Compare the2023 Infiniti QX50VS 2022 Toyota Highlander

Safety
Warranty
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Infiniti QX50 have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision. The Toyota Highlander doesn’t offer pretensioners for its second-row seat belts.

The Infiniti QX50 has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Highlander doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The QX50 has a standard blind spot warning system which uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them and moves the vehicle back into its lane. Only the Highlander LE/XLE/XSE/Limited/Platinum offers a blind spot warning system.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the QX50 has a standard rear cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Only the Highlander LE/XLE/XSE/Limited/Platinum has a rear cross-path warning system.

Both the QX50 and the Highlander have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Infiniti QX50 is safer than the Toyota Highlander:

	QX50	Highlander
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	236	292
Neck Injury Risk	26%	38.2%
Neck Stress	245 lbs.	347 lbs.
Neck Compression	42 lbs.	55 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	155/130 lbs.	321/243 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Chest Compression	.6 inches	.6 inches
Neck Stress	161 lbs.	179 lbs.
Neck Compression	48 lbs.	90 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Infiniti QX50 is safer than the Toyota Highlander:

	QX50	Highlander
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	73	114
Spine Acceleration	25 G’s	37 G’s
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	333	366
Spine Acceleration	39 G’s	41 G’s
Hip Force	339 lbs.	664 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the QX50 is .9% to 2.2% less likely to roll over than the Highlander.

Warranty

The QX50 comes with a full 4-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Highlander’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 24,000 miles sooner.

Infiniti’s powertrain warranty covers the QX50 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Toyota covers the Highlander. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the Highlander ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The QX50’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the Highlander’s (7 vs. 5 years).

Infiniti pays for scheduled maintenance on the QX50 for 1 year and 11000 miles longer than Toyota pays for maintenance for the Highlander (3/36,000 vs. 2/25000).

Engine

The QX50’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 17 lbs.-ft. more torque (280 vs. 263) than the Highlander’s 3.5 DOHC V6.

As tested in Motor Trend the Infiniti QX50 is faster than the Toyota Highlander:

	QX50	Highlander
Zero to 60 MPH	6.3 sec	7.4 sec
Quarter Mile	14.8 sec	15.7 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	93.6 MPH	90.7 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the QX50 gets better mileage than the Highlander:

			MPG
QX50
	FWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	23 city/29 hwy
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/28 hwy
Highlander
	FWD	3.5 DOHC V6	21 city/29 hwy
	AWD	3.5 DOHC V6	20 city/27 hwy

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Infiniti QX50 higher (6 out of 10) than the Toyota Highlander (5). This means the QX50 produces up to 6.9 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Highlander every 15,000 miles.

Transmission

The QX50 has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Highlander doesn’t offer a CVT.

Brakes and Stopping

The QX50 stops shorter than the Highlander:

	QX50	Highlander
60 to 0 MPH	121 feet	127 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	130 feet	141 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the QX50 Sport/Sensory/Autograph’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Highlander (255/45R20 vs. 235/65R18).

The QX50’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Highlander L/LE/XLE’s standard 65 series tires. The QX50 Sport/Sensory/Autograph’s tires have a lower 45 series profile than the Highlander XSE/Limited/Platinum’s 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the QX50 has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Highlander L/LE/XLE.

The QX50 has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Highlander doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires standard on the QX50 can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The Highlander doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

Suspension and Handling

The QX50 has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Highlander doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

The QX50 AWD handles at .84 G’s, while the Highlander Platinum AWD pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The QX50 AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1 seconds quicker than the Highlander Platinum AWD (26.7 seconds @ .66 average G’s vs. 27.7 seconds @ .61 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the QX50’s turning circle is 1 foot tighter than the Highlander’s (36.4 feet vs. 37.4 feet).

For greater off-road capability the QX50 has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Highlander (8.6 vs. 8 inches), allowing the QX50 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

The Infiniti QX50 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 250 to 300 pounds less than the Toyota Highlander.

The QX50 is 10.2 inches shorter than the Highlander, making the QX50 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The QX50 uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Highlander doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Passenger Space

The front step up height for the QX50 is 1.8 inches lower than the Highlander (17.2” vs. 19”). The QX50’s rear step up height is 1.5 inches lower than the Highlander’s (17.7” vs. 19.2”).

Cargo Capacity

The QX50 has a much larger cargo volume than the Highlander with its rear seat up (31.4 vs. 16 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the QX50 easier. The QX50’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 26.6 inches, while the Highlander’s liftover is 31.2 inches.

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the QX50’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Highlander doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

Servicing Ease

The QX50 uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Highlander uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Infiniti service is better than Toyota. J.D. Power ranks Infiniti 9th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 14% lower rating, Toyota is ranked 20th.

Ergonomics

The QX50 Luxe/Sport/Sensory/Autograph’s standard Entry/Exit Assist raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Highlander doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The QX50’s standard speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The Highlander’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The QX50’s standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Highlander offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Infiniti QX50 has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) for the front seat. Only the Highlander XLE/XSE/Limited/Platinum offers wireless charging.

Economic Advantages

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the QX50 is less expensive to operate than the Highlander because it costs $127 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the QX50 than the Highlander, including $141 less for fuel injection, $70 less for a fuel pump and $974 less for a timing belt/chain.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Infiniti QX50 and the Toyota Highlander, based on reliability, safety and performance.