2019 INFINITI QX50, a state-of-the-art luxury crossover

Sometimes, if you want to extend your reach, you've got to move beyond your roots. After years of serving an ever-shrinking cadre of sport-seeking premium compact crossover buyers with the agile-yet-small-inside first-generation QX50/EX35, INFINITI has expanded its horizons by completely redesigning its most affordable family hauler. The end result is a the 2019 INFINITI QX50, a vehicle that is far more in tune with what modern SUV shoppers are seeking, while leaving some, but not all of the spunk that defined its predecessor in the rearview mirror.

Variable What?

If you've heard anything about the 2019 edition of the QX50, chances are it was related to the startling new engine technology debuting alongside it. INFINITI has introduced something it calls 'variable compression,' which allows the turbocharged 2.0L 4-cylinder offered with the SUV to dynamically alter its compression ratio between 8:1 and 14:1.

Why does this matter? By matching the right compression ratio to driving demands, the QX50's engine is capable of bouncing back and forth between power-boosting and fuel-sipping configurations at a moment's notice. The entire process is handled in an entirely transparent fashion by a combination of electronic controls and mechanical components, to the point where it's impossible to detect from behind the wheel. INFINITI claims as much as a 30% fuel efficiency improvement over the previous model, with a 9.0L/100 km combined rating awaiting official certification.

More Power, Less Sport

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