2023 Infiniti QX60

Buyers shopping for a midsize luxury SUV have a variety of enticing products from which to choose. For any contender in this segment to stand out, it has to offer something extraordinary. And, while there is little doubt that the 2023 QX60 is Infiniti's best SUV yet, it's also difficult to deny that its mundane origins aren't hidden as well as they perhaps should have been. Derived from the latest R53-generation Nissan Pathfinder, the new Infiniti QX60 SUV makes a valiant effort to distinguish itself from its mass-market origins. Unfortunately, some hints of its ancestry remain in its non-premium engine and wallowing dynamic abilities. Only one power unit is provided, a 295-horsepower 3.5-liter naturally aspirated V6 and it can be had with either FWD or AWD.

While the venerable VQ35DD engine delivers the ponies, its near-three-decade-old design shows in its comparatively unrefined manners. The driving dynamics show that comfort and smoothness were prioritized at the expense of agility, in contrast to other opponents who manage to be both. And be wary of the available 20-inch wheels, because they upset the ride composure, as we found in our Infiniti QX60 review. That's not to say that the engineers didn't try to make the QX60 more premium, though - the old CVT is finally banished and replaced with a ZF nine-speed automatic, and there is copious sound insulation in the attractive cabin. It is loaded with tech- and comfort features, so it matches its opponents in the gadget stakes. But in a segment where competitors to the Infiniti QX60 include such luminaries as the Audi Q7 and Volvo XC90, one has to wonder whether this dressed-up Pathfinder offers enough comfort, features, and most importantly, image, to offset its humble underpinnings.

The price of the 2023 Infiniti QX60 starts at $49,200 for a base model Pure with FWD, and goes up to $55,250 for the FWD Luxe. Sensory models have an MSRP of $58,600 while the Autograph tops the range and costs $62,600. Adding AWD to the lower trims will add $2,000 to the bill, while the AWD Autograph asks for a bit more than that, at $2,900. These prices exclude shipping and handling fees of $1,195 in the USA.

The Infiniti QX60's 3.5-liter V6 engine may be a bit agricultural in nature, but with 295 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque on hand, its performance is adequate for its size and market segment. It needs to be revved hard to do its best work, which detracts from the QX60's overall refinement. Forced induction would certainly not go amiss, but the acceleration on offer is class-competitive. Expect a 0-60 mph sprint in about 7.6 seconds, which is good, but also know that the engine's peaky nature means that overtaking will be raucous due to its need for high revs in the absence of turbo torque.

Driving the Infiniti QX60 is best described as a distant experience, in the sense that the QX60 will change direction as required and with reasonable sure-footedness, but without any sense of eagerness or communication from the chassis. Due to its tall stature, the QX60 also exhibits noticeable body roll in corners, and the steering is accurate but doesn't relay much information from the asphalt to the driver.

There are, however, many luxury SUV buyers who don't care about dynamic prowess at all and prefer a well-appointed, quiet, and comfortable cabin above all else - and these buyers will feel right at home in the Infiniti QX60. While there isn't much joy to be had from the driving experience, the high-quality cabin will more than compensate for any dynamic shortcomings, and for many owners, the QX60 will have exactly what they need on the daily commute. It's not intended to be sporty, so it simply isn't.

Going by the requirements of its segment, the Infiniti QX60 is a very agreeable SUV and great value for money. There's plenty of cabin space, an attractive interior design rendered in high-quality materials, a smooth ride, and plenty of comfort and convenience features to keep all of its occupants content. Does it matter that the QX60 is wholly unremarkable in terms of its performance and driving dynamics? To the vast majority of potential buyers, not at all. However, buyers with a penchant for speed and dynamic polish may want to consider something like a similarly priced Volvo XC90 or Audi Q7 instead, because they both do better than the Infiniti in these areas.

If you can afford the asking price, we think the interior found in the top Autograph trim (specifically the quilted semi-aniline leather) is worth the cost of entry. However, we understand the $62,600 starting price of the Autograph is too steep for some buyers. If you're on a tighter budget, the $55,250 Luxe trim bundles most of the important features such as the surround-view camera and ProPILOT assist while missing out on extravagant options in the Sensory like massaging front seats and the Bose audio system. If you want the Bose setup, it can be added for $900, but we didn't think it sounds great compared to other premium systems.