Yahoo Autos 2023 Infiniti QX60 Review: There Are Better Choices
“This is a bossy automobile,” said Fox Sports broadcaster Erin Andrews in an ad for Infiniti’s three-row SUV. “She’s rich. She rich rich.” The message to the girlbosses of the world is clear: the 2023 Infiniti QX60 announces you as an up-and-comer; it’s how you treat yourself when you’ve completed your glow-up.
At least, that’s the way Infiniti wants you to see things, because the Infiniti QX60 embodies the problems that have plagued Infiniti for well over a decade now. The original QX60 underpinned Infiniti’s sales throughout the 2010s, a decade where the company slowly lost its way under late-stage Carlos Ghosn management. The model’s redesign in 2021 was proffered as a return to form.
In practice though, the new QX60 argues its case on paper better than it does on the road, with best-in-class specs dampened by an unrefined cabin, tech problems, and a general lack of distinction. Any of those alone are a problem in a premium SUV; together they make the QX60 a hard sell.
On top of that, it’s still an Infiniti. Not a Lexus, not a Mercedes, an Infiniti—and when was the last time Megan Thee Stallion dropped that name in a song?
2023 Infiniti QX60 Specs | |
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The Basics
The 2023 Infiniti QX60 is a midsize crossover SUV, which makes it the second-largest model offered by Nissan’s luxury division. It’s a three-row that seats six to seven depending on trim, and it’s expected to get a two-row model soon too.
Mechanically, it’s a relative of the Nissan Pathfinder, sharing not just its platform but its drivetrain too. That’d be a 3.5-liter naturally aspirated V6 and a nine-speed automatic transmission, which powers the front wheels by default, but all-wheel drive is an affordable option.
Design-wise, the QX60 might be the least striking vehicle in its class, with a front end that at first glance could belong to a cheaper Mazda CX-90. Its wheels are kinda drab, though its rear end is stronger, with appealing proportions and just enough complementary brightwork.
The interior on the other hand is markedly better, with tasteful design and good material choices. It’s spacious and well-lit on account of the big panoramic moonroof, and the third row can even fit adults at only a small sacrifice to their dignity. I’m not into the phoned-in badge integration on the steering wheel, which has a different finish from the rest of the wheel, but I’ve seen worse in similarly priced cars.
Ingress and egress were as easy for me, a five-foot-eleven male, as it was my 66-year-old mother. She enjoyed the massage seats, though I wasn’t a fan—I find them a universally unsatisfying gimmick. The 12.3-inch digital cluster with traffic sign recognition made up for my poor memory, and the infotainment (also 12.3 inches) worked well overall. Android Auto, however, only works via USB connection, which means it’s unusable if you don’t bring a cord. Apple CarPlay, by contrast, works over Bluetooth.
Driving the Infiniti QX60
The entire point of a premium SUV like this is to comfort its occupants, and in that respect, both ride quality and seats met expectations. Cabin noise on the highway however was significant, and after a downpour, it developed an unidentified popping sound in the roof. The QX60’s optional Bose sound system, while not necessarily bad-sounding, wasn’t as spectacular as its 17-speaker orchestra led me to expect. I wouldn’t notice the difference between it and my AirPods.
