Some interiors shout and some whisper.
Between the creamy white, diamond-stitched leather seats and the faux suede rich chocolate-brown headliner and pillar trim and deep-ocean blue upper doors and console, the Infiniti QX50 does the latter.
The beautiful, muted colors inside the Essential grade of the ’19 luxury CUV, a 2018 Wards 10 Best Interiors winner, soothe our stressed minds upon entry.
Meanwhile, its unique design flourishes delight our judges’ eyes, revealing designers are getting new latitude to treat production interiors like those in concept vehicles.
The most interesting design flourish that in recent years would have not made it out of the concept stage is that ocean blue Ultrasuede. That material covers the console’s bin lid/armrest, then flows up the center stack in an unbroken line, going straight up the right side of the touchscreen and hanging a left toward the gauge cluster.
“I couldn’t stop petting the armrest, it’s so soft,” says judge Drew Winter of the pleasing tactile nature of the material.
Double stitching in two different thread colors decorates the edge of the chocolate-brown instrument panel, while matte wood and brushed metallic trim also are used with good effect.
At nighttime, gauges and the dual display screens are crisp and colorful.
But, as is the case with all of our winners, the QX50’s interior doesn’t place on this year’s list on looks alone.
Judge Dave Zoia gives high marks to the CUV’s ProPilot driver-assist technology, blending lane-keeping with adaptive cruise control, while judge Jim Irwin likes the “right-sized” controls: icons on the touchscreen and hard buttons on the center stack. At nighttime, gauges and the dual display screens are crisp and colorful.
Judges James Amend and Bob Gritzinger call out our $58,195 test vehicle’s comfort, both in front and back rows.
“These seats are supportive without being too restrictive, comfortable without being too soft,” says Gritzinger, who adds after long drives he never felt the need to fiddle with seat adjustments.
Judge Irwin sums up our feelings about the Infiniti’s interior by noting, “At $58,000, the QX50 is worth every penny.”
