2022 INFINITI QX60 Reviews, Pricing & Specs

Infiniti gave the QX60 a complete makeover for the 2022 model year, including a new exterior design, a new interior, new powertrains, and new technologies. These elements of the redesign parallel similar updates to the QX60's Nissan cousin, the Pathfinder—both SUVs use the Nissan D platform. The QX60’s origin story begins with the 2013 JX, renamed in 2014 as QX60 when the Infiniti brand’s naming conventions shifted to “Q” for cars and “QX” for SUVs. The merits and demerits of this marketing shift could be the subject of a book, or at least a very thick pamphlet, but we’ll leave that for another day. The new QX60 marks the start of the crossover’s second generation of production.

Exterior changes to the QX60 yield a dramatic, attractive crossover SUV. The new front can be startling, with a prominent grille, slim LED headlights, and oversized air intakes flanking the grille on each side and below. It’s almost a concept-car look, and it bears lots of chrome to boot. The long hood and steeply raked windshield convey elegance from the side, and the roof appears to float above the cabin, thanks to blacked-out pillars. A contrasting black roof comes with the top-of-the-line Autograph trim level, enhancing the floating effect even further. Big wheels (the base Infiniti QX60 Pure models get 18-inch wheels and all others get 20-inch wheels) fill the outlined wells. The rear elevation is tasteful and shows the greenhouse sitting on top of the body, giving the SUV a very planted look. “INFINITI” is spelled out in two-inch-tall chrome letters across the top-hinged liftgate—a visual insult to the classy Infiniti logo but a nod to current fashion.

A slight misstep mars the top Autograph trim level, and that’s chromed panels at the lower corners of the rear fascia, which designers told us were there to balance the look of similar faux skid plates at the bottom corners of the front fascia. The back panels look like they’re trying to be fake exhaust outlets, which they’re not—the exhaust pipes live below the fascia, and the panels have no openings. Luckily, buyers who share a dislike for these chrome panels can swap them out for the matte black ones on lower trim levels.

Inside, the QX60 feels wide and open. The dash helps emphasize this feeling with horizontal lines and layers. On the Autograph trim level (the only trim level made available at the launch event we attended), quilted leather upholstery not only wraps the seats but also appears on the dash, and it’s a lovely material. The 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment display sits proudly on top of the dash’s centre—perfect placement to keep the driver’s eyes close to the road. The TFT instrument panel delivers crisp graphics and information, and the hard buttons and controls in the centre console are simple, intuitive, and easy to master.

The QX60 models for North America originate at the Nissan plant in Smyrna, Tennessee and display a very high level of craftsmanship and build quality, as we’ve come to expect from Infiniti vehicles.

You don’t have to be an enthusiast to recognize the superior driving experience delivered by a traditional geared automatic transmission over a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The outgoing QX60 came with a CVT, while the new crossover gets a nine-speed automatic, and it makes all the difference in driving feel. Where the CVT was prone to rubber-banding and droning as the engine’s rpm plateaued quickly and had to wait for the transmission to catch up, the nine-speed shifts cleanly and crisply to keep the revs building and dropping subtly along with acceleration and deceleration. The transmission could still use a little fine-tuning to improve kick down for passing situations—it’s a little slow to respond.

Infiniti’s familiar 3.5-litre V6 engine fills the space under the hood. Naturally aspirated (not turbocharged or supercharged) and direct-injected, it cranks out power specs of 295 horsepower and 270 lb-ft of torque using premium unleaded fuel. Natural Resources Canada says fuel consumption can be expected at 11.9 litres per 100 kilometres in the city, 9.5 on the highway, and 10.8 combined, close to those of the outgoing QX60.

Infiniti has reworked the QX60’s suspension, which uses MacPherson struts up front and an independent multilink setup in the rear. Four-wheel ventilated disc brakes are standard, with anti-lock braking and brake assist standard. The rack-mounted electric power steering assist uses variable ratios and delivers good feel.

Driving the QX60, you never forget you’re in a big, wide crossover. Infiniti’s done an excellent job taming body roll, but this is still not the kind of vehicle you toss into corners. It does deliver a smooth, serene ride, and passengers will not complain about the comfort in the second or third rows, where leg and headroom are generously apportioned. We didn’t test the QX60’s off-road capabilities, as we doubt many buyers will seek out this premium crossover for bushwhacking purposes, despite its relationship to the Nissan Pathfinder. The QX60 lives for the smooth highway, the lush suburban street, and the valet parking lot.

Though Infiniti probably won’t hear this as a compliment, if the QX60 wore sliding side doors, it could almost function as a luxury minivan. But "minivan" is a bad word, one not uttered in the premium world. So, the QX60 has four traditional, front-hinged doors and a rear liftgate, SUV-style.

The three-row SUV caters to all of its passengers, with storage throughout the cabin, charging ports, and plenty of comfort. In front, the roomy centre console has a cubby for smartphones, two big cupholders, and covered storage under the armrest. Thanks to shift-by-wire technology, the gear selector doesn’t require a physical linkage, so the space beneath the centre console is open for handbag and device storage, a much more convenient and safe position.

The second-row seats ride on rails, so they easily slide fore and aft to share space between the rows. In the lower trim levels, the second-row bench splits to fold 60/40; in the Autograph level, twin second-row captain’s chairs are separated by a deep, removable centre console with cupholders and storage. In either case, the seats quickly flip forward with one touch to allow access to the roomy third-row seats. A nimble adult can get into the rear seats gracefully, and, subject to the generosity of second-row occupants sharing legroom, can sit comfortably.

The QX60 can hold up to 411 litres of luggage behind its third row. Fold the third row flat, and you’ve opened 1,178 litres of space. With both rows of seating folded, 2,135 litres of cargo space becomes your domain. If you need to move more, the QX60 comes with a 1,587-kilogram (3,500-pound) towing capacity, expandable to 2,721 kilograms (6,000 pounds) in specific models equipped with additional towing equipment and accessories.

Infiniti has always fulfilled expectations for impressive standard and available technology levels, and the QX60 follows suit.

Outside, full LED headlights, running lights, taillamps, and centre high-mounted stop light (CHMSL) provide vision and visibility, with adaptive front lighting with auto-leveling included on higher trim levels. A power liftgate (motion-activated on the Sensory and Autograph) eases the opening and closing of the rear hatch.

The latest version of Infiniti’s 12.3-inch InTouch Interactive infotainment system comes with wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto (get with it, Google!) connectivity. Six USB ports (seven in Sensory and above models) live throughout the cabin, including the second and third rows. A wireless charging pad is standard on Sensory and Autograph models. The navigation system is standard in all but the base Pure trim level, with map data handled by TomTom. Infiniti InTouch services add a suite of connectivity features via a smartphone app, with trial periods included.

Sensory and Autograph models come with a standard colour 10.8-inch head-up display. All models get Infiniti’s Intelligent Key with memory that stores seat position and most recently used audio and climate controls. So, as long as they use their individual key, a tall driver who loves classical music and cozy warmth won’t find themselves jammed up against the steering wheel listening to EDM while fighting off goosebumps from the cold.

Sensory and Autograph models also come with a smart rearview mirror. This device replaces the passive reflected image with a live image from a camera embedded in the tailgate trim. Easy to turn on and off, this feature can be pretty handy for a driver with a full load of passengers, whose heads will fill the natural mirror view. Using the smart mirror all the time can be jarring, but having the view available can be a great safety feature.

A nine-speaker AM/FM audio system is standard in Pure and Luxe models. A 17-speaker Bose Performance series sound system is standard on the Sensory and Autograph.

Neither the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) nor the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have released crash-test safety ratings for the 2022 Infiniti QX60. The previous-generation vehicle received the IIHS’s Top Safety Pick rating and the NHTSA five-star rating, however, so we’d expect the 2022 model to achieve similar acclaim.

The QX60 comes with all of the expected standard safety features and systems, including an impressive collection of airbags. Shoppers get front- and side-impact airbags, plus roof-mounted curtain side-impact airbags with rollover sensors for all three rows. There’s also the driver- and front-passenger knee airbags, second-row side-impact airbags, and front central seat-mounted airbags. It also has a complement of LATCH connectors, and advanced driver assistance systems including forward emergency braking with pedestrian detection, predictive forward-collision warning, rear automatic braking, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning with haptic steering wheel feedback, rear-view camera, and blind-spot warning.

Nissan and Infiniti’s excellent ProPilot Assist driver-assistance system is standard on all trim levels except Pure. Other optional features include adaptive cruise control, blind-spot intervention, lane-departure prevention, around-view monitor camera system with moving object detection, and driver attention alert.

The new Infiniti QX60 is arriving in Canadian dealerships, with starting prices ranging from $54,995 to $67,995 manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP). The initial run comes in four trim levels: Pure ($54,995); Luxe ($59,495); Sensory ($64,995); and Autograph ($67,995). Few options are required as Infiniti Canada’s trim levels are largely all-inclusive. Destination charges are $2,095 extra on every QX60.

If you’re considering a QX60, you should look at the competition before making a buying decision. The Acura MDX (starting at $57,900) is new for 2022 as well. The Audi Q7 (starting at $70,500), Mercedes-Benz GLE (starting at $72,600), and BMW X5 (starting at $79,100) show how they’re doing midsize luxury SUVs in Germany. The Volvo XC90 (starting at $65,200) ups the style ante, and the Cadillac XT6 (starting at $57,998) keeps America in the game.

If you like the powertrain and general layout of the QX60 but find the price too high, you should also consider the 2022 Nissan Pathfinder (starting at $43,998), which shares a powertrain and platform with the QX60.

Infiniti improved the QX60 in just about every possible direction with this new generation. The only questions that remain are whether the QX60 has caught or passed the leaders in its class, and whether this premium three-row crossover is suitable for you. For some buyers, the answer is going to be, “Yes.” We suggest you drive it, and its competitors, to decide.

Note: Images show a US model.