Infiniti QX50

Infiniti QX50 at a glance

The QX50 began life as the Infiniti EX of 2007, a compact crossover built on Nissan's FM rear-drive platform. Under the brand's 2012 naming scheme it became the QX50, and from 2015 it grew by 80 mm with a new grille, bumpers and LED daytime lights. Early EX35 cars used a 3.5 V6 with a five-speed automatic; from 2011 a seven-speed automatic took over, and Europe received the 3.0 V6 diesel, Infiniti's first diesel, with all-wheel drive as standard. For China, Infiniti built a long-wheelbase QX50L at Xiangyang in Hubei from 2014.

The second generation broke with that layout. It moved to a transverse-engine platform with front-wheel drive as standard and all-wheel drive as an option, and introduced the VC-Turbo engine. Infiniti's wider story is in the history of Infiniti.

The VC-Turbo engine and performance

The 2.0-litre KR20DDET four-cylinder changes its compression ratio between 8:1 and 14:1 while running. A multi-link mechanism moves the pistons' top dead centre, so the engine runs at high compression for economy at light load and low compression with full turbo boost for power. It combines port and direct injection, has an exhaust manifold integrated into the head and uses balancer shafts for smoothness.

According to Infiniti, the VC-Turbo improved fuel economy by about 30% over the previous V6. The US rating for the AWD version is 26 mpg combined, about 9.0 l/100 km, and European data in the old 1cars text give about 8.6 l/100 km, 0–100 km/h in 7.3 seconds and 220 km/h. US tests measured 0–60 mph in about 6.3 seconds with front-wheel drive. Compared with the 3.7 V6, the VC-Turbo has 42 kW less power but noticeably lower fuel use.

The AWD system sends up to 50% of the torque to the rear wheels. In December 2023 the US safety agency NHTSA opened an investigation into engine failures of the KR15DDT and KR20DDET VC-Turbo engines, linked to damage to the main bearings and the variable-compression links.

Cabin, space and technology

The cabin uses quilted leather, open-pore wood and a dual-screen InTouch system with an 8-inch upper display and a 7-inch touchscreen below it. A 16-speaker Bose audio system with active noise cancellation was available. The rear bench slides fore and aft, so owners can trade legroom for luggage space; with the seats folded, the load floor is nearly flat.

Higher trims offered ProPILOT Assist, which helps with steering, braking and acceleration in a single lane on the motorway, along with Direct Adaptive Steering, a steer-by-wire system with a mechanical back-up. The standard steering is electric with variable assistance.

From Pure to Autograph: equipment

US trims ranged from the entry Pure to the top Autograph. Leather trim, dual-zone climate control, keyless entry, cruise control, electric seats, a powered tailgate and 19-inch alloy wheels were standard on most versions. Top trims added 20-inch wheels, a 360-degree camera, ventilated front seats, a semi-automatic parking system, traffic-sign recognition and blind-spot intervention. Prices varied by market and are not repeated here, as no dated official euro price exists for this generation.

IIHS results and driver aids

The QX50 was not tested by Euro NCAP, because Infiniti left European markets in 2020 shortly after its launch. In the IIHS tests of 2020, it was rated Good in the moderate overlap and side tests, Acceptable or Marginal for headlights depending on trim, and Superior for vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention. Driver aids include adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning with emergency braking, rear automatic braking, lane departure prevention and adaptive LED headlights.

Rivals: how the QX50 compares

Against the BMW X3 and Volvo XC60, the QX50 offered a roomy cabin with a sliding rear bench and an advanced engine, but no hybrid or diesel version. Compare the cars in the 1cars comparison tool and check every version in the specifications section.