2022 Infiniti QX55: How Does It Stack Up Against The Audi Q5 Sportback, BMW X4 And Mercedes GLC Coupe?

Infiniti was making coupe-style SUVs before the term even existed, so one might think that know-how would go into making the brand new 2022 QX55 crossover a force to be reckoned with.

The thing is, its rivals from Germany are pretty well-established, so convincing buyers not to opt for a BMW X4, Mercedes GLC Coupe or Audi’s new Q5 Sportback will be no easy task. Still, the QX55 definitely doesn’t look like a pushover.

We should note that, like the QX55, the new Audi Q5 Sportback isn’t on sale yet, with pricing to be announced at a later date, although, we anticipate the Infiniti being a little bit more affordable.

Infiniti QX55 (price TBD)

Right now, a 2021 QX50 will set you back at least $37,950, or $39,950 with all-wheel drive. The coupe-styled QX55 will cost more than the QX50, only we don’t know by how much.

Since all we can do is speculate, let’s consider that the Mercedes GLC Coupe costs $8,450 more than the regular GLC in the United States, while the X4 is $8,600 more expensive than the X3. Maybe that big of a gap would be a stretch for Infiniti, but we expect it to start upwards of $42k. That assumption is based on the fact that, unlike the QX50 whose entry-level grade is the Pure, the base-spec QX55 will be the Luxe, which in the QX50 costs upwards of $41,500 with FWD and $43,500 with AWD.

Read: 2021 Infiniti Q60 Keeps Good Looks, But Becomes More Expensive

Now let’s talk about things we do know, such as the interior that carries over from the QX50, which means you get old fashioned analog gauges and relatively small 7- and 8-inch displays for the center console. Small by 2020 standards, at least. You also get leatherette upholstery and aluminum trim as standard, as well as a moonroof and heated front seats.

As for power, that comes courtesy of a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder with variable compression tech that delivers 268 HP (271 PS) and 280 lb-ft (380 Nm) of torque. That’s more than the BMW X4 xDrive30i (248 HP), the Mercedes GLC 300 4MATIC Coupe (255 HP) and the Q5 Sportback with the entry-level 261 HP TFSI engine.

Audi Q5 Sportback (price TBD)

The Sportback variant of the Q5 is also an unknown in terms of pricing. It was unveiled less than two months ago and we’ll have to wait until the first half of 2021 in order to see it in showrooms.

Judging by some of your reactions in the comments, Audi didn’t exactly knock one out of the park as far as the Q5 Sportback’s styling is concerned. It really does have a few not so great angles, where it looks almost too compact – the design of the tailgate, for example, could have been better.

They also left the dashboard design as is, with a freestanding 10.1 inch MMI infotainment display. The standard 12.3-inch Virtual Cockpit gauge cluster is a nice touch though.

In the U.S., the base engine is a 2.0-liter TFSI four-cylinder with mild-hybrid tech that’s good for 261 HP (265 PS) and 273 lb-ft (370 Nm) of torque. Those who want a little more muscle can opt for the SQ5 Sportback with its 3.0-liter TFSI V6, generating 349 HP (355 PS) and 369 lb-ft (500 Nm). Both models get quattro all-wheel drive as standard.

BMW X4 (from $51,600)

The 2021 BMW X4 xDrive30i is the least expensive X4 available to U.S. buyers at a little over $50k. It’s powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four with 248 HP and 258 lb-ft (350 Nm) on tap and comes with xDrive all-wheel drive as standard.

Other variants include the 382 HP X4 M40i ($61,700) and the 473 HP X4 M that’s priced from $73,400.

Standard equipment includes LED headlights, an automatic tailgate and BMW’s iDrive 6.0 system that’s accessible through a 10.25-inch touchscreen display with voice and gesture control.

The X4’s design is probably less controversial than the Q5 Sportback’s, featuring more muscular rear fenders and just an overall more aggressive stance. The Infiniti QX55 has a cleaner design though, which may just do the trick for a number of buyers.

Mercedes GLC Coupe (from $51,650)

Powering the base-spec GLC 300 4MATIC Coupe is a 2.0-liter turbocharged four mild-hybrid with 255 HP (258 PS) and 273 lb-ft (370 Nm) of torque. Every other GLC Coupe spec available in the U.S. is a Mercedes-AMG.

The most affordable is the $63,000 Mercedes-AMG GLC 43 Coupe, with a 3.0-liter V6 and 385 HP (390 PS) / 384 lb-ft (521 Nm). The V8-powered Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 Coupe and 63 S Coupe cost $76,500 and $84,100 respectively. The former puts down 469 HP (476 HP) and 479 lb-ft (650 Nm), while the latter is good for 503 HP (510 PS) and 516 lb-ft (700 Nm).

The facelifted GLC Coupe made its debut back in 2019, boasting an updated MBUX operating system, a new steering wheel, plus a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster. It’s not the most modern-looking interior here, but then again neither is the QX55’s.

Which one should I get?

You can order a GLC Coupe or an X4 right now from your local Mercedes and BMW dealerships, whereas the Q5 Sportback and QX55 won’t get here until sometime next year. Of course, waiting means that you’ll end up making a more informed decision. Nevertheless, much depends on what your expectations as far as performance are as, for example, anyone in the market for an X4 M or an AMG GLC 63 Coupe isn’t going to pay much attention to the Infiniti – or the SQ5 Sportback for that matter.