LIKES
- Posh interior
- Excellent second-row seat functionality
- 6000-lb towing capacity
- Stately exterior
- Upgraded technology
DISLIKES
- Limited to one powertrain
- Tech similar to Pathfinder
- Captain’s chairs limited to Autograph
- Average fuel economy
BUYING TIP
The 2022 Infiniti QX60 Autograph tops the lineup, but the technology upgrades need more differentiation from the Pathfinder.
What kind of vehicle is the 2022 Infiniti QX60? What does it compare to?
The redesigned 2022 Infiniti QX60 three-row crossover SUV aspires to loftier heights than its more rugged platform mate, the 2022 Nissan Pathfinder. It doesn’t quite stack up to the luxury class but the elegant design and modest mechanical upgrades make it competitive with the Acura MDX, Lincoln Aviator, and Buick Enclave.
Is the 2022 Infiniti QX60 a good SUV?
The overdue redesign prioritizes comfort and style, while carrying over a familiar engine and retuned suspension. The cramped third-row and smaller cargo area limits its seven-seat capacity, but as a whole the 2022 QX60 earns a solid TCC Rating of 6.8 out of 10.
What's new for the 2022 Infiniti QX60?
A new look, fresh interior, updated technology, and better seats highlight the changes to the redesigned 2022 QX60, while a new 9-speed automatic defines the major mechanical updates.
Infiniti applies the same 3.5-liter V-6 used in the Pathfinder and carried over from the last generation, but swaps out the CVT for a 9-speed automatic transmission. The 295 hp and 270 lb-ft of torque come on strong, but in higher gears the paddle shifters are best for passing moves. Front-wheel drive comes standard or available all-wheel drive can help tow 6,000 pounds. More sound-deadening materials and thicker glass isolates the cabin from road and engine noise, and retuned steering provides a more direct feel than the numbness of its predecessor. The 9-speed boosts fuel economy to an EPA-rated 21 mpg city, 26 highway, 23 combined with front-wheel drive, which is better than some competitors. The lack of a hybrid or turbo-4 limits the QX60’s efficiency upside.
Clever packaging in the doors and in the cargo floor open up more space inside, and a second-row bench comes standard for seven-passenger seating; captain’s chairs exclusive to the top Autograph trim enable room for six. In either setup, the seats tumble forward with the push of a button and child booster seats don’t need to be removed for easy access to the cramped third row.
Cargo volume comes up short compared to other three-row SUVs (and minivans) at 14.5 cubic feet, but the 41.6 cubic feet behind the second row is plentiful.
In line with the three-row SUV’s mission to serve families, the QX60 comes standard with safety features that help mitigate and avoid car crashes, including automatic emergency braking front and rear, blind-spot monitors, and lane-departure warnings. Optional safety tech includes adaptive lighting and a surround-view camera system.
How much does the 2022 Infiniti QX60 cost?
Base Pure models jump to $47,875 (including $1,025 destination) but include standard convenience features such as panoramic sunroof, heated front seats, and a 12.3-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay (Android Auto requires a cord).
Optional features include a large wireless smartphone charger, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a 10.8-inch head-up display, a rear-view camera mirror, and massaging seats on the top Autograph trim new for 2022. Autograph caps the range at $61,375.
Where is the 2022 Infiniti QX60 made?
In Smyrna, Tennessee, alongside the 2022 Nissan Pathfinder.
Styling
Stately without being lavish, the 2022 QX60 makes its home in the luxury segment.
Is the 2022 Infiniti QX60 a good-looking car?
The style differentiates the 2022 QX60 from the 2022 Nissan Pathfinder. With an available black roof and deeply tinted rear windows that sweep into the integrated roof spoiler, the profile of the QX60 evokes comparisons ranging from the Lincoln Aviator to the Range Rover Velar. The exterior is worth two points, and the updated interior adds another point for an 8.
Chrome frames a mesh grille that is bold without being bodacious, and chrome trims the roofline and the recessed rocker panels. Black cladding running front to back and over round wheel arches housing up to 20-inch alloy wheels on top trims is also tasteful without being overdone. The QX60 strikes a balance of elegance without ostentation, which several luxury automakers struggle with lately. The faux skid plates, fake air intakes, and fake chrome-like plastic panels shaped like quad exhaust pipes take away from the elegance, but only on closer inspection.
Performance
Mechanically similar to the Nissan Pathfinder, the 2022 QX60 distinguishes itself with a more refined ride.
Infiniti applies the same 3.5-liter V-6 used in the Pathfinder and carried over from the last generation, but swaps out the CVT for a 9-speed automatic transmission that’s smoother, quieter, and more efficient. Loaded with low-end torque, the QX60 doesn’t strain to climb uphill or pull a Young MC and bust a move. The powertrain earns a point for a 6.
Is the Infiniti QX60 4WD?
Front-wheel drive comes standard but all-wheel drive is available for $2,000 across the lineup, except on the top Autograph trim, where it’s $3,000.
Infiniti tunes the V-6 to make 295 hp and 270 lb-ft, up from 284 hp and 259 lb-ft in the Pathfinder. Ample power off the line translates to 0-60 mph times in the low seven-second range, but while cruising the driver may want to intervene through the paddle shifters to pass slower cars. Tuned for efficiency in higher gears, the transmission’s pause is less pronounced in Sport mode, which is one of five modes that change the steering effort and throttle response.
Steering is improved over the last model, with better on-center feel for fewer corrections while cruising. The electric power assist system maintains its predecessor’s light feeling at low speeds, but at higher speeds it tightens up for more sport on winding roads. Despite a retuned suspension with struts up front and a multi-link rear, the 2022 QX60 can’t overcome itself or physics when it comes to spirited turning.
That’s not the point. For performance-oriented crossovers with a range of powertrains and suspension tuning, look elsewhere. Infiniti plants the QX60’s flag on comfort. With the exception of large side mirrors that let in some road noise, the QX60’s cabin rides calm and quiet, befitting of its stately style. Thicker second-row windows, laminated front glass, and other sound-deadening materials reduced cabin noise from the outgoing model, and do a good job isolating the cabin from the engine, which is only present when pushed.
Comfort & Quality
Comfy seats and an upscale interior make up for the cramped third row in the 2022 QX60.
Comfy front seats, roomy second row seats, the ability to fit a family of five in comfort or up to seven in a squeeze, and a quiet ride each earn a point here for a 9. The cramped third row and cramped cargo area work for carpooling duty, but are versatile enough to have space when you need it or an extra seat when you need it more.
Heated front seats with power lumbar support come standard on the 2022 QX60, and they envelope most body styles in comfort. Opt for the top trims and get modest massagers that let you skip a rest stop or two on the road trip. Ceiling-mounted vents circulate air better to the rear seats. The second-row bench seats are almost as comfortable, but Infiniti only allows captain’s chairs in the top Autograph trim. Bummer.
While the wheelbase remains the same, Infiniti trimmed 2.0 inches of length, mostly in the rear. Such are the sacrifices to style. Third-row leg room is a crushing 28 inches, down more than 2 inches from the outgoing model. It’s wider by the same margin, however, and head room is adequate so a 6-footer could fit in back as long as the second-row passenger scoots up her seat. For grade schoolers or for transporting passengers in a pinch, it does the job, and being able to recline the third row seats to 26 degrees might make the wayback popular on road trips.
Safety
The 2022 Infiniti QX60 has not been officially crash tested.
How safe is the Infiniti QX60?
Crash-test ratings have not been finalized by the IIHS and the NHTSA, but Infiniti equips the QX60 with the kind of driver-assist features that help the family-minded SUV mitigate or avoid crashes. We’ll rate it once crash testing is complete.
Standard fare includes automatic emergency braking front and rear, blind-spot monitors, and lane-departure warnings. Adaptive headlights and a surround-view camera system highlight the available safety features, while a navigation-based adaptive cruise control slows the SUV automatically at turns and in other predictive scenarios. Hands-free driving only lasts for about 15 seconds before a warning, but in stop-and-go traffic the system stays engaged for up to 30 seconds without driver intervention.
Features
Modern convenience features offset outdated infotainment on the 2022 QX60.
Good standard features and extensive options earn the 2022 Infiniti QX60 a point each for a 7 here. The 4-year/60,000-mile basic warranty does not include scheduled maintenance like many rivals, so it misses out on that point on our scale. The larger infotainment screen provides a clearer tableau for Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, and the native navigation system is easy to use by touch or by the controller dial in the console. But unhelpful widgets for the weather and a compass date its functionality.
No longer a value, the redesigned QX60 costs $47,875 for the base Pure trim. The standard safety features complement luxury-level convenience features such as standard LED headlights and taillights, a panoramic sunroof, 8-way power front seats that are heated, three-zone climate control, a 12.3-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay (Android Auto requires a cord), and a wi-fi hotspot.
Which Infiniti QX60 should I buy?
How much is a fully loaded 2022 Infiniti QX60?
The top Autograph trim costs $64,375 with all-wheel drive. It’s the only model allowed to have second-row captain’s chairs, semi-aniline leather charms the upholstery, and a 10.8-inch head-up display projects navigation cues.
Fuel Economy
The 9-speed helps, but the lack of a hybrid limits the QX60’s efficiency.
Is the 2022 Infiniti QX60 good on gas?
The 2022 QX60 uses a more efficient 9-speed automatic to offset the added mass and stay the course on efficiency. With front-wheel drive, the QX60’s EPA-rated 21 mpg city, 26 highway, 23 combined outperforms the Acura MDX and Buick Enclave, but can’t compare to plug-in hybrid versions of the Lincoln Aviator and Volvo XC90. All-wheel drive sacrifices 1 mpg, making it a 4 on our scale.
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