• 2022 Infiniti QX55 ($46,500 – $57,050)
• Trim as tested: QX55 Essential AWD ($53,425)
• 5-Star Frontal Crash Rating – NHTSA
• Pros: The fastback body style, snappy power, and commanding driving position
• Con: plain dash design and surprisingly poor fuel economy

Infiniti feels like an unsung hero in the luxury SUV market. We just finished testing the 2022 Infiniti QX55 review unit; it isn’t the fanciest luxury crossover in the market. The BMW X-series, Land Rover, Lincoln, hell, even the fully-loaded Mazda CX-9 Signature is nicer than the QX55. That said, there is a quiet classiness in the 2022 Infiniti QX55. 

From the accentuated flares of the front end to the surprisingly aggressive exhaust note, the 2022 Infiniti QX review unit showed me a much better SUV than I was expecting. The QX55’s design is inspired by the brand’s striking mid-size FX model that launched for the 2003 model year, but it shares its platform with the compact QX50 SUV. There is just something about the QX55 that made me never want to finish driving it. 

Which is the best trim for the 2022 Infiniti QX55? 

• Luxe– $47,500
• Essential – $52,625
• Sensory – $58,075

The best value for the 2022 Infiniti QX55 is in the Essential trim. This version offers the most popular features, and luxury SUV touches at the most reasonable price point. The QX55 comes with a pile of standard features like in-dash navigation, a 360-degree exterior camera system, heated and cooled front seats, and a 16-speaker Bose stereo system. The Bose system sounds great. In fact, it is probably only outdone by the Macintosh system in the Jeep Grand Cherokee L. 

My 2022 Infiniti QX review unit came in the Essential AWD trim with the additional ProAssist package that adds LED headlights, Blind-Spot Monitoring, and Adaptive Cruise Control for a worthwhile $800 upcharge. 

The 2022 Infiniti QX55 has a sharp look

Infiniti borrowed most of the QX50 when making the 2022 QX55. It shares an interior, powertrain, and suspension with the QX50 SUV but gets a more extreme exterior. The sloping roofline is reminiscent of fastback cars from the ’60s. There is a sporty aggressiveness at work in the QX55 styling that got me weirdly excited to walk up to it. 

How is the QX55’s interior? 

Thanks to the understated yet very stylish interior, the 2022 Infiniti QX55 review was a rather cozy one. Infiniti forwent the normal luxury materials and dressed the interior in simple yet quality leather and nicer plastics. 

The base model Luxe trim comes with pleather seats, but the other two upper trim models get the real stuff covering the seats, side panels, and steering wheel. There are also some black wood trims that, for me, went a little unnoticed due to their understated look. 

Lastly, the front seats are very comfortable, and there is plenty of room even for a 6’5 auto journo. However, the back seats’ headroom gets chopped by the sloping roofline, which also eats a little cargo storage in the trunk. 

How comfortable is the 2022 Infiniti QX55 review unit? 

Quite. The driving position is one of the nicest things about the Infiniti. As a tall driver, I am often forced to fold myself into luxury cars and try to be objective about their comfort while getting out and stretching every half hour. The 2022 Infiniti QX55 is not one of these cars. 

The seats are soft and supportive while giving the driver a seating position that makes for more confident driving. The seating, along with a well-sorted suspension, makes the QX55 a very cozy ride. However, the sloping roofline and higher seating don’t do any favors for the luxury SUV’s visibility. The A and B pillars regularly obscure and sometimes straight-up block the driver’s view of the road. 

How’s the QX55 on technology? 

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are both standard equipment and feature wireless connectivity—a first for Infiniti. The QX55 also offers an optional Wi-Fi hotspot in certain trims, as well as the 11-speaker Bose sound system. 

Does the 2022 Infiniti QX55 have the same engine as the QX50? 

It does. The same 268-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder powers both luxury SUVs. The QX55 isn’t super fast per se, but it is eager to please the speed gods to the best of its ability when prompted by the right foot. This turbo-four – known as the VC-Turbo (variable-compression) – is paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) and standard all-wheel drive. 

All of these specs result in a peppy luxury SUV that feels eager to please with its modest powerplant. The steering felt well-weighted and fairly direct. However, the brake pedal feels left plenty to be desired. It felt more like stepping on a dead fish than a brake pedal. Throughout my week-long 2022 Infiniti QX55 review, I often ended up having to stomp the brake pedal because my normal braking pressure wasn’t enough to get it done. It’s a shame because every other aspect of the driving characteristics was lovely. 

How safe is the Infiniti QX55? 

Infiniti offers many onboard safety features as standard, like forward-collision warning, automated emergency braking, blind-spot warning, adaptive cruise control, and rear cross-traffic monitor. The company will even offer its own semi-autonomous driving mode as a premium option. 

The 2022 QX55 has only had front crash test ratings done by the NHTSA. For more information, check the NHTSA and IIHS websites as more testing is completed. 

How reliable is the Infiniti QX55? 

Consumer Reports hasn’t tested it yet, but Infiniti’s previous models gave it a predicted reliability score of two out of five. This is usually because previous models had a history of recalls and expensive repairs. Seeing as how this is a new model for 2022, the QX55 will have a chance to prove itself, but as we mentioned earlier, it is built using the same chassis and engine as the QX50. 

Based on the similarities between the new QX55 and the old QX50, Consumer Reports isn’t feeling optimistic about the reliability of the QX55. 

MotorBiscuit gives the 2022 Infiniti QX55 an expert rating of 7.3 out of 10

The Infiniti QX55 is an all-new model that looks great, is pretty comfortable, and is nice to drive. There are a few weak spots like the brakes and spotty reliability of its platform-mate, the QX50. 

Ultimately, the QX55 is a really good luxury SUV that doesn’t really seem like it needed to be made. It shares virtually everything with the QX50, including its flaws. Granted, the QX55 looks much better than the QX50, but there is still a feeling that it’s unnecessary. All that said, it is a nice driving experience and a good-looking luxury SUV.