Compare the2024 Infiniti QX50VS 2024 GMC Terrain

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
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 GMC Terrain doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Infiniti QX50 are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The GMC Terrain doesn’t offer height-adjustable 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 Terrain doesn’t offer knee airbags.

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 Terrain doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The QX50 has a standard blind spot warning system that 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. A system to reveal vehicles in the Terrain’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the QX50 has standard Rear Cross Traffic Alert, helping the driver avoid collisions. GMC charges extra for Rear Cross Traffic Alert on the Terrain.

Both the QX50 and the Terrain have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front wheel drive, 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 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 GMC Terrain:

	QX50	Terrain
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	98	109
Chest Movement	1 inches	1.1 inches
Abdominal Force	151 lbs.	195 lbs.
Hip Force	306 lbs.	357 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	73	288
Spine Acceleration	25 G’s	55 G’s
Hip Force	227 lbs.	630 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	333	377
Spine Acceleration	39 G’s	40 G’s
Hip Force	339 lbs.	730 lbs.

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

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Infiniti QX50 is safer than the Terrain:

	QX50	Terrain
Overall Evaluation	ACCEPTABLE	MARGINAL
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Neck Tension	178 lbs.	290 lbs.
Neck Compression	89 lbs.	112 lbs.
Torso	ACCEPTABLE	MARGINAL
Shoulder Deflection	1.06 in	1.73 in
Shoulder Force	178 lbs.	312 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Head Injury Criterion	57	733
Head Peak Forces	no contact	101 G’s
Neck Tension	45 lbs.	89 lbs.
Neck Compression	89 lbs.	491 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	.67 in	1.65 in
Shoulder Force	201 lbs.	402 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	1.42 in	1.57 in
Torso Deflection Rate	7 MPH	7 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Pelvis Force	402 lbs.	669 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	MARGINAL

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the QX50 is .9% to 3.8% less likely to roll over than the Terrain.

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

The QX50’s corrosion warranty is 1 year and unlimited miles longer than the Terrain’s (7/unlimited vs. 6/100,000).

Infiniti pays for scheduled maintenance on the QX50 for 3 years and 24,000 miles. Infiniti will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. GMC only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the Terrain.

Reliability

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the QX50 has a standard 720-amp battery. The Terrain’s 700-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

Engine

The QX50’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 93 more horsepower (268 vs. 175) and 77 lbs.-ft. more torque (280 vs. 203) than the Terrain’s 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder.

Fuel Economy and Range

The QX50 has 1.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the Terrain FWD’s standard fuel tank (16 vs. 14.9 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The QX50 has a standard locking fuel door which locks and unlocks with the power locks. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the Terrain. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

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 Terrain doesn’t offer a CVT.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	QX50	Terrain
Front Rotors	13 inches	11.8 inches
Rear Rotors	12.1 inches	11.3 inches

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

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the QX50 has larger standard tires than the Terrain (235/55R19 vs. 225/65R17). The QX50 Sport/Sensory/Autograph’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Terrain (255/45R20 vs. 235/50R19).

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 Terrain SLE/AT4’s standard 65 series tires. The QX50 Sport/Sensory/Autograph’s tires have a lower 45 series profile than the Terrain’s optional 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the QX50 has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Terrain SLE/AT4. The QX50 Sport/Sensory/Autograph’s 20-inch wheels are larger than the 19-inch wheels optional on the Terrain.

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 Terrain doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

Suspension and Handling

The QX50 has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the QX50 flat and controlled during cornering. The Terrain’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the QX50’s wheelbase is 2.9 inches longer than on the Terrain (110.2 inches vs. 107.3 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the QX50 is 2.1 inches wider in the front and 1.5 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Terrain.

The QX50 AWD handles at .84 G’s, while the Terrain Denali 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 quicker than the Terrain Denali AWD (26.7 seconds @ .66 average G’s vs. 27.5 seconds @ .64 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the QX50’s turning circle is 1 foot tighter than the Terrain w/17” wheels’ (36.4 feet vs. 37.4 feet). The QX50’s turning circle is 5.2 feet tighter than the Terrain w/19” wheels’ (36.4 feet vs. 41.6 feet).

For greater off-road capability the QX50 has a 1.7 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Terrain SLE (8.6 vs. 6.9 inches), allowing the QX50 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The QX50’s minimum ground clearance is .7 inch higher than on the Terrain SLT/AT4/Denali (8.6 vs. 7.9 inches).

Passenger Space

The QX50 has 1 inch more front headroom, 1.2 inches more front hip room, .7 inches more front shoulder room, .6 inches more rear headroom, 2 inches more rear hip room and 1.5 inches more rear shoulder room than the Terrain.

Cargo Capacity

The QX50 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Terrain with its rear seat up (31.4 vs. 29.6 cubic feet). The QX50 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Terrain with its rear seat folded (65.1 vs. 63.3 cubic feet).

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the QX50. The Terrain doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

Towing

Maximum trailer towing in the GMC Terrain is limited to 1500 pounds. The QX50 AWD offers up to a 3000 lbs. towing capacity.

Servicing Ease

The QX50 uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Terrain 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 GMC. J.D. Power ranks Infiniti 9th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 9% lower rating, GMC is ranked 15th.

Ergonomics

The QX50’s front and rear power windows all open or close with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Terrain’s passenger windows don’t 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 Terrain can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

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 Terrain’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted. The QX50 Sport/Sensory/Autograph’s standard wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the QX50 Sensory/Autograph has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Terrain doesn’t offer cornering lights.

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

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 Terrain has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The QX50 has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning costs extra on the Terrain.

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) in the center console. Only the Terrain Denali offers wireless charging.

Economic Advantages

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the QX50 is less expensive to operate than the Terrain because it costs $691 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the QX50 than the Terrain, including $349 less for a muffler, $151 less for front brake pads, $156 less for fuel injection, $242 less for a fuel pump and $13 less for a timing belt/chain.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Infiniti QX50, based on reliability, safety and performance. The GMC Terrain isn't recommended.