 | Positives: Handsomely conservative exterior, nicely opulent and comfortable interior, solid levels of in-car tech. |
 | Negatives: Lackluster engine, weird gearshift knob, tight back seat. |
 | Bottom Line: The QX60 is far better than its predecessor in just about every way with the exception of the engine. The luxury, space, styling, tech, and safety make it worth a look. The QX60 needs a new engine that's more refined and powerful in order to be a stronger competitor. |
Driving Experience
Even though the QX60 was redesigned last year, it's too bad they never bothered to swap out the engine for a better one. While the performance is about midpack for the segment, the QX60's 295-hp V6 will be adequate for most drivers.
Ride Quality: The QX60 feels pretty good over uneven pavement and gaps, but the ride is a bit on the firm side due to the larger wheels. It doesn't have the composure of the BMW X5 or the Lexus RX.
Acceleration: 0-60 comes in 7.3 seconds, which isn't especially quick. The competition is quicker by a significant margin. The BMW X5 xDrive40i will do it in 4.9 seconds, and the Lincoln Aviator will do the same sprint in 5.4 seconds. At least the 9-speed automatic transmission is smooth and silky. Throttle response is pretty good, too.
Braking: Pedal feel is good, and there was no sponginess during our test. We had no trouble brining it to a stop properly and without drama or nosedive.
Technology
The Nissan infotainment system has improved a lot, but it's still not as good as BMW or the new Lexus system. Our top-trim Autograph model comes standard with a 10.8-inch head-up display, wireless charging pad, and a vivid rearview camera mirror.
Infotainment System: The big 12.3" touchscreen is standard across the entire QX60 trim range, and that's a good thing. The menu is easy to read, but it lacks the artfulness of the Germans and the functionality of brands like Lexus and Genesis.
Controls: There are, thankfully, still some physical controls, which we appreciate. It's just too bad the QX60 relies on some haptic feedback touch controls for HVAC that are annoying to use. We also don't like the flat and long gearshift knob. It feels weird in the hand, and the sliding action isn't exactly reassuring. It's strange that the same one carried over to the new Nissan Z sports car.
Styling
The new QX60 might have the same underpinnings, but it looks like a wholly new vehicle. While we find it generally attractive, it looks similar to the Lincoln Aviator and the Land Rover Range Rover Velar. It's a genuinely handsome SUV.
Front: The large Infiniti grille is still present, but its frame is less rounded, and it also integrates the inner edge of the headlights and has a new mesh pattern. The lower frame also has a small cutout in the center. The side intakes are now vertical. Overall, the front fascia looks fuller and more cohesive.
Rear: We love the slim taillights and the large branding on the back. It's the chromed faux exhausts we truly hate, and they almost ruin the back end.
Profile: Here's the view where the QX60 looks similar to its competitors with the sloping roofline. It's well-proportioned, but there's a bit too much chrome for our liking.
Cabin: Infiniti did a marvelous job with the interior redesign, and it really needed it. Gone is the dated center stack, replaced by a top-mounted infotainment screen, a sophisticated center console, and some great leather quilting along the seats and the dash.
Comfort
There's a lot to love about the cabin in the new QX60. Aside from its luxurious digs, there's a ton of space for occupants, and the third row is actually pretty good, as well. Soft touch materials and thoughtful details make it a great premium three-row crossover.
Front Seats: The front seats have a great balance of firmness and cushioning. The bolstering is also quite good, and we found ourselves very comfortable on all of our commutes. It might not be great to drive, but to sit in, yes.
Rear Seats: Ours had Captain's Chairs, and they were superb thanks to supple Semi-Aniline leather, armrests, and good cushioning. 41.7 inches of legroom is also huge. The third row gets only 28 inches of legroom, which is smaller than the Toyota Highlander and Mazda CX-9.
NVH (noise/vibration/harshness): There's better sound deadening, and the new QX60 is hushed and well-built for high-speed driving in peace.
Visibility: Overall visibility is good, as is the seating position. Only the D-pillars obscure a bit due to their thickness, but cameras are excellent.
Climate: The heated and ventilated seats, as well as the climate control system were very good. We would've liked larger vents, but that would've messed up the look of the linear dash.
Safety
The new QX60 has not yet been fully tested for crash safety, but the IIHS has conducted some tests without providing an actual rating. Thankfully, the QX60 did very well and provides excellent safety tech and accident avoidance tech.
IIHS Rating: The QX60 performed incredibly well with "good" in all crash tests and "superior" in crash avoidance & mitigation. It also attained a Good+ for LATCH ease of use, not something you see often.
NHTSA Rating: Not tested.
Standard Tech: The Autograph trim comes with Predictive Forward Collision Warning, Forward Emergency Braking w/ Pedestrian Detection, Adaptive Front Lighting System w/ Auto-Leveling Function, High Beam Assist, Lane Departure Warning, Lane Departure Prevention, Blind Spot Warning, Blind Spot Intervention, Around View Monitor w/ Moving Object Detection, Rear Automatic Braking, and Rear Cross Traffic Alert
Optional Tech: None.
Storage/Cargo
The QX60 is about average when it comes to interior cargo space, but at least it has thoughtful small storage areas in the cabin. We like the center console that provides cubbies for easy reach, as well as the 2nd-row removable storage unit between the Captain's Chairs.
Storage Space: The wireless charging deck at the base of the center stack is great for phones and other small gear, as is the cupholder and the armrest. Door pockets are also quite good.
Cargo Room: The QX60 isn't huge in terms of cargo space, especially behind row three where there's 14.5 cubic feet. There's 75.4 cubes with the seats folded flat. The Genesis GV80 has a bigger 84 cubic feet with the seats folded flat.
Fuel Economy
We were unable to hit the EPA estimates, but we weren't exactly trying. The QX60's fuel economy hasn't changed much since the last generation. Most of our driving was on local roads in Sport mode.
Observed: 15.9 mpg
Distance Driven: 122.4 miles.
Audio
The Bose Performance 17-Speaker Audio system that comes standard on the Autograph is truly a pleasure to listen to. The system had ample bass, great midrange, and excellent clarity. Buyers of the Luxe trim (2nd lowest) can spend a mere $900 and get the upgraded system without a pricier package.
