1 / 2

EDITION 30 models include specially trimmed versions of its line of luxury vehicles, featuring unique exterior design treatments and some of the world’s first driver assistance technologies that INFINITI has brought to market.

Jay K. McNally McNally Multi Media

2 / 2

Infiniti QX50 designers and engineers have taken the infotainment system to a whole new level by adding an additional seven-inch touchscreen below the existing eight-inch touchscreen on the center console.

Jay K. McNally McNally Multi Media

❮ ❯

With the 2019 model year of the QX50 Infiniti came a totally new design, not only on the inside and outside but what powers the SUV also. The new 2.0 liter four-cylinder engine dubbed a VC-Turbo is the world’s first production-ready variable compression ratio engine, one of the most advanced internal combustion engines ever to be created.

In the 2020 edition of the QX50, the designers and engineers have taken the infotainment system to a whole new level by adding an additional seven-inch touchscreen below that existing eight-inch touchscreen on the center console.

As other manufactures have gone to longer and wider screens, Infiniti has added a second one to give the user more options. We like having two screens to work with so we can keep one dedicated to navigation and use the other for radio, climate control and phone functions.

Being in the process of still finishing up the last details of our new home, we spent the day on Saturday visiting many different furniture home décor sores around Utah and the Salt Lake valleys. Having the extra screen proved to be extremely useful in getting us to our many destinations with ease.

We found it easier to manage at least for us age advanced drivers, with the two screens because only the one we were dealing with would change, whereas on other larger screens one wrong touch and the whole screen changes. So if we were using the navigation the view may disappear for a bit while we tried to get it back on the screen and also make changes to something else.

All this would most likely take our attention away from the road, whereas with the Infiniti we could still keep our attention on the drive and work with the other screen for the extra functions.

We found all the wizardry that was included added up to a fun and exciting drive that kept us wanting more of the Infiniti every day.

Along the way of course, we hit some pretty heavy traffic coming into the Salt Lake Valley, but with the adaptive cruise control engaged, the SUV took over the braking and accelerating so we didn’t have to worry at all.

Also included was Nissan’s new ProPilot Assist that would help to keep the Infiniti centered in the lane of travel when engaged.

We first saw this system at work a couple of years ago on the new Nissan Rogue, and have been very impressed with how it responds, as long as the lane marks are clear on the sides of the road.

It is not autonomous driving but makes driving in traffic or long haul driving much less stressful. This system also came with a heads-up display that would just serve to top off what is already a huge enhancement to a great technology package.

Everywhere we turned there were new additions to the QX50 and all of them for the best in our opinion. Inside there was luxury aplenty with leather appointed seats straight from the Nissan engineers that have become some of our favorites in the industry, with the NASA inspired comfort, making it easy to spend any amount of time in them.

In the center cluster the diver display is a new LED screen that will display driving information that can also be used as a digital speedometer, oh and as a highlight it will also display all the wizardry happening with the new engine.

Add the heads-up display and that is four separate screens all preforming different functions, yes, it’s a hefty dose of technology for the QX50.

Inside there is now plenty of room for five adults as the wheels have been pushed as far to the corners as possible with the new design, quite a feat for a SUV of this size.

There is also room for three full sized golf bags in the rear with the seat up, not like the first time, years ago when we drove a Infiniti coupe that had instructions on the trunk for how to fit two golf bags in the small space.

We had to save the best for last as the new engine definitely turned out to be the most engaging part of our everyday drive in the new QX50. The new engine will continually transform, adjusting the compression ratio to optimize power and fuel efficiency.

The results of all this great technology will be that the 2.0 liter turbocharged engine will have the torque and efficiency of an advanced four-cylinder diesel engine.

Over the course of the a week with the QX we found this to be completely true, not only was there a huge amount of power and torque a plenty, it allowed us to manage a better than EPA estimate of 28 mpg combined.

Of course the QX50 is equipped with different driving dynamic modes that are selectable from the center console, and with the new CVT transmission that mimics shift points as well as any we have driven to date, Infiniti has created the perfect combination for such a small SUV.

With new engine mounts and insulation in the firewall along with a 17 speaker Bose noise cancelling sound system, the ride was also probably the quietest we have had for the price point of the new Infiniti.

With this redesign, the folks at Infiniti have more than outdone themselves by changing everything inside and out. More than that, changing all the rules we have become used to with them and their brother Nissan! This was truly a fantastic ride and should prove to be a leader among its peers in the years to come.

Base price: $46,100, price as driven: $9,630.