough to lure buyers away from the competition.

Infiniti sent us the second-highest Sensory trim level to review, but we'd consider stepping down to the well-named Essential trim level because it provides most of the essential goodies at a reasonable $44,700 price ($46,700 with AWD). The only option to add is the $1,650 Convenience Package, which includes real leather, memory functions for the driver seat, mirrors, and steering wheel, a power steering column with a heated steering wheel, and reverse tilt-down mirrors. Done up reasonably, the QX50 will cost $47,375 ($49,375 with AWD). Or, for around $9,000 less, we suggest the Nissan Rogue Platinum which offers similar size (albeit with less power), a premium interior, and better available technology.

The Acura RDX is a bolder car in terms of styling and on-road dynamics. The exterior looks fresh and will appeal to a younger customer base. The same can be said for the interior styling, which looks more contemporary but matches the QX50 for quality. Under the hood, the RDX packs a 272-hp punch and is more enjoyable to drive than the QX50. The RDX will consume 22/28/24 mpg city/highway/combined in its most efficient configuration. The RDX offers tons of passenger space, but the QX50 is the vehicle to go for if you're after lots of cargo space. The RDX is slightly more expensive in base guise and a pleasure to drive, but the Infiniti offers more luxury at a lower price.

Infiniti's mature (some will call it bland) exterior design language will have many thinking that these are the same cars, but the QX60 sits one rank above the QX50 in the Infiniti SUV lineup and is classified as a seven-seater midsize SUV, and that description should tell you all you need to know: it's larger in comparison to the QX50, and can carry more people. The QX60 doesn't bother with the variable compression engine found in the QX50 but opts for a more traditional 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 295 hp and 270 lb-ft of torque. Being heavier than the QX50 and with a thirsty naturally-aspirated V6 under the hood, the QX60 will manage only 21/26/23 mpg with FWD. The QX60 is just as comfortable to drive and is equally well-equipped. The only thing that will persuade a new buyer to go for the QX60 will be the third-row seating. The choice is yours.