Infiniti QX50: 2019 Motor Trend SUV of the Year Contender
Beautiful, but held back by its transmission and infotainment system
WE LIKEFantastic engine, gorgeous styling, spacious cabin
WE DON'T LIKEDisappointing CVT, frustrating infotainment system
A technical wonder of an engine sits under the hood of the striking QX50, but this beautiful luxury crossover is held back by its transmission and infotainment system.
0:00 / 0:00
The automaker's new 268-hp variable-compression turbo-four has potential for greatness but is sadly paired to a CVT that holds it back. CVTs can provide an effortlessly smooth commute, but here, the transmission has trouble managing the engine, occasionally leading to surging and an unrefined driving experience.
"There is constant conflict between the many variables in the engine and the variables in the transmission," Frank Markus said.
Before anyone drives the QX50, though, they'll ogle it. The Infiniti's knockout styling effectively upsizes the sexy QX30. Inside a QX50 with the Autograph package, the interior greets the driver with a stunning combination of light-colored matte wood, dark blue Ultrasuede trim, white diamond-stitched semi-aniline leather seats, and a brown upper dash. At least in its nearly $60,000 form, the QX50 looks every bit the luxury vehicle it should. The positive first impression continues with a spacious rear seat and cargo area.
But the undertaking starts to fall apart when you look closer. There's no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, and Infiniti's dual-screen user experience continues to lag behind the rest of the industry in usability. The center stack includes a navigation screen up top, with a multiuse info screen at bottom bordered by buttons— but there are no tuning or HVAC control knobs. Angus MacKenzie called the infotainment system "infuriatingly complex," and Scott Evans described it as a "UX disaster." Until Infiniti can overhaul the infotainment system and fix the clashing engine and transmission, the QX50 remains merely an attractive contender.
READ ABOUTCONTENDERS:
READ ABOUT 2019 SUV OF THE YEAR FINALISTS:
- Acura RDX
- Ford Expedition
- Hyundai Kona
- JaguarI-Pace
- Jeep Wrangler
- Lincoln Navigator
- Range Rover Velar
- Subaru Forester
- Volvo XC40
READ ABOUTCONTENDERS:
- Buick Regal
- Ford Mustang
- Ford TransitConnect
- Hyundai Accent
- Hyundai Elantra
- Honda Clarity
- Kia Forte
- Lexus ES
- Lexus LS
- Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
- Nissan Altima
- Toyota Avalon
- Toyota CorollaHatchback
- Volkswagen Jetta
READ ABOUT 2019 CAR OF THE YEAR FINALISTS:
READ ABOUTFINALISTS:
I’ve come a long way since I drove sugar packets across restaurant tables as a kid, pretending they were cars. With more than 17 years of experience, I'm passionate about demystifying the new car market for shoppers and enthusiasts. My expertise comes from thoughtfully reviewing countless vehicles across the automotive spectrum. The greatest thrill I get isn’t just from behind the wheel of an exotic car but from a well-executed car that’s affordable, entertaining, and well-made. Since about the time I learned to walk I’ve been fascinated by cars of all shapes and sizes, but it wasn’t until I struggled through a summer high school class at the Pasadena Art Center College of Design that I realized writing was my ticket into the automotive industry. My drive to high school was magical, taking me through a beautiful and winding canyon; I've never lost the excited feeling some 16-year-olds get when they first set out on the road. The automotive industry, singing, and writing have always been my passions, but because no one seeks a writer who sings about the automotive industry, I honed my writing and editing skills at UC Irvine (zot zot!), serving as an editor of the official campus newspaper and writing stories as a literary journalism major. At USC, I developed a much greater appreciation for broadcast journalists and became acquainted with copy editing rules such as why the Oxford comma is so important. Though my beloved 1996 Audi A4 didn’t survive my college years, my career with MotorTrend did. I started at the company in 2007 building articles for motorcycle magazines, soon transitioning to writing news posts for MotorTrend’s budding online department. I spent some valuable time in the copy editing department, as an online news director, and as a senior production editor. Today, MotorTrend keeps me busy as the Buyer's Guide Director. Not everyone has a career centered on one of their passions, and I remind myself all the time how lucky I am.
Read More
