2019 Infiniti QX50: Our Thoughts on the Interior

When the long-term Infiniti QX50 first arrived at our office, I’ll admit I was primarily interested in the engine. But the interior was a close second. After all, the version we ordered came with blue faux suede on the door panels, the dash, and the center console. How cool is that?

That extra design flourish made the cabin really stand out, even to people who had little interest in cars and even less interest in hearing about the cutting-edge technology hiding under the hood. And at a time when most automakers don’t do much to differentiate their interiors from one car to the next, it’s hard not to be drawn in by something truly different.

One thing I wasn’t sure of, though, was how I’d feel about the interior by the end of our year with the QX50. Would it still look as great after more than 20,000 miles? Would daily use expose issues and frustrations that weren’t immediately obvious? And perhaps most important, how would the faux suede hold up?

Almost a year later, the novelty of the QX50’s interior has definitely worn off. But even though it’s not perfect, familiarity has yet to breed contempt (I reserve that feeling for the technically fixed but still outdated infotainment system). The fact that almost every surface is covered in leather, wood, or faux suede is still impressive.

That said, the way the blue faux suede is wearing has me worried about how it will look by year three. I’m also not sure I’d let sticky-finger-aged children anywhere near it.

As far as frustrations go, the shift lever has always jiggled a little and appears to simply be built that way. The intentionally mismatched wood trim also still looks like a mistake made at the factory, and the infotainment control knob’s placement makes it easy for front passengers to hit accidentally.

In the grand scheme of things, though, those complaints are all pretty minor. Personal preference for faux suede aside, the QX50’s cabin still impresses even after crossing the 20,000-mile mark, and Infiniti should be proud of that.

Read more about our long-term 2019 Infiniti QX50: