Compare the2023 Infiniti QX50VS 2023 Ford Edge

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the QX50 are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Edge doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The QX50 has standard Rear Automatic Braking that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Edge doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The QX50 Sport/Sensory/Autograph has a standard Around View® Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Edge only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

Both the QX50 and the Edge have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available all wheel drive.

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 Ford Edge:

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

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 Edge’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 Ford covers the Edge. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the Edge ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

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

Infiniti pays for scheduled maintenance on the QX50 for 3 years and 36,000 miles. Infiniti will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Ford doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Edge.

The QX50’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 18 more horsepower (268 vs. 250) than the Edge’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Infiniti QX50 is faster than the Ford Edge turbo 4 cyl.:

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

The QX50 has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver The fuel filler door is not lockable on the Edge. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

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

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 Edge doesn’t offer a CVT.

The QX50’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs standard on the Edge AWD are solid, not vented.

The QX50 stops shorter than the Edge:

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 Edge SE/SEL’s standard 60 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the QX50 has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Edge SE/SEL.

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 Edge 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 Edge doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

The QX50 AWD handles at .84 G’s, while the Edge Titanium pulls only .78 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The QX50 AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.5 seconds quicker than the Edge Titanium (26.7 seconds @ .66 average G’s vs. 28.2 seconds @ .61 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the QX50’s turning circle is 2.9 feet tighter than the Edge’s (36.4 feet vs. 39.3 feet).

For greater off-road capability the QX50 has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Edge (8.6 vs. 8 inches), allowing the QX50 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The QX50’s minimum ground clearance is .4 inch higher than on the Edge ST (8.6 vs. 8.2 inches).

The Infiniti QX50 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 250 to 350 pounds less than the Ford Edge.

The QX50 is 4.1 inches shorter than the Edge, making the QX50 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

To almost totally eliminate engine vibration in the passenger area, the QX50 has an electronically controlled liquid-filled front engine mount. A computer-controlled electric current in the liquid changes its viscosity, allowing the mount to dampen the engine completely at all RPMs. The Edge uses conventional solid rubber engine mounts.

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 Edge’s liftover is 29.6 inches.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Infiniti service is better than Ford. J.D. Power ranks Infiniti 9th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 24% lower rating, Ford is ranked 22nd.

The QX50 Sensory/Autograph has a standard heads-up display that projects speed and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Edge doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The QX50’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Edge’s passenger windows don’t open or close automatically.

If the windows are left open on the QX50 the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Edge can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the QX50 to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Edge doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The QX50’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Ford only offers heated mirrors on the Edge SEL/ST-Line/ST/Titanium.

When the QX50 Luxe/Sport/Sensory/Autograph is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Edge’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

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. Wireless charging costs extra on the Edge and isn’t available on the Edge SE.

The QX50 is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Edge doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the QX50 is less expensive to operate than the Edge because it costs $264 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the QX50 than the Edge, including $144 less for a muffler, $52 less for front brake pads and $206 less for a timing belt/chain.

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