2022 INFINITI QX55

INFINITI OUT WITH NEW SPORTIER, SLEEKER CROSSOVER WITH INTRODUCTION OF QX55

The 2022 Infiniti QX55 is a new crossover SUV that, as the name suggests, is based on the Japanese automaker’s best-selling QX50 compact SUV.

It shares the same underpinnings and engine as the QX50 and the interior is similar, but the QX55 has a sportier look with a slopping roofline and other exterior design touches. It  comes with standard all-wheel drive.

At 186.3 inches, the QX55 is slightly longer than the QX50 and is a couple of inches taller at 66 inches, but the wheelbase (110.2 inches) and width (74.9) are the same.

When it comes to first impressions, the QX55 is the one that will draw more head-snapping second looks with its bold exterior design and a muscular stance featuring 20-inch wheels. Infiniti refers to it as a “crossover coupe” in style.

It is offered in three trims — Luxe, Essential, and Sensory — starting at $46,500 and topping out at $57,050 before extras are added on. All come with a 2.0-liter, turbocharged 4-cylinder engine mated to a continuously variable transmission that can be set in Standard, Sport, or Eco mode. Settings also can be tailored to Personal mode, and simulated gear changes can be made via paddle shifters. 

The engine is rated a 268 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque while delivering fuel economy ratings of 22 miles-per-gallon city, 28 highway, and 25 combined using premium fuel. The fuel mileage fits in with its competitors, though others may offer more get-up-and-go with optional engine choices.

Nevertheless, in a week that featured a good bit of interstate driving the QX55 did not suffer any when it came to performance.

All trims are nicely equipped when it comes to standard features like LED headlights with high-beam assist, LED taillights, moonroof, power liftgate, 8-way power driver’s seat with lumbar support, heated front seats, Apple CarPlay (wireless) and Android Auto, USB connections, Bluetooth hands-free phone, keyless entry and push-button start, a wi-fi hotspot, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel.

Standard safety systems across the line include blind-spot and lane-departure warning, automatic collision notification and emergency call, and the usual collection of air bags.

The Essential trim, which served as my test vehicle, also included leather upholstery in place of the leatherette on the Luxe, rain-sensing windshield wipers, power tilt-and-telescoping steering column, memory seating for two drivers, cooled front seats, Infiniti Intouch services with navigation, dual-zone climate control (the Sensor offers tri-zone), and an around-view monitor.

My test vehicle also came with a couple of nice options, the main one being the ProAssist Package that added Intelligent (adaptable) cruise control and upgraded blind-spot and lane-keeping systems.

The premium paint was extra, but — Hallelujah! — the carpeted floor mats were not!

Along with the $1,025 destination charge, that ran the bottom line to $54,120.

What I liked about the 2022 Infiniti QX55 Essential: With its sleek profile and minimal use of bling, QX55 is a great looking SUV. and sportier than its QX50 stablemate. The Essential trim is packed with many standard premium features, though Intelligent (adaptable) cruise control comes in a package with a couple of other features. I like the two-screen setup for infotainment and other functions that allows you to fiddle with the navigation map or radio without putting one or the other down.

What I didn’t like about the 2022 Infiniti QX55 Essential: The sloping roofline comes at a cost of some rear headspace (36.9 inches compared to 39.1 in the 2021 QX50, and you won’t be able to stack stuff up quite as high in the rear cargo space. There is 26.9 cubic feet of storage capacity behind the second row compared to 31.4 in the QX50. I would like a knob to surf the radio dial instead of pushing on a button to change stations and perhaps a 10-speed automatic transmission instead of a CVT.

Would I buy 2022 Infiniti QX55 Essential? In a heartbeat. Unless you need a three-row SUV, this is a great choice in the luxury segment.