The 2021 Infiniti QX50 Autograph Edition AWD SUV
You Are What You Drive — A Bottom Line Review
The Bottom Line: Nissan is a Japanese automaker and Infiniti is their luxury brand, and for that same reason some Infiniti vehicles are based on Nissan’s lineup. From small sport sedans like the Infiniti Q50, to the large QX80 SUV with its third row, Nissan produces Infiniti and Nissan vehicles at several locations around the world.
For comparison think: Toyota and Lexus, Honda and Acura, Nissan and Infiniti. Infiniti is the upscale car division of Nissan. The Infiniti QX50 is similar to the Nissan Murano SUV in a few ways. The QX50 is a premium sport utility vehicle with five passenger seating and similar size. The Infiniti QX50 is classified as a compact luxury 2 row crossover SUV.
This week Infiniti sent me a 2021 Infiniti QX50 Autograph Edition AWD all wheel drive SUV sport utility vehicle to test drive and review. The base window sticker price for this upscale model is $56,850. The options on the test car are: The Premium White Leather Seating Package with Quilted Stitching and Blue Suede Accents for $2,000, the Majestic White Premium Paint job for $695, the Illuminated Kick Plates for $485, the Cargo Area Protection Package for $285, and the Welcome Lighting Package for $425. The total MSRP manufacturer’s suggested retail price, including the $1,025 destination charge, came to $61,765.
The Luxury Compact 2 Row SUV class has many competitors. The Infiniti QX50 is up against the Audi Q5, Cadillac XT5, Lincoln Corsair and the Mercedes Benz GLA. The QX50 stacks up quite well when you compare the level of options, comfort, technology and luxury appointments that are included in the Premium Autograph AWD Edition.
Size wise the QX50 has 31.4 cubic feet of cargo space behind its rear seats, and a roomy 65.1 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. This is the largest cargo capacity of any vehicle in the luxury compact SUV class.
Power and Performance starts with a sporty 2.0L liter variable compression turbo engine with a hefty 268 HP and 280 lb-ft of torque running through an Infiniti Intelligent all wheel drive system, with paddle shifters and direct adaptive steering. Ground traction is from a set of Bridgestone P255/45RF/20” run flat radials mounted on a cool looking set of dark painted 20” alloy wheels.
The Drivers Assistance package consists of: Hill start assist, front and rear parking sensors, around the car view monitor cameras with motion object detection, intelligent cruise control with distance control assist, traffic sign recognition, and an adaptive front headlight system that turns the headlight beams with the steering wheel. The QX50 has every cool option that is available on a compact luxury SUV today.
Technology and Information options are: the Infiniti Intouch dual highdefinition display center stack screen system with navigation, Mapcare with premium traffic updates, running thru a fantastic sounding Bose 16 speaker ultra performance series audio system with Apple Carplay, Android Auto, Siri Eyes Free XM radio with voice activated commands, all connected to a wireless Wi-fi hotspot. Nobody has more connectivity tech than this Autograph Edition QX50 has.
On the Comfort and Convenience list are: the LED headlights, fog lamps and daytime running lights, a panoramic power moonroof, power tailgate, push button start, natural wood trim accents, remote start, heads up display, power tilt and telescopic steering column, advanced tri-zone climate control, memory power seats with lumbar comfort settings and memory side view mirrors and steering wheel position, rear power window sunshades, and the list keeps going on and on.
Safety is covered with: automatic collision notification and emergency call, high beam assist, predictive forward collision warning, forward collision emergency braking with pedestrian braking, rear automatic braking, cross traffic alert, blind spot warning, blind spot intervention, lane departure warning and lane departure prevention.
This QX50 knows what you’re going to do, even before you do it. And it has the advanced technology to stop the car from hitting nearly anything to avoid a collision. This is one smart car, very smart.
The Infiniti QX50 is an exceptional compact luxury SUV. The interior has blue suede trim with a tri-toned quilted stitched white leather interior with real wood inserts, then add in the extra turbo engine power, the full tech and safety options, and the technology packages that meet, or beat, all of the competition, for a lower price.
The luxury compact SUV class starts at $50,000 and goes up to $75,000. This QX50 Autograph Edition is priced right in the middle at less than $62 Grand, all in. This is a very posh and powerful ride for way less money than the competition.
You owe it to yourself to take a good look and test drive the Infiniti QX50. This SUV is not your everyday cookie cutter car, it is an outstanding example of style, comfort and convenience options all rolled into one great looking compact luxury SUV starting at only $37,950.
A word to the wise is sufficient. Be Smart, Stay Safe, and Just Breathe. Remember “You Are What You Drive ©” And maybe, just for those reasons alone, you should “Drive one, Buy one, Today ©” .