Zander Drives Cars

The QX55 is a great argument as to why Infiniti should still be taken seriously.

Let’s talk about Detroit. In its heyday, the city was known around the country as a wealthy, influential, and successful powerhouse. Motown, The Big Three, The Red Wings. Unfortunately, with the rise of oil prices in the 1970s, Detroit started rapidly deteriorating, and by the beginning of the 21st century, was the butt of every joke. The once shining city became a national embarrassment. Then, something changed. These last two decades have seen a resurgence of interest in the city. Population increases, gentrification, and an influx in cash mean that Detroit, while not where it was 60 years ago, is back from the dead.

You could look at Infiniti the same way. In the early 2000s, Infiniti was a sign of stealth wealth, with cars like the G37 and the FX35 being desirable ways of getting into the luxury car market for less money than a typical Lexus. However, by the beginning of the 2010s, Infiniti started to struggle. Declining sales, quality issues, and a shrinking dealer network meant that the company started to, like Detroit, become sort of a joke among car enthusiasts and held only real value in the tuner or JDM scene. Now, it’s 2022 and I am delighted to report that Infiniti is coming back. Meet the QX55.

The QX55 was launched in 2021 for the 2022 model year and is a coupe version of the already available QX50 crossover. The QX55 is meant to compete with cars like the BMW X4, Audi Q5 Sportback, and whatever new Lexus CUV is being thrown at us this year. With an MSRP of $46,500, it seems like a bargain compared to the pricier germans, especially comparing a fully loaded Sensory model which starts at $57,000, which is thousands less than either the X4 or Q5 Sportback. Visually, it is a handsome car. While some crossovers can be uninspired, the QX55 with its huge chrome wheels, imposing grille, and signature chrome window trim is a nice car to look at. While I still prefer the look of the Audi, when you consider the price difference, the Infiniti starts looking even better.

Inside, I was pleasantly surprised by the choice of material. The car that I drove, the Luxe model, had a nice amount of leather and high-quality metals sprinkled throughout the cabin. There was a leather-wrapped shift knob, as well as some nice metal on the door handles and on the end of the turn signal/wiper stalks. What I especially admired, above all else, was the presence of leather on the upper dashboard. Compared to what BMW puts up there, it’s like stepping into the Ritz Carlton after sleeping in the Marriot. That’s not to say, however, that there wasn’t some cheaping-out. The center console plastic felt a bit tacky, and the roller shutters felt flimsy. Other than those two minor complaints, the interior was a perfectly pleasant place to be with comfortable heated seats and a nice feeling steering wheel.

Now, the infotainment system. Infiniti has been criticized for its use of the dual screens in 2022, and while I get the complaint of them being outdated, you can certainly do a lot worse. The new QX60 has moved away from the dual screens, and it’s safe to say that the QX50/55 will as well soon. For now, though, you get the dual screens. The bottom screen functions are your home base, with the ability to choose climate, enter in addresses for the navigation, and choose your radio. The upper screen serves as your navigation, while also being used to show advanced vehicle settings like the drive modes or safety systems. Overall, the screen is easy to use, albeit a little laggy, and I couldn’t find any major complaints aside from it still seeming a bit outdated.

The dashboard and driver display gives you a semi-changeable digital display, with analog speed and tachometer, while offering a configurable screen in the middle. The screen can show your usual information like a digital speedometer, what song you’re listening to, how many miles until your next service, and so on and so forth. These functions can be switched by the buttons on the steering wheel like in most cars. It is important to note, however, that the steering wheel in the Sensory version, the top spec model, does have electric adjustability, as well as a heating function. The Sensory model also comes with ventilated seats, a passenger memory function for the electric seats, more safety buttons, and a whole host of other technology you can brag about.

One of the main complaints about coupe-crossovers is the lack of space in the back, and while getting in and out of the rear of the QX55 does take some minor maneuvering, I am happy to report that a 6’2 male can sit comfortably in the back seat. There is enough legroom with the front seat back that you can manspread without issue. Headroom, however, is a bit of an issue. With the rear seats at a fully upright and locked position, you hit your head on the roof, and with the seats in full recline, your head hits where the headlining meets the rear window. The only solution that I could find was to either sit low down in the seats like you’re trying not to get caught in the mall parking lot, or infinitely adjust the rear seat recline feature until you find that sweet spot where your head is free to move about the cabin. One small reminder, though: make sure you turn the child lock off! I didn’t! Guess who had to fold the rear seat down and climb out through the trunk while a USPS driver watched? It isn’t a trick question.

I will confess, that I have not driven the BMW X4. I have, however, driven the X3, which is the same car, so I feel as if I can confidently say that the QX55 drives better in every single aspect. It doesn’t make every road feel like Belgian cobblestone. On wet, twisty back roads, the QX55 turns in tight and feels planted due to its AWD system. The 288hp 2.0 liter 4cyl will happily give you the power you need, and the Nissan-derived CVT will happily be as loud as possible while you do it. Nissan CVTs are notoriously noisy, and this one is no exception. At all points during the rev range, the CVT just sounds stressed and overworked, even in eco mode. It’s a shame because aside from the CVT, the QX55 is a brilliant car to drive; it rides nice and feels responsive, but it is let down by the CVT. So, there, that is the only aspect in which the X4 is better. Aside from that setback, I have no major complaints about the driving dynamics. The car feels great in all three drive modes.

In summary, the QX55 is nicer to drive than a BMW X4, looks better than a BMW X4, has better interior materials than a BMW X4, and has generally the same performance figures, all for a lower price. With a better infotainment system and a smoother CVT, the QX55 would (and should) be a serious competitor to other, more established coupe SUVs, but alas, the QX55 is just a pleasant all-rounder, and you can’t fault a car for being pleasant.

I would like to give a massive thank you to Nationwide Infiniti of Hunt Valley and especially Randy and Cindy for letting me drive one of their cars. You can view their website here.