With seating for five and a length of 186 inches, the compact Infiniti QX55 just barely squeaks by as the smallest SUV Infiniti makes — but there’s another compact option available.

Just because you want to drive an SUV doesn’t mean you want a gas-guzzling tank sitting in your driveway. After all, you’re not only paying more for fuel, but maintenance costs more as well — plus insurance prices go up with big vehicles. If you don’t need seating or storage for seven or a maxed-out tow capacity, a small SUV is a great way to get the style you want without spending a fortune.

If you have your heart set on an Infiniti, the smallest option is a QX55 — but barely.

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What is the smallest SUV Infiniti makes?

To get started, the smallest Infiniti SUV available today is the brand-new QX55. It’s a compact crossover that’s smaller than the Infiniti QX50 by just two inches.

While it’s the smallest SUV available from Infiniti, the QX55 is far from the smallest SUV on the entire market. Its measurements are pretty standard at 186 inches long and 64 inches tall. This model is known for being round, sporty, and responsive with a reported fuel efficiency of 25 combined mpg.

The cargo space is also standard for a compact SUV: 26.9 cubic feet come standard, but it can expand to 54.1 cubic feet when you include the rear seating area. The interior is almost identical to the QX50, but the exterior styling, handling, and drive quality set it apart. It comes with standard all-wheel drive, unlike its sibling.

While the QX55 is still too new for any hard and fast conclusions to be drawn, many reviewers anticipate it will outperform the QX50. Consumers can expect a smooth and quiet ride, a perky turbo engine, and a quiet cabin even through noisy city streets. The drawback is that the handling is not quite as athletic as it claims.

The QX55 comes with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that delivers 268 horsepower and a 0-to-60 time of 6.9 seconds. You can pick one up starting at $47,525 for the base model.

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Why you should consider an SUV over a sedan

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Other small Infiniti SUVs

Of course, the QX55 isn’t the only small Infiniti to consider — you have another option! We’ve mentioned the QX50 a couple of times, and that’s because it’s the only other small SUV Infiniti offers. We’ve got details on the similarly-sized QX50 below.

Smallest: 2022 Infiniti QX55

Starting price: $47,525

Wheelbase: 110.2 inches

Seating capacity: Five

Fastback styling and artful design make the QX55 a posh addition to the Infiniti lineup. While it’s plenty zippy with a turbocharged engine, the handling can’t quite keep up with the engine’s pep.

Small: 2022 Infiniti QX50

Starting price: $40,175

Wheelbase: 110.2 inches

Seating capacity: Five

The

Infiniti QX50

is not terribly different from the QX55, but it is a more senior version. First introduced in 2014, the QX50 was Infiniti’s answer to the growing market demand for compact SUVs.

While the QX50 is nearly identical to the QX55, what sets it apart is the exterior styling. Where the QX55 is round, the QX50 is boxy. The QX55 is sleek and stylish; the QX50 is unremarkable. Cargo space is more abundant than in the QX55 — you’ll get 31.4 cubic feet in the back and a maximum of 64.4 cubic feet with the seats folded down.

The engine is the same as the QX55 — turbocharged and zippy with a 0-to-60 time of 6.9 seconds. Fuel economy is the same unimpressive rate of 25 combined mpg. As mentioned, the two vehicles are nearly identical, even in size. While the QX50 is one inch shorter than the QX55, it’s two inches taller — thus earning it the “larger” tag.

MORE:

Are Infinitis expensive to maintain?

The best alternatives to Infiniti’s smallest SUV

If you aren’t wowed by either the QX50 or the QX55, there are plenty of other luxury crossover SUVs to choose from. In fact, you could argue that some of its competitors are more…well, competitive than the Infiniti models. Some of the top options are the Audi Q5, the Lexus NX, and the Acura RDX.

A trusted option: Audi Q5

The 2022

Audi Q5

starts at $44,495 and while it isn’t as exciting to drive as the Infiniti models, its interior is far more luxurious.

While you can upgrade to peppier engines, the standard engine offered on an Audi Q5 is a turbocharged four-cylinder that offers 201 horsepower. A Q5 model offers 261 horsepower and a 0-to-60 time of 5.5 seconds, which beats out the Infiniti models by over one second. Upgrade again to the optional plug-in powertrain for 362 horses and a 0-to-60 time of 4.5 seconds.

Standard all-wheel drive rounds out the Audi Q5’s offerings and packs in a plethora of standard safety features like blind spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. You can never go wrong with an Audi, and the Q5 is no exception.

Luxury on a budget: Lexus NX

If you save the very best for special occasions only, you’ll love the price of the still-luxurious Lexus NX: starting at $39,425, the

Lexus NX

offers the same amount of luxury and perks as more expensive competitors.

The Lexus NX is all about choice, especially when it comes to engines. For gasoline options, you can choose a 2.5-liter four-cylinder with 203 horsepower or a 2.4-liter four-cylinder with 274 horsepower — or you can opt for a hybrid powertrain, one with 239 ponies and the other with 302 horsepower (fun fact: this is the same hybrid powertrain as a

Rav4 Prime

All-wheel drive is optional for the gasoline engines, while the 2.4-liter NX350 comes with standard AWD. While any engine option delivers surprising power, the handling just can’t compete with sportier alternatives like BMW.

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Sporty and athletic: Acura RDX

Looking for a sporty drive without

Porsche

money? Why not try the athletic

Acura RDX

? It might not have the fanciest interiors or be quite on the same level as other German competitors, but it does offer more cargo space than its competition in addition to surprising value.

Every RDX comes standard with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that packs 272 ponies under the hood. This engine roars to life when accelerating and offers a 0 to 60 speed of 6.4 seconds, about average for its size and class. Your driving experience will vary based on the package you choose at purchase, but one thing remains the same — the brake pedal is firm and inconsistent.

While the interior isn’t as luxurious as some of the other models on this list, it offers a sportier drive than a make like Honda could offer, and for that, it’s worth the price tag. It’s also worth noting that the cabin is packed with desirable standard features that might not classify as luxury, but are still features that improve the drive quality, like dual-zone climate control, power-adjustable and heated front seats, and ambient lighting.

The Acura RDX wins when it comes to cargo capacity: 29.5 cubic feet are standard which expands to a whopping 58.9 cubic feet with the seats down.

MORE:

Are Acuras expensive to maintain?

How to shrink your car insurance payments

One selling point of a smaller SUV versus a large SUV is that the small SUV is likely to have lower

car insurance

premiums. Still, don’t assume that your vehicle’s size automatically means you’ll have cheaper rates — you still need to search for the ideal price, just like you hunted for the ideal make and model.

If you don’t have the time to surf the web for quotes all day or pick up the phone to get a quote, why not try the

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If that wasn’t enough, Jerry makes things even easier by tackling the paperwork for you when it’s time to switch. Insurance experts are standing by until you’re ready for help or have a question. Jerry can take care of everything in record time so you can get back to enjoying your new small SUV.

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