Like most of the QX55’s mechanical pieces its 2.0-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder engine, with variable compression, is shared with the more quotidian QX50 crossover. The QX55’s new take on the idea looks promising on the surface, but instead of being profound or interesting, it rehashes many of the problems that have plagued the brand. That vehicle was arguably the first crossover coupe, and its unmistakable shape resonated with the public until sales trailed off after a redesign in 2009. The QX55 harks back to the brand’s creative heyday, which crested fifteen or twenty years ago, taking many visual cues from the shapely 2003 Infiniti FX35. The QX55’s fastback roof draws inspiration from Infiniti’s own 2003-2008 FX35/FX45 models, one of the very first crossover coupes. In the main, those brands have combined beefier powertrains and improved driving dynamics with their sloping-roof crossovers, sometimes delivering serious speed as in BMW’s X6M or the AMG GLC 43 coupe. The sporty fastback recipe has worked well for brands such as Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz, among others. Since 2017, its American sales have plummeted by almost 50%, and the brand came dead last in Consumer Reports’ February 2021 owner satisfaction survey. This is a problem, because the brand has a lot resting on the QX55, intended, as it is, to launch Nissan’s long-neglected premier brand into something of a rejuvenation.Īside from the slow-selling and short-lived QX30 compact crossover, Infiniti has been starved of product, tech innovation, and new ideas for about a decade.
Infiniti crossover skin#
Unfortunately, the new Infiniti’s beauty is only skin deep. Accordingly, the QX55 is priced at least $2000 more than its QX50 sibling. This vehicle category, which the brand helped invent, rather intentionally removes the utility from the SUV’s moniker, typically charging consumers a significant premium for the opportunity to put fashion before function. Infiniti calls the 2021 QX55 a crossover coupe, and it certainly is pretty. From almost any angle, the 2021 Infiniti QX55 is gorgeous, but it’s not as impressive to drive as it is to behold.