Photos by Paul Borden

By Paul Borden
MotorwayAmerica.com

(January 6, 2025) After beginning life as the EX35 nearly two decades ago, the smallest SUV in the Infiniti portfolio assumed its current QX nameplate when the luxury division of the Japanese automaker Nissan revised nomenclature for its Infiniti fleet. Beginning in 2014, “Q” has designated sedans, coupes, and convertibles with “QX” denoting Infiniti’s SUV fleet.

Thus the 2014 QX50 was a continuation of the original EX35. The 2019 Infiniti QX50 moved the vehicle into its second generation after a refresh that ended a year’s production hiatus.

The 2025 Infiniti QX50 remains a part of that  generation with all-wheel drive now standard and Sensory and Autograph trims dropped, putting the Sport at the top of the portfolio. The Sport trim, which this review is based on, replaced the Essential on 2023 models.

Other trims are Pure, which serves as the base model, and Luxe.

All trims come with a turbocharged 4-cylinder engine mated to a continuously variable transmission (CVT). It is rated at 268 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque and delivers fuel mileage ratings of 22 miles-per-gallon city, 28 highway, and 25 combined using recommended premium fuel.

Four drive modes are offered — Standard, Eco, Sport, and Personal. All-wheel drive also is standard.

Equipment upgrades on the Sport over the Pure and Luxe include 20-inch wheels over 19s, LED fog lights, semi-aniline leather seats over Leatherette (Pure) and standard leather (Luxe), 4-way power lumbar support for the driver’s seat, heated and ventilated seats over heated only (Luxe) for both the driver and front-seat passenger, black aluminum accents, enhanced interior lighting, Bose Premium sound (optional on the Pure), navigation, an around-view monitor with moving object detection, and traffic sign recognition.

All 2025 Infiniti QX50s include such standard features as LED headlights, taillights, and daytime running lights, a power liftgate (motional-activated on Sport and Pure), remote start, 8-way power adjustable front seat, 60-40 folding rear bench seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel, tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, automatic dual zone temperature control, Infiniti In/Touch services, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless charging pad, wi-fi hot  spot, and Bluetooth connectivity.

Safety features included as standard on all QX50 models include the usual collection of airbags and seatbelts, adaptive cruise control, predictive forward collision warning, forward emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind-spot warning, lane-departure warning, rear automatic braking, rear cross-traffic assist, rear automatic braking, and ProPilot Assist.



The 2025 Infiniti QX50 Sport gets the upgraded surround-view monitor with moving object detection that replaces the standard rear-view camera on Pure and Luxe models.

Pricing for the 2025 Infiniti QX50 start at $44,350 for the Pure, $47,650 for the Luxe, and $52,550 for the Sport, including the $1,350 destination and deliver fee.

What I liked about the 2025 Infiniti QX50S: The interior is roomy with comfortable seats and has a quiet ride. The dual screen layout provides easy access to more popular features (like the navigation map on the upper screen and radio and A/C on the lower) without having to change screens. Cargo space is good (31.1 cubic feet with second-row seats in place, 64.4 with the second-row folded). Pricing is very competitive in the segment.

What I didn’t like about the 2025 Infiniti QX50S: Yes, the interior is roomy but it doesn’t have the “wow factor” typical of a luxury class vehicle. The display for tech features has a dated look. Even some non-luxury competitors are going with a much larger touchscreen that provide a larger map for navigation and wider view for the backup camera. The CVT takes away from performance.

Would I buy the 2025 Infiniti QX50S? I’d give it a look before moving on to others in its class. A major refreshing could be coming in the next couple of years if you can wait with the infotainment display a likely target for upgrades.