The Oneida Daily Dispatch (Oneida, NY)

Comfy Infiniti QX50, a unique mid- size option

- Bymarc Grasso

For sedan lovers, the options are shrinking as manufactur­ers continue the eliminatio­n process of the one- time segment king.

Now the focus is to push people to SUVS and drive sales up while not losing consumers to existing sedan manufactur­ers. For Infiniti, this process is still easy as they have both categories, but their focus is clearly toward the SUV market. The QX50, one of its well- known SUVS in the fleet, boasts midsize abilities but with luxurious comfort for all passengers.

To keep consumers interested in the brand, something extraordin­ary or memorable must occur. Once this happens, a sale is sure to occur. For the QX50, an extraordin­ary interior did the trick for me. Its white plush seats with heated and ventilated abilities wrapped with a smooth silky leather was just the ticket, but more importantl­y a thin denim blue suede trim aligned with silver granite- like mouldings were something really memorable.

The QX50, a 4,178- pound, four- door mid- size Suv was perfect for four passengers. The neighbors’ fanfare agreed. It was easy to get in and out of and delivered a smooth ride for all to enjoy. Our Autograph all- wheeldrive version came with a 2.0L Turbo engine with 268 horsepower and 280 lb.- ft. of torque. The Infiniti Intelligen­t AWD system was also good, similar to previous models, in our slight dusting of snow on a weeklong test. The 20- inch dark painted wheels were a nice accent to the Majestic white premium paint which cost an extra $ 695.

The dual screen infotainme­nt system is still present on the 2021 QX50, inclusive of Navigation, Apple Carplay, Android Auto, Wi- Fi Hotspot and of course the 16- speaker BOSE performanc­e audio system.

Infiniti, Nissanmoto­r Co.’ s luxury brand, builds vehicles that are on the road for a long time and, similar to Nissan, are very dependable vehicles. One nit: the road noise of the vehicle was noticeable.

But if comfort is your top requiremen­t, the QX50 is a great option.

Infiniti QX50

MSRP: $ 56,850

As tested: $ 61,765

MPG: 22city, 28highway, 25.9as tested

 ?? MARC GRASSO— MEDIANEWS GROUP ?? The Infiniti Qx50is a luxurious Suvwith top- notch seats and memorable trim, a good infotainme­nt system and that all- important Infiniti dependabil­ity.
MARC GRASSO— MEDIANEWS GROUP The Infiniti Qx50is a luxurious Suvwith top- notch seats and memorable trim, a good infotainme­nt system and that all- important Infiniti dependabil­ity.

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