Over the past few years, we’ve watched Infiniti struggle a bit with slumping sales and a shrinking product portfolio. But all that’s about to change, and it begins with the all-new 2027 Infiniti QX65 midsize crossover.
Infiniti Today
We had an exclusive interview with Eric Ledieu, vice president of Infiniti Americas, which we share in its entirety on a special edition of the Car Stuff Podcast, and his enthusiasm for the brand’s next chapter is evident. From an upcoming rear-wheel-drive sport sedan with a manual-transmission option to body-on-frame SUVs, there’s a lot to look forward to.
“Infiniti is back in many, many ways,” Ledieu said. “And to be able to sit here today knowing that we’ve got this exciting new product coming out in the next few weeks and then knowing that we are just getting warmed up is super exciting.”
With the 2027 QX65 as the appetizer, we have to admit we’re a bit excited, too.
Design inspiration
While the new QX65 sits on the same platform as the existing QX60—and shares the same powertrain—it has a distinctive design with a bamboo-forest inspired grille and a fastback silhouette. For those who remember the FX SUV that became the QX70 in 2013 and left the lineup after 2017, you may see where Infiniti designers got their inspiration. The long nose and rounded rear give it a unique shape and sporty proportions.
However, as the product experts were quick to point out, the QX65 has a lot more practical interior space than the old FX models did. In fact, you can fit four checked bags in the back in addition to two duffle bags. Or if golf is your thing, it’ll fit four golf bags without removing the driver.
However, because of the rear sloping roofline, the one compromise you’ll see in the QX65 versus the QX60 is going to be rear headroom. While an average sized adult will have plenty of space, taller adults are going to want to call dibs on the front seat.
Engines
No, there isn’t a V6 engine in the 2027 QX65. Yes, you have the same four-cylinder, turbocharged engine seen in the Infiniti QX60 and Nissan Murano. It delivers 268 horsepower and 286 pound-feet of torque, which is the same as the QX60 and more than the Murano. And, no, it does not have a continuously variable transmission. Instead, it is equipped with a nine-speed automatic.
As we learned in our interview with Ledieu, Infiniti hasn’t ruled out alternative powertrain options, but he wasn’t specific about what could end up in this midsize SUV or if anything would. He merely said they aren’t ruling anything out, but he wouldn’t confirm anything either. However, with a couple hybrids and a V6 engine on the agenda in the next couple years, it’s not out of the realm of possibility that we might see one of those.
For the most part, I would say 268 horsepower is enough. But there is a little lag from a stop if the auto engine stop/start system is engaged. My bigger complaint is with the piped-in engine sound. In addition to tuning the QX65 to have a sportier sound, Infiniti uses Active Sound Enhancement to amplify the engine harmonics through the vehicle’s speakers during acceleration. In my book, it’s a bit much. You can’t turn it off, and it only gets louder when you toggle into Sport Mode.
On the Road
When I posted that I’d be driving the new QX65 on social media, I got a lot of questions asking me if it drove like the old FX45, and my answer to that is yes and no. The old FX45 has a V8 engine and delivered an extra 50 or so horsepower. Therefore, it’s certainly not as quick. Plus, the QX65 is heavier, and the FX45 is about a foot shorter. So, while the QX65 has a sporting nature and hugs the curves quite well, it’s not as nimble either. I guess the answer, then, is more no than yes. But it’s not as ponderous as the QX60.
In this first spin of the 2027 QX65, we had a nice mix of highway and surface street driving. Thus, we saw it’s fairly quick off the line, and it did OK in passing maneuvers. One thing we did notice is that sometimes the transmission held the gear a little too long. Ostensibly, that’s to give it a more sporty feel, but combined with the “enhanced” engine sound, it just seemed like the vehicle was struggling.
ProPilot
We were also able to test the optional ProPilot Assist 2.1 hands-free highway system, and it does a good job. It keeps you centered in the lane and doesn’t feel herky-jerky with the slow downs due to traffic. However, unlike General Motors’ Super Cruise, it does not perform automatic lane changes, and you do have to put your hands on the wheel for a lane-change maneuver.
Smaller Drivers
As a petite driver, I found the driving position to be relatively good. The belt line is a little high, but I felt like my visibility was still OK. To those out there saying this is just a rebadged Nissan Murano, I’ll say, sure, it shares an engine and a platform, but I think the differences end there. I did not like how the Murano drove and it was very ill-suited for petite drivers — I sat way too close to the steering wheel. This was not the case with the QX65.
Phone Charger
While there is a lot to like on the 2027 QX65, there are two stand-out features worth calling attention to. The first is the wireless charger. I usually hate them. Your phone moves around or overheats or doesn’t charge. Universally, they pretty much suck in cars. But Infiniti has finally nailed it for phones with a magnet on the back. This “Qi2” charger is equipped with a magnet that helps clip the phone in place, and then when the charger senses the phone is heating up, it has a fan meant to cool. The best part: It actually works. I had my phone clipped in place for about an hour, and it charged my phone from 62 percent to 80 percent at the same time I was using Apple CarPlay and navigating with Google Maps. While my phone was warm, it wasn’t hot. I consider all that a win.
Sound App
Perhaps the coolest feature, however, is the Infiniti Personalized Sound app. This doesn’t come pre-loaded on the car, but you can download it for free from the Google Play store. Then you take a 3-minute hearing test, and the car automatically balances the sound based on how you hear. I am not an audiophile by any stretch of the imagination, but when I went through the test, I found it added a depth to the sound that was impressive. The base settings sounded flat in comparison. This personalized sound is linked to the key fob, so you can have at least two drivers who get their own sound settings.
Pricing and Trim Levels
Standard Equipment
The 2027 QX65 comes standard with all-wheel drive, and it’s packed with a lot of features. So, a base price of about $55,000 doesn’t seem out line to us. And considering the volume seller is the Sport model and only costs a couple thousand more is impressive. Here’s a quick rundown of the trim levels and what you get:
Luxe ($55,535)
Includes 20-inch wheels, 12.3-inch digital cluster, 12.3-inch infotainment screen, Google built-in, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless phone charger, panoramic sunroof, heated front seats, power lift gate, tri-zone climate control, adaptive cruise control, and illuminated front grille. There are no packages at this trim level.
Sport ($57,235)
Adds black alloy 20-inch wheels, sport grille mesh insert, black exterior accents, Infiniti puddle lamps, climate-controlled front was, Klipsch 16-speaker premium audio system, and a 360-degree camera. This trim also offers a Premium Package with a rear camera mirror, head-up display, motion-activated liftgate, and tow hitch.
Autograph ($64,135)
Adds 21-inch machined alloy wheels, satin chrome window surround, open pore wood-grained interior trim, aluminum cargo scuff plates, semi-aniline leather-appointed seats, massaging front seats, heated rear seats, auto-dimming outside mirrors, rear camera mirror, head-up display, motion activated lift gate, and a Klipsch Reference Premiere 20-speaker audio system. A Technology Package is available with ProPilot Assist 2.1, a 360-degree camera with spin capability, driver monitoring, tow hitch, and driver seat-mounted front-center supplemental airbag. A stand-alone tow package is also available.
CG says:
The 2027 Infiniti QX65 has a lot going for it—even if we would like to see more powertrain options. It’s packed with features and priced to sell. While we only had the opportunity to test the Autograph trim, both the Luxe and Sport are going to have most of what you want—including the wireless charger and personalized sound. For our money, we’d stick with the volume-selling Sport trim. We can take or leave the Premium Package. While the rear camera mirror and head-up display are nice-to-have features, they aren’t necessities for us. Nor is the ability to tow. And motion-activated liftgates tend to be a crap shoot. Sometimes they work, sometimes they don’t. So, it’s not worth the money in our book.
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2027 Infiniti QX65 Autograph Pictures
