TEMPTING!
2019 INFINITI QX50 FEATURES CHIC STYLING, GOOD FUEL ECONOMY, QUIET CABIN AND MORE.
The fresh-from-the-tires-up 2019 Infiniti QX50 crossover might look relatively conventional, but it houses a remarkable engine. Its 2.0-litre turbo-four is the first production engine with variable compression ratio, which, Infiniti tells us, nets V6-like power with class-leading fuel economy.
Thanks to a devilishly clever computer-controlled joint between the crankshaft and connecting rods, the VC-T (Variable Compression Turbo) can do what no internal combustion engine has ever done before: alter how far the pistons rise within the cylinders. The compression ratio ranges between 8.0:1 to 14.0:1, enabling the optimization of both power and efficiency.
Within the engineering community, the team members who figured this out are probably rock stars, but to the average punter, do we really care? Pity the poor marketing types trying to get buyers excited about four oily Rube-Goldberg contraptions going around and round in the crankcase. Not exactly sexy stuff.
Luckily, the rest of the QX50 is quite sexy, both inside and out. It’s a crisply proportioned crossover, featuring Infiniti’s distinctive “double-arched” grille and kinked D-pillars, and the chic cabin garnered a “Ward’s Best Interiors” nod.
Canadian 2019 QX50s are fitted with AWD and a continuously variable transmission (CVT). You can get into the base Luxe model for $44,490, but here we have the top trim Autograph that rings in at $57,990. As expected, it is bristling with tech and luxury goodies, some of which are ProPilot semi-autonomous driving assistance, rear-collision intervention, 20-inch alloy wheels, headup display, premium leather, ventilated front seats and an excellent 16-speaker Bose audio system. Conspicuous by its absence at this price point is heat for the rear seats.
With 268 horsepower and a healthy 280 pound-feet of torque from 1,600 rpm, this two-litre turbo impresses with its smooth and punchy power delivery. There’s little noticeable turbo lag, and unlike many other direct-injection four-cylinder engines, it avoids a gravelly tone. Highway throttle response is pretty immediate, thanks to the CVT that instantly brings the engine from relaxed cruise to its meaty midrange. Its virtual gear shifts largely eliminate the dreaded engine droning, until you really mat the Go pedal. All in all, this drivetrain gets top marks, and a week in the saddle netted 10.5 L/100 km, which in frigid southern Ontario is pretty good. Premium fuel is required.
Infiniti has always done artful interiors, and this Autograph’s is a showpiece, resplendent in quilted creamy white hide, dark blue microsuede trim, and Maplewood inserts.
While it might not be quite up to the obsessive build quality and tight tolerances of Audi or Volvo cabins, it is awfully pretty. Compared to Europeans, there’s also a dearth of digital real estate; depending on your point of view, this can be either good or bad. The two screens on the centre stack are modest in size, and really, the whole thing looks a generation behind. But it’s easy to figure out, and the ergonomics are helped by plenty of real buttons. The lack of Apple CarPlay or Android Auto is strange.
The electronic shift wand, similar in function to BMW’s, is initially somewhat non-intuitive (push forward for reverse?) but you soon get the hang of it.
The “NASA zero gravity” seats are supremely comfortable, as is the crossover’s ride quality. It’s a competent, if not particularly inspired handler, and the drive-bywire steering, another technology particular to Infiniti, feels pretty numb. A Sport mode adds a bit more weight to the steering and has the engine spinning at higher revolutions, but ultimately the QX50 is a lover, not a fighter, playing to the luxury side of the equation. Most shoppers in this segment will take the QX50’s impressively quiet cabin and long-legged cruising ability over backroad acumen. If you want more sport in your luxe softroader, look to the Germans.
There’s plenty of utility: max cargo capacity of 1,822 L betters the BMW X3, Audi Q5 and the Acura RDX. Trunk space is 880 L, expandable to 1,048 L with the second row slid forward. There’s also a large under-floor bin. Overall, the cabin has a wonderfully airy feel, although front-corner visibility is hampered by thick A-pillars and big mirrors.
In the ever-expanding field of premium crossovers, the 2019 Infiniti QX50 charges in with some clever industry-first engine technology which, quite frankly, most shoppers won’t understand or really care about. However, they will be drawn to its chic styling, swiftness, good fuel economy, supremely quiet cabin and generous interior space. As an alternative to the established players, this new Infiniti is a tempting proposition.