Test Drive: 2022 Infiniti QX60 Autograph

Consumer Guide Test Drive

2022 Infiniti QX60 Autograph AWD

Miles driven: 652

Fuel used: 32.3 gallons

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	A
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	9-speed automatic
Drive Wheels	All-wheel drive

Real-world fuel economy: 20.2 mpg

Driving mix: 35% city, 65% highway

EPA-estimated fuel economy: 20/25/22 (mpg city/highway/combined)

Fuel type: Premium gas

Base price: $63,250 (not including $1025 destination charge)

Options on test vehicle: Moonbow Blue paint ($695)

Price as tested: $64,970

Quick Hits

The great: Smooth, satisfying powertrain; nicely finished cabin is generously equipped with useful technology features

The good: Attractive new styling inside and out; 6000-pound towing capacity (when properly equipped) trumps many class rivals

The not so good: Our observed fuel economy fell short of EPA estimates; third-row seat space can be a bit cramped for adults

More QX60 price and availability information

John Biel

Not that there’s ever an absolute guarantee of this happening, but if a particular vehicle goes dormant for a year it’s generally a good bet that anything related to it will enter hibernation as well. Case in point: The Nissan Pathfinder 3-row midsize SUV sat out 2021 and its rich uncle, the Infiniti QX60, kept it company on the sidelines. Now both are back for 2022, rested and refreshed.

The QX60 shows up for ’22 slightly shorter and wider than before but on the same 114.2-inch wheelbase used by the previous generation. A 9-speed stepped-gear automatic transmission replaces the former continuously variable transmission, and a new Autograph trim level has been fast-tracked to the top of the QX60 model hierarchy.

Consumer Guide Test Drive — The Infiniti QX60 is redesigned for 2022, gaining fresh styling inside and out, new technology features such as a digital gauge panel and enhanced ProPILOT Assist cruise control, and a top-line Autograph trim level.

Consumer Guide tried out the returning QX60 at its “deluxest,” as an all-wheel-drive Autograph with a starting price—including delivery—of $64,275. It stands out through such features as wood interior trim, second-row captain’s chairs (that limit passenger capacity to six), perforated quilted leather on the first and second seating rows, and a Black Obsidian-painted roof. With nothing added but premium Moonbow Blue paint, the test truck topped out at $64,970. Prices start at less than $50,000 for Pure models, ascending through Luxe and Sensory on the way to Autograph. All trim levels are available in a choice of front-wheel or all-wheel drive.

Other Autograph luxuries and conveniences include 20-inch alloy wheels; a panoramic moonroof; roof rails; heated, power-folding, auto-dimming exterior mirrors; and a hands-free power liftgate. Front seats are heated, ventilated—and massaging; second-row seats are heated. The heated, leather-wrapped steering wheel is attached to a power tilt/telescoping column. Rear-door windows have retractable shades. There’s a tri-zone automatic climate system, head-up display, rearview camera mirror, and keyless entry and remote starting.

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The InTouch infotainment system includes a 12.3-inch touchscreen, navigation and real-time traffic information, 17-speaker Bose audio, Wi-Fi hotspot, wireless charging, and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone compatibility (though only CarPlay is wireless). ProPILOT Assist provides light autonomous driving capability, including adaptive cruise control with stop/hold capability and “Navi-Link” that uses the navigation system to “predict” upcoming roads and slow the vehicle accordingly for curves and highway exits. Topping everything off is a bundle of driver assists that includes forward-collision warning and emergency braking, rear automatic braking, adaptive front lighting, high-beam assist, lane-departure warning and prevention, blind-spot warning and intervention, rear cross-traffic alert, and 360-degree monitor with moving-object detection.

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Inside, the QX60 Autograph presents itself as comfortable and luxurious. Lots of bright-trim highlights popped out from the Saddle Brown-and-Black interior that was in CG’s test vehicle. However, while soft-touch surfaces are seemingly everywhere on the doors, dashboard, and console they aren’t necessarily well padded. The cabin could have been quieter at free-flowing expressway speeds, too.

Audio inputs are easy to program. The best thing about the climate controls is the presence of convenient dials to select temperatures. Other functions rely on haptic-feedback buttons, so you have to be sure you’ve fully pressed them to be certain the system is doing what you want it to do. Seven USB ports—two for data and five for charging—are dispersed around the cabin. Digital dials in the 12.3-inch instrument cluster show up bright and large, and the information screen between them has a vivid display. Maybe it’s this tester’s imagination but head-up displays seem to be getting better about not washing out when viewed through polarized sunglasses; that certainly was true of the QX60.

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Headroom and legroom are good in the front row. Second-row passengers will find lots of adaptable space on reclining, adjustable captain’s chairs. The third row isn’t comfy for adults because knee room is sparse, there’s limited room for feet behind the middle seats, and the roof is close to heads. Plus, the seats aren’t as well padded and the backrest is pretty vertical.

Those passengers’ personal items are also accommodated well. The glove box is large, and what the modest console box lacks in volume is made up in open floor-level space under the console. Storage pouches are attached to the backs of the front seats. Pockets in all four doors come with bottle holders. Open cup holders are included in the front- and middle-row consoles; more are molded into the sidewalls for use by third-row passengers.

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Cargo space is OK, but it makes some concessions to style. (Consider that a sunroof-equipped Pathfinder from the same root stock has more capacity at each seating/load configuration—as much as 5.4 cubic feet extra when the third-row seat is retracted.) In back there is an ample bin under the floor. Seats fold flat to piece together a large load floor, albeit with some gaps between them. Note that the second-row console sits a little lower than the folded seats on either side but the console can be removed.

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The new 9-speed transmission is joined to a 3.5-liter V6 that has been carried over from the previous QX60 at the same 295 horsepower and 270 lb-ft of torque. There’s sound, smooth performance from this powerteam, with the ability to tow up to 6000 pounds when properly equipped. Selectable drive-mode controls govern throttle response and transmission mapping in “Personal,” “Sport”, “Standard,” “Eco”, and “Snow” settings. We think you’ll be hard pressed to detect an appreciable change between Standard and Sport operation. The transmission uses a console-mounted “shifter” that works with a back-and-forth action, a somewhat unconventional operation that, frankly, grows on a driver pretty quickly. Steering-wheel paddle shifters are included. EPA fuel-economy ratings for the AWD QX 60 are 20 mpg in city driving, 25 mpg on the highway, and 22 combined. This tester saw 21.5 mpg in a stint of 120.7 miles composed of 60 percent city-type operation.

With a new transmission that improves general performance and convenient, up-to-date technology features, the Infiniti QX60 makes a return that should be worthy of the attention of luxury-SUV shoppers.

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