Compare the2023 BMW X6VS 2023 Infiniti QX50

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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The X6’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The QX50 doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The X6 has standard Active Head Restraints, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Head Restraints system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The QX50 doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The X6 has a standard PostCrash iBrake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The QX50 doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the X6. But it costs extra on the QX50.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the X6’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The QX50 doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

The X6’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The QX50 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the X6 and the QX50 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, 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 around view monitors.

The BMW X6 weighs 675 to 1266 pounds more than the Infiniti QX50. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

Warranty

The X6’s corrosion warranty is 5 years longer than the QX50’s (12 vs. 7 years).

There are over 73 percent more BMW dealers than there are Infiniti dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the X6’s warranty.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates rated the X6 second among upper midsize premium suvs in their 2022 Initial Quality Study. The QX50 isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that BMW vehicles are better in initial quality than Infiniti vehicles. J.D. Power ranks BMW above average in initial quality. With 39 more problems per 100 vehicles, Infiniti is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Infiniti vehicles. J.D. Power ranks BMW above average in long-term dependability. With 5 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Infiniti is rated below average.

Engine

The X6’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 67 more horsepower (335 vs. 268) and 51 lbs.-ft. more torque (331 vs. 280) than the QX50’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The X6 M50i’s standard 4.4 turbo V8 produces 255 more horsepower (523 vs. 268) and 273 lbs.-ft. more torque (553 vs. 280) than the QX50’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the BMW X6 is faster than the Infiniti QX50:

	X6 6 cyl. hybrid gas	X6 M50i	QX50
Zero to 60 MPH	5.2 sec	3.3 sec	6.7 sec
Quarter Mile	13.8 sec	11.6 sec	15.2 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	99.9 MPH	119.5 MPH	91.8 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

Regenerative brakes improve the X6’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The QX50 doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the X6’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The QX50 doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The X6 has 5.9 gallons more fuel capacity than the QX50 (21.9 vs. 16 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Transmission

The X6’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The QX50 doesn’t offer launch control.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the X6’s brake rotors are larger than those on the QX50:

	X6	X6 M Sport	QX50
Front Rotors	13.7 inches	15.6 inches	13 inches
Rear Rotors	13.6 inches	14.6 inches	12.1 inches

The X6 stops much shorter than the QX50:

	X6	QX50
60 to 0 MPH	102 feet	126 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the X6 has larger standard tires than the QX50 (275/45R20 vs. 235/55R19). The X6’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the QX50 (F:275/40R21 & R:315/35R21 vs. 255/45R20).

The X6’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the QX50’s standard 55 series tires. The X6’s optional 275/35R22 front and 315/30R22 rear tires have a lower 35 series front and 30 series rear profile than the QX50 Sport/Sensory/Autograph’s 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the X6 has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 19-inch wheels are standard on the QX50. The X6’s optional 22-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels on the QX50 Sport/Sensory/Autograph.

The X6 offers an optional space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the QX50; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed.

Suspension and Handling

The X6 M50i offers active sway bars, which help keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnect at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The QX50 doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The X6 offers an available adjustable active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. Infiniti doesn’t offer an active suspension on the QX50.

The X6 has a standard driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The QX50’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The X6 has a standard automatic load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The QX50 doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the X6’s wheelbase is 6.9 inches longer than on the QX50 (117.1 inches vs. 110.2 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the X6 is 1.8 inches wider in the front and 3 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the QX50.

The X6’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (50.8% to 49.2%) than the QX50’s (57.4% to 42.6%). This gives the X6 more stable handling and braking.

The X6 M50i handles at .97 G’s, while the QX50 AWD pulls only .83 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The X6 M50i executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2.8 seconds quicker than the QX50 AWD (24.1 seconds @ .83 average G’s vs. 26.9 seconds @ .64 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the X6 Air Suspension has a 1.1 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the QX50 (9.7 vs. 8.6 inches), allowing the X6 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

The front grille of the X6 uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The QX50 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Passenger Space

The X6 has .8 inches more front legroom, 2.1 inches more front shoulder room and .6 inches more rear shoulder room than the QX50.

Towing

The X6’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the QX50’s (5952 vs. 0 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Infiniti QX50 AWD is only 3000 pounds. The X6 offers up to a 7200 lbs. towing capacity.

Servicing Ease

The engine in the X6 is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the QX50. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that BMW service is better than Infiniti. J.D. Power ranks BMW 7th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 4% lower rating, Infiniti is ranked 9th.

Ergonomics

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the QX50 Luxe/Sport/Sensory/Autograph, the X6 M50i has a passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position, outside mirror angle, climate settings and radio stations and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The power windows standard on both the X6 and the QX50 have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the X6 is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The QX50 prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

The X6’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The QX50’s standard intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the X6 to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The QX50 doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

The X6 offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the QX50.

The X6’s optional Parking Assistant Plus can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The QX50 doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the X6 owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the X6 with a number “1” insurance rate while the QX50 is rated higher at a number “10” rate.

The X6 will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the X6 will retain 48.14% of its original price after five years, while the QX50 only retains 43.84% to 45.08%.

Recommendations

J.D. Power and Associates rated the X6 first among upper midsize premium suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The QX50 isn’t in the top three.

The BMW X6 outsold the Infiniti QX50 by 23% during 2022.

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