2022 Infiniti QX55 Essential AWD First Test: Decidedly Decent

The fastback-style crossover has established a firm hold within the massive SUV marketplace, but it wasn't always so commonplace. The boxy QX4 luxury midsizer, introduced in 1996, was Infiniti's first foray into building SUVs, but it didn't last long. The Infiniti FX, introduced in 2003 to replace the QX4, was among the very first to adopt the now common design approach. At the time, it was revolutionary, its athletic, coupelike design form drawing both cheers and jeers. In 2013, the FX adopted the QX70 nameplate, and it ended production just a few years later in 2017.

New for 2022, the Infiniti QX55 is a spiritual successor to that groundbreaking FX. It's the fourth SUV in the Infiniti lineup and sits below the bigger QX60. Curvy and modish, the swoopy crossover features design language from the original FX. It plays in a segment that includes the BMW X4, Audi Q5 Sportback, Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe, and Porsche Macan.

We first got behind the wheel of a QX55 last spring and were underwhelmed. "Ultimately, the QX55 is two steps forward and one back," we wrote. "Infiniti's design team drags the brand forward, but the engineering team's hands are tied by its reliance on a CVT and an unfinished steer-by-wire system." Will further testing change how we see Infiniti's newest compact SUV? We took a QX55 in Essential trim to the test track to find out.

As tested, the midrange QX55 had an MSRP of $53,425, which includes standard all-wheel drive and 20-inch wheels (plus no-cost Hermosa Blue paint). The 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder VC-Turbo engine generates 268 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque and pairs to a continuously variable transmission. With a heavy foot on the gas pedal, the QX55 bolted to 60 mph in 6.9 seconds during the acceleration test. For a bit of context, a GLC300 Coupe we tested at the 2018 MotorTrend SUV of the Year competition performed the same task in 6.7 seconds, despite making just 241 hp and 273 lb-ft and weighing 2 pounds less. Thanks mostly go to the 19-percent shorter launch gearing.

A BMW X4 xDrive28i with similarly shorter gearing, tested as part of that same SUV test, reached 60 mph in 6.2 seconds, despite its 2.0-liter turbo-four developing 240 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. If history is any indication, the Audi Q5 Sportback, packing 261 hp and 273 lb-ft of twist, will probably be quicker, too; a non-Sportback Q5 we tested last year ran to 60 mph in 5.7 seconds.

Additional testing during our evaluation showed that the 2022 Infiniti QX55 comes to a stop from 60 mph in 122 feet. The 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLC300 Coupe and 2018 BMW X4 xDrive28i mentioned above needed 137 and 123 feet, respectively. On our figure-eight course, the QX55 completed a best lap of 27.0 seconds at 0.65 g (average), just edging out the GLC300 Coupe (27.6 seconds at 0.63 g) and X4 (27.2 seconds at 0.65 g).

On a trip to Universal Studios that coincidently fell on a rare low-traffic Los Angeles weekend, the QX55 reigned supreme on the nearly empty freeways. Instead of two-plus hours, we arrived in about 35 minutes. Life in the fast lane was sweet, indeed—except for the comparatively harsh ride versus its more traditional QX50 sibling. Although when you're cruising, you're at least spared listening to the CVT attempt (and rarely find) the perfect ratio that harmonizes with the turbocharged four-cylinder. When you spend more than $54,000 on a luxury fastback SUV, you should expect to be able to ignore the transmission.

While the ride does feel a bit too firm over shabby surfaces, the QX55 nevertheless feels composed and handles with precision and agility. Again, though, there's a catch: The steer-by-wire setup just can't produce anything resembling feel or feedback, putting you at a distinct remove from whatever fun the chassis might be generating. On the other hand, the brakes are responsive and feel strong, so there's that. Finally, and this is somewhat obvious because of this fastbacked, four-door SUV's roofline, but it's worth mentioning visibility from the rear window is limiting but manageable.

Design is a QX55 strong point, and that extends to the interior. "The QX55 retains the QX50's well-executed interior ambiance," we wrote in our first drive, noting the "modern and elegant" dash design and praising the material quality of the QX55 test vehicle with Essential trim. On the tech front, it brings a lot of the expected features to the table—multiple screens, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a high-end stereo, some shared Nissan bits—and the front seats are hugely comfortable. It's a nice luxury car design, and feels premium enough to justify its price.

There's much to like about the 2022 Infiniti QX55, but it's hard to ignore the shortcomings. The CVT is a big issue you'll contend with every time you're on the move, and its other small flaws add up to a bigger disappointment. If this were a beauty contest, Infiniti could beat Mercedes and BMW and even put up a fight with Audi and Porsche for first place. Odds are most sporty-SUV buyers want more than just good looks, though, and this Infiniti falls short. And if you're not tied to a fastback SUV, the better-equipped and less expensive Genesis GV70, our 2022 SUV of the Year, looks like one heck of a deal.