New face, new tech empower new Infiniti QX60
With family vehicles, the need to cover the basics of safety, versatility, and reliability are so crucial that sometimes things like style and power are left by the wayside. Enter the 2016 Infiniti QX60, the luxury brand’s seven-passenger, three-row SUV, enhanced by plenty of interior space and the versatility for both weekday commutes and weekend adventures. This car also boasts technology and style that will make you forget you are piloting a large family hauler.
The QX60 began life as the JX35, sharing a chassis with the Nissan Pathfinder. For 2016, it sports a new grille, LED headlights, and a revised chassis for a better drive feel.
How does it perform?
The styling updates are a rousing success. The bolder grille and busier details in the front fascia better match the size of the QX60, giving the visual impression of a sleeker SUV.
The new, Jade Green color of our test vehicle might not be for everyone, but it works well with the optional roof rails. If you’d like a more conservative color, QX60 wears the Hermosa Blue hue like a fitted suit.
The large doors provide solid access to both first and second rows. The sophisticated seats fold forward providing access to the third row. First- and second-row passengers have ample legroom, even those over six feet. The third row is best for smaller adults, but is manageable in a pinch.
Fold the second and third rows flat and you’ll have access to over 76 cubic feet of cargo space, made even more accessible with the one touch, power open-close, rear hatch.
Once behind the wheel, anyone coming from another Infiniti or even a Nissan vehicle will feel right at home. The aesthetic is a thoughtful mix of form and function, as defined by the easy-to-use controls. Unfortunately, Infiniti has done away with the analog clock in the center of the dash, which has long been one of the brand’s defining style choices.
FAMILIAR FUNCTIONALITY: If you are coming out of another Infiniti or Nissan model, you will recognize the controls and touchscreen layout.
But what you do get is one of the best control layouts in the luxury market. Many premium automakers offer proprietary infotainment and navigation controls, with names like Audi MMI, BMW iDrive, Mercedes-Benz COMAND, and Lexus Remote Touch. Each system denies the driver the simple ergonomics of a basic touch screen, instead forcing the driver to learn the automaker’s own proprietary remote system to perform basic tasks like setting a radio station or entering an address in the navigation system.
Mercifully, Infiniti has fought the temptation to go down this road, instead staying with the trusted buttons and touch-screen system found on other Infiniti and Nissan models. It is incredibly easy, and even features a row of six buttons for presets. One knock on the way they integrate smartphones: Every time you plug your phone into the USB port to charge, it automatically defaults to your phone’s music library rather than continuing to play whatever you already have on. Thus, you may unexpectedly go from listening to NPR to your personally curated Abba playlist.
But the best notes coming from the QX60 are from the exhaust. Infiniti is the best Japanese luxury brand when it comes to offering German-quality performance at a lower price. On paper, the 3.5-liter V6 makes 265 horsepower and 248 lb.-ft. of torque, but in actuality, it feels like there is more get-up under the hood.
Power is sent through a continuously variable transmission, or CVT, to the front wheels or available all-wheel-drive. Located aft of the shifter is the Drive Mode selector with modes Eco, Snow, Normal, and Sport.. Each mode has a unique tuning for the throttle response, power delivery of the AWD, and steering feel. Even the CVT will hold at simulated “gears’’ in Sport mode, resulting in a sports-car-like feel under acceleration.
From acceleration to braking and even cornering, the QX60 feels surprisingly spirited. A curb weight close to 4,500 lbs. is certainly hefty, but it is 1,000 lbs. lighter than more conventional SUVs, like the Chevrolet Tahoe. Despite its lightweight construction, QX60 still gets an overall Five-Star crash rating from NHTSA, and earns a score of “Good’’ in every IIHS crash category. The QX60 is also the first Infiniti to be 100 percent built in the United States.
The FWD QX60 will return fuel economy of 21 mpg city, 27 highway. Our AWD test model is listed at 19/26, and a week of primarily city driving returned a combined MPG in the low 20s. A hybrid version is available with a smaller 2.5-liter engine paired to an EPA estimated 26/28 city/highway for the FWD and 25/28 with AWD.
Base MSRP for the 2016 Infiniti QX60 is $42,600, and an AWD model starts at $44,400. Our test AWD model came in at $58,845, but that steeper price came with all the added goodies. The Premium package ($1,800) adds Bose premium stereo, roof rails, heated steering wheel, and remote start. The Premium Plus package ($2,900) throws in navigation with voice recognition, Bluetooth, and more. The Deluxe Technology package ($6,900) includes the full suite of high-tech safety features, including blind spot warning, forward collision avoidance, intelligent cruise control, lane departure warning, and a whole host of additional premium appointments.
In terms of price, the only three-row luxury SUVs that can touch the QX60 are the Volvo XC90, starting around $44K, and the Acura MDX, starting just under $45K. The Lexus GX starts at $51,730 and the Audi Q7 starts at $55,750. For both the Lexus and the Audi, the price jumps considerably with options.
Considering price alone, the Infiniti QX60 is one of the best deals, but fit it with all the high tech safety and luxury features and it still represents one of the best bargains among upscale SUVs. The combination of style and function certainly puts it among family vehicles you still feel cool driving.
2016 Infiniti QX60
THE BASICS
Price: $42,600, as tested: $58,845. Fuel economy, EPA estimated: 19/26. Fuel economy, Globe observed: 21.7 mpg. Drivetrain: 3.5L V6, CVT, all-wheel-drive. Body: Three-row SUV.
THE SPECIFICS
Horsepower: 265. Overall length: 196.4 in. Wheelbase 114.2 in. Height: 67.8 in. Width: 772 in. Curb weight: 4,419 lbs.
THE GOOD
Plenty of room, exceptional styling, beats many competitors on price.
THE BAD
Length makes it difficult to park, large doors make getting in and out of parking spaces a tight squeeze.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Heck of a lot more fun than a minivan.
ALSO CONSIDER
Acura MDX, Audi Q7, Lexus GX 470, Volvo XC90.
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