2020 Infiniti QX60 Luxe AWD
2020 Infiniti QX60 Luxe AWD in Hermosa Blue

2020 Infiniti QX60 Luxe2020 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 ComfortB+
Power and PerformanceB-
Fit and FinishA
Fuel EconomyC
ValueB-
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 GuyB
Tall GuyA
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 Specs295-hp 3.5-liter
Engine TypeV6
Transmission CVT
Drive WheelsAWD

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.

2020 Infiniti QX60 Luxe
The $3500 Sensory Package was the priciest option group on our QX60 test vehicle, but it delivered lots of extras, including roof-rail crossbars, a motion-activated power liftgate, and a second- and third-row moonroof,

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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2020 Infiniti QX60 Luxe
The QX60’s control layout is a bit “old school” compared to many rivals’–it relies on physical buttons more than touchscreen controls (a plus for some testers). The classy maple trim accents are included in the Sensory Package.

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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2020 Infiniti QX60 Luxe
There’s fine room in the QX60’s second row, but the third row is best suited for kids. The $2150 Theater Package adds dual 8-inch monitors built into the back of the front-seat headrests, as well as two headphones and a remote control.

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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2020 Infiniti QX60 Luxe
The QX60’s 295-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 supplies smooth, satisfying power. Twenty-inch wheels are included in the Sensory Package; they replace standard 18s, and make for a slightly firmer ride.

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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2020 Infiniti QX60 Luxe
The Infiniti QX60 is showing its age in a number of areas (most notably in control layout and fuel economy), but it’s still a practical, luxurious SUV that offers versatile space, decent road manners, and posh cabin trimmings.

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Infiniti QX60 Luxe

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