AutoTrader SCORE
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STYLING8/10
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Safety8/10
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PRACTICALITY9/10
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USER-FRIENDLINESS7/10
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FEATURES8/10
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POWER7/10
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COMFORT9/10
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DRIVING FEEL7/10
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FUEL ECONOMY8/10
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VALUE8/10
The 2022 Infiniti QX60 was completely overhauled, and in a segment that’s fiercely competitive, the three-row luxury SUV still manages to make an impression.
Nissan’s luxury brand is facing stiff competition from all fronts for its best-selling vehicle: the usual European suspects, as well as the typical Asian luxury brands like Acura and Lexus, and Genesis, the latter of which has been making big moves. But Infiniti still has what it takes to land on the shopping lists of road-tripping families.
Style: 8/10
The redesigned QX60 has a lovely road presence and carries itself gracefully. With its strong proportions, imposing grille, and smart details, the SUV is elegant and stylish. There’s nothing wildly memorable about the design, but it looks good and gives off luxury vibes.
Inside, the three-row SUV feels more special with this Autograph trim showcasing the best interior finishing the Japanese brand has to offer. Diamond-quilted leather, contrast piping and stitching, and matte wood trim all elevate the cabin, but it’s very dark inside. Opting for the available tan and black leather combo would liven up the mood.
Practicality: 9/10
One of the most surprising qualities of the QX60 is how family-friendly it is. For many luxury SUVs, practicality is sometimes sacrificed for style, but Infiniti manages to do both very well. The rear doors open nice and wide, making it easy for a parent to install a child seat and load in the kids, and the second-row captain’s chairs are so easy to move that a kid could probably do it on their own to access the third row.
The second row can be moved out of the way via a button on the side of the cushion or on the seatback, and it moves with so much force that the first time I did it the seat almost knocked my glasses clean off my face. The captain’s chairs can be put back into place with just one hand.
The third row must be manually folded flat, but it can be put back into place electronically via buttons in the trunk. (Bonus points for the fact you don’t have to hold the button down for it to work.) The automatic tailgate is also height-adjustable, and each door handle gets a proximity sensor that can be used to unlock and lock all the doors.
The QX60 offers 411 L of space behind the third row, 1,178 L behind the second row, and the rear two rows fold flat with each other, opening up a large 2,135 L of space.
The doors have big storage pockets in them that are deep enough to hold large bottles, and the QX60 offers generous cubbies for storage throughout the cabin.
This QX60 is also equipped with a towing package that enables a 2,722-kg (6,000-lb) towing capacity, which makes it even more useful for road trips. Without this towing upgrade, the QX60 can still tow 1,588 kg (3,500 lb).
Driving feel: 7/10
The QX60 is not a sporty vehicle and it doesn’t feel engaging to drive, but it doesn’t need to be and it isn’t pretending to be sporty, so this isn’t a criticism. The vibe is one of a luxury cruiser that’s focused on comfort and not performance, so it’s smooth, quiet, and comfortable.
The steering is quite numb, but the suspension is fantastic at soaking up rough roads and railroad tracks. This also means there’s a lot of body movement when hustling through corners, and if you’re looking for an SUV that offers sportier performance, you’d be best to look elsewhere. The big SUV also feels gargantuan trying to navigate through a tight parking garage.
Power: 7/10
The 2022 Infiniti QX60 is powered by a 3.5L V6 with 295 hp and 270 lb-ft of torque. All-wheel drive and a nine-speed automatic transmission are standard. While there’s enough power in most circumstances, the V6 can feel strained under the heavy acceleration required to make a pass on the highway. The upgrade to the nine-speed automatic is welcome; the continuously-variable transmission (CVT) of old detracted majorly from the refinement expected of a luxury SUV.
Fuel Economy: 8/10
Despite its size and rather traditional powertrain, over the course of a 1,300-km road trip from Toronto and Montreal and back that was mostly highway, the QX60 was returning an impressive fuel economy of 9.7 L/100 km. The SUV is officially rated at 11.9 L/100 km city, 9.5 highway, and 10.8 combined.
There’s not much fuel-saving technology here, but the engine stop-start system is smooth and appreciated.
User-Friendliness: 7/10
The QX60’s infotainment system feels dated in comparison to some other luxury automakers’ slick and easy-to-use interfaces. The menus aren’t ultra-intuitive to navigate through and some useful functions seem buried. The touchscreen can also be operated using a dial near the gear selector, which is easier to use while in motion, but it’s also not great.
Android Auto and wireless Apple CarPlay help, but the Android compatibility requires a wired connection and drivers can only use the keyboard if the parking brake is activated. I know it’s a safety feature, but it seems like overkill. The smartphone integration only extends to the touchscreen, and the navigation instructions aren’t reflected in the head-up display or digital gauge cluster.
The panel for climate controls is touch-sensitive but requires a real push instead of a tap, and there’s a good mix of analogue knobs for temperature and volume controls. The only issue is that the black plastic panel it’s housed in gets unbearably dusty very quickly.
Safety: 8/10
Every QX60 comes standard with Infiniti’s excellent suite of safety and driver assistance features, including forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection, low-speed rear automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, and lane departure warning.
The top-of-the-line Autograph model adds a surround-view monitor, active blind-spot intervention, lane departure prevention (active steering assist), and Nissan’s excellent ProPilot Assist adaptive cruise control system with navigation, steering assist, driver attention alert, and front parking sensors.
The ProPilot system is normally excellent, but during my time with it fully engaged, the steering assistance struggled with slight curves in the highway, even though the system is location-aware and hooked up to the navigation system. The system is supposed to keep the vehicle centred in a lane even through curves, but it often bumped itself into the lines and beeped to warn me, even though it should have been able to handle it on its own. This is not a hands-free system, so correcting these errors is easy enough, but experiencing this didn’t boost my confidence while using the system.
The system was otherwise smooth and felt natural and safe, doing a great job tackling stop-and-go traffic to keep fatigue at bay during those frustrating but inevitable parts of any road trip.
Features: 8/10
The QX60 is available with most of the features expected of an SUV in this class, but it doesn’t offer anything truly unique or innovative. The Autograph trim comes standard with features like a head-up display, hands-free power tailgate, a camera-based rear-view mirror, heated steering wheel, leather everywhere, a 120-volt power outlet, and more.
Important for families on road trips, a Wi-Fi hotspot is available, there are enough USB ports for six passengers to keep their devices charged, and there’s also wireless cellphone charging up front.
Comfort: 9/10
Along with its practicality, the QX60 also shines in the comfort department. Even after hours of driving without stopping, the seats remained comfortable and we didn’t complain of any aches or pains.
The front seats in this Autograph trim are ventilated, heated, and massaging, while the second-row captain’s chairs are also heated and passengers get manual sunshades. Three-zone climate control helps keep everyone comfortable, and it didn’t feel torturous to sit in the third row.
Value: 8/10
The 2022 Infiniti QX60 starts at $55,245 for the base model, plus a $2,095 freight charge. The Autograph trim tested here starts at $68,245, with the only option being a $1,000 two-tone paint upgrade, bringing the as-tested price to $71,340. This price is much cheaper than a comparable SUV from a German automaker, but also a bit cheaper than the Acura MDX that can be had in sporty Type S guise. The Infiniti QX60 feels worth the asking price, but drivers looking for a higher-performing or more special-feeling SUV probably won’t mind paying extra for that elsewhere.
The Verdict
While the 2022 Infiniti QX60 doesn’t offer anything ground-breaking and isn’t class-leading in any single department, the three-row SUV is still a worthwhile consideration for a family looking for space and style. Families looking for a comfortable and practical SUV with a touch of class for their road trips should give this three-row crossover a test drive.
| Engine Displacement | 3.5L |
|---|---|
| Engine Cylinders | V6 |
| Peak Horsepower | 295 hp |
| Peak Torque | 270 lb-ft |
| Fuel Economy | 11.9 / 9.5 / 10.8 L/100 km cty/hwy/cmb |
| Cargo Space | 411 / 1,178 / 2,135 L behind 3rd/2nd/1st row |
| Model Tested | 2022 Infiniti QX60 Autograph AWD |
| Base Price | $68,245 |
| A/C Tax | $100 |
| Destination Fee | $2,095 |
| Price as Tested | $71,440 |
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Optional Equipment
$1,000 – Two-tone paint, $1,000
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