2020 Infiniti QX60 Luxe
Class: Premium Midsize Crossover SUV
Miles driven: 312
Fuel used: 17.9 gallons
Real-world fuel economy: 17.4 mpg
Driving mix: 60% city, 40% highway
| CG Report Card | |
|---|---|
| Room and Comfort | B+ |
| Power and Performance | B- |
| Fit and Finish | A |
| Fuel Economy | C |
| Value | B- |
| Report-card grades are derived from a consensus of test-driver evaluations. All grades are versus other vehicles in the same class. Value grade is for specific trim level evaluated, and may not reflect Consumer Guide's impressions of the entire model lineup. | |
| Big & Tall Comfort | |
| Big Guy | B |
| Tall Guy | A |
| Big & Tall comfort ratings are for front seats only. "Big" rating based on male tester weighing approximately 350 pounds, "Tall" rating based on 6'6"-tall male tester. | |
| Drivetrain | |
| Engine Specs | 295-hp 3.5-liter |
| Engine Type | V6 |
| Transmission | CVT |
| Drive Wheels | AWD |
EPA-estimated fuel economy: 19/26/22 (city, highway, combined)
Fuel type: Premium gas recommended
Base price: $48,150 (not including $1025 destination charge)
Options on test vehicle: Essential Package ($2900); Sensory Package ($3500); Proactive Package ($3400); Theater Package ($2150); Cargo Package ($360); Infiniti Radiant Exterior Welcome Lighting ($445)
Price as tested: $61,930
Quick Hits
The great: High-class cabin trimmings; quiet and comfortable ride
The good: Smooth powertrain delivers satisfying acceleration
The not so good: Mediocre fuel economy; aging basic design
More QX60 price and availability information
John Biel
Just call it the old standby.
The Infiniti QX60 3-row premium midsize crossover has been around so long that its name even changed. Launched for 2013 as the JX35, it picked up its current moniker the following year. There has been the expected “midcycle freshening” with modified appearance details—in 2016—and a steady stream of new features throughout the run. A hybrid version even came and went.
It has been a while since Consumer Guide last tested a QX60—it was one of those facelifted ’16s—and this will likely be CG’s last crack at it in this form. A new-generation job is said to be in the wings for model year 2021. As established in 2019, the QX60 comes in Pure and Luxe trim levels. Either can be had with front- or all-wheel drive, the latter at a $2000 premium. We drove an AWD Luxe with a starting price of $49,175 (with delivery), but a considerable option load drove the final price to $61,930.
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The barrage of extras from five packages and one stand-alone option brought such things as leather upholstery (in place of leatherette), maple interior trim (replacing graphite-weave accents), climate-controlled front seats (heated seats are standard), heated second-row seats, voice-responsive navigation, surround-view overhead monitor, 20-inch alloy wheels (up from base 18-inchers), second- and third-row moonroof, hands-free liftgate, Bose 15-speaker audio system (a gain of two), adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning and prevention, blind-spot and back-up collision intervention, second-row video entertainment system, cargo cover, and exterior welcome lighting. Among the standard features untouched by this bounty are LED headlights and fog lights, front-row moonroof, heated power-folding external mirrors, rear-door alert, heated and leather-wrapped steering wheel on a power tilt/telescoping column, push-button starting, tri-zone automatic climate control, InTouch infotainment system, satellite radio, forward emergency braking with pedestrian detection, and forward-collision and blind-spot warnings.
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Since 2017, the QX60’s 3.5-liter V6 has made 295 horsepower and 270 lb-ft of torque. Those increases of 30 ponies and 22 lb-ft closed a considerable power gap between the Infiniti and the rest of the class, and, in fact made it marginally more powerful than the Acura MDX that is one of CG’s “Best Buy” picks in the premium-midsize segment. The engine is smooth and it operates with reasonable quiet, somewhat surprising as it’s joined to a continuously variable transmission, a type that often leaves engines drone-prone. A menu of drive modes—“Standard,” “Sport,” “Snow,” and “Eco”—is provided to modify throttle response and “shift” points. Choosing Sport doesn’t seem to make a significant difference in on-road behavior. Drivers can opt for manual-mode shifting, albeit without paddle shifters.
EPA fuel-economy estimates for QX60s with all-wheel drive are 19 mpg in the city, 26 mpg on the highway, and 22 combined. (Front-wheelers are rated at one mpg better in city and highway driving.) This driver averaged 17.9 mpg from a 187-mile test stint composed of 70 percent city-style operation.
For road manners, steering is nicely weighted and reasonably responsive. The body stands up well against lean and snaps back quickly after completing a turn. The 20-inch wheels in the Sensory Package option put a little more charge in the cabin over bumps, so cool looks aren’t everything.
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The name may have changed, but the fundamental physical plant of this Infiniti crossover has stayed intact since its launch. Here’s what it looks and feels like:
- Maybe it has something to do with the vehicle’s age, but controls for things like audio and climate remain accessible and easy to use. That could all go away with the next-gen QX60—all the “cool kids” in the group seem to have complex central controls and layered system menus. For now, though, it’s fairly simple to program and access audio presets through the 8-inch touchscreen or reach the buttons (some repetitive pushers) that run the climate system.
- There’s good head- and legroom in front, and fine adult legroom in the second row. However, middle-row headroom suffers under the extended moonroof. At least the floor is flat enough to enable three-across seating for grown-ups. The third row is no place for voting-age passengers. Ample glass area doesn’t live up to its full potential for driver vision because of thick roof pillars all around.
- The glove box is large and exceedingly deep. Two release levers on the console-box lid expose either a shallow upper tray or a larger, deeper conventional cubby. Small pockets in all four doors have bottle holders. Storage pouches are attached to the backs of the front seats. Exposed cup holders are located in the console, the second-row pull-down center armrest, and in the sidewalls on either side of the third-row seats.
- While cargo space is a little skimpy with all seats up, the 50/50-split third-row seats fold flat into the floor for a good mix of cargo and passenger space. Power assists that return the seats to the upright position are included in the Sensory Package, and an organizer for the hidden space under the cargo floor is a feature of the Cargo Package. For bigger jobs, the middle-row 60/40 seats fold quite flat, but they rest slightly higher than the remainder of the load floor.
Sure, you’ve seen it all before, but the QX60 is still priced right to start. The only appreciable drawback is that it takes some big-ticket option groups to get a lot of the latest and greatest tech.
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Infiniti QX60 Luxe
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