2023 Infiniti QX60 Sensory AWD – Road Test

We’re not usually a big fan of 3-row SUV’s simply because they have too many compromises and a van does the job so much better. This week’s test was a true indication of a 3-row SUV’s usefulness. We had 3 adults flying into Toronto and we were picking them up at the airport and shuttling them around for a few days. How did the QX60 fair?

What Is It?

Mid-size Luxury SUV – it’s bordering on large
All-New design in 2022 – with lots of All-New bits too
4 Trim levels: Pure, Luxe, Sensory & Autograph
AWD comes standard
5-litre Direct Injection V6 with an also all-new 9-speed transmission and Intelligent 4WD
7-position Drive and Terrain Mode, including Tow Mode that includes Trailer Sway Control allows 6,000 lbs (2,722 kg) towing capacity standard

How Does It Look?

Great! This is a very good looking SUV
Nicely proportioned and perfectly sized for a family
The Pearl paint job is a $750 option, and the only major optional equipment on the test vehicle
Unlike a lot of other SUV’s the face is well proportioned and looks good, instead of a disgusting mess of grills and lights (Toyota/Lexus – talkin’ to you!)
Great looking rims too – 20” Machine Finished Alloys

What’s It Like Inside?

Interior layout is very nice – very classy looking but I’m not a huge fan of the fingerprint-magnet shiny piano black touches. The ash wood accents are really nice and actually looks real
Everything is perfectly placed and easy to find at highway speeds with your eyes on the road, but it takes a bit of getting used to the tactile touch to get things to actually work. Once you get used to it there’s no issue – I’d still prefer using buttons though (there goes me… showing my age again!)
Starting the QX60 was interesting… (see picture) there are 3 buttons that look like they start the QX60, but only one of them actually starts it – once you see it. I’ve driven hundreds of vehicles, but got caught out when I first climbed behind the wheel. Someone had switched off the radio and HVAC and the entire dash/console is black – and blank. Hmm that’s a rather small start button. Push. Nothing. Rotate the knob? Nope. OK, it’s the other button. Nope. If I were a start button where would I be? Oh look…it’s this horizontal button semi-under the dash. Push, vroom… all is well. The little button is for the radio and the big one is the heating/AC.. so obvious now that everything is lit up like a Christmas tree!!
A 12.3-inch fully customizable digital instrument cluster with a wealth of details is nice and easy to use
A 10.8 inch Head-Up Display (HUD) comes standard – and is supposed to show warnings for slower vehicles or traffic ahead, including Automatic Emergency Braking information, lane guidance for navigation, but I didn’t see any of that on the window even after going into the menu and switching everything on (why would anyone switch it off?). I had no problem seeing the speed information including Traffic Sign Detection and turn by turn navigation Lane Departure Warning – after switching it on
A 9-inch infotainment system (with Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto) sits nice and high on the centre of the dashboard where it’s easy to see and use at a quick glance. Siri Eyes-Free / Google Assistant voice recognition helps you keep your eyes on the road
Three choices of navigation comes with the QX60: Door to Door Navigation; Google Maps or Waze
Bose Performance Audio System with 17-Speakers and Acoustic Waveguide Technology and including dual driver subwoofer – is superb…when you have it set up right – but EVERY time we got back into the QX60, the audio system had reset itself to the factory default. So much for having a killer Bose system when it defaults to crap every time you get out!!! Very frustrating
Wireless charging for your phone is under the HVAC controls and there is a grand total of 7 USB ports spread over the 3 rows of seating – plenty for everyone
Infiniti Safety Shield 360 comes standard – it’s one of the best safety packages available right now. For more details about this and other outstanding safety features, see after “What’s The Verdict?” below…
Power Panoramic Moonroof with power open/close/tilt is terrific and really opens up the light inside
Heated and cooled front seats, with 8-way power – driver & passenger + 4-way power lumbar adjustment are very comfortable and they also come with a 2-person memory setting that saves the seat, steering wheel and mirror settings – I wish all vehicles came with that!!
When you switch into reverse the outside mirrors have tilt-down feature so you can see how close you are to the curb. You can also use the 360 camera – press the button on the centre console and scroll through various camera angles around the vehicle – very cool
Leather seats in all three rows comes standard
With the bench configuration you can fit 7 passengers (2/3/2)
Sliding 2^nd-row rear bench seat is power operated to allow access to the third row – just press a button, very handy
Oddly enough, captain’s chairs comes standard on the Nissan Platinum, not a bench like the QX60 Sensory – I would have thought the reverse would be more logical, but that was perfect for what we needed/wanted
There’s plenty of knee and legroom for rear passengers in both rows with the bonus of a completely flat floor and easy entry
Both rear rows also get their own AC/heat controls
The cargo area offers plenty of space and flexibility options with both the second and third row folding 60/40 and completely flat too
There’s buttons in the rear cargo that operate the third row seats to automatically return upright – no pulling or pushing!
Decent sized under floor storage in the rear cargo area
Cargo Space: 15 cu.ft behind the third row. Second row upright, third row folded flat: 42 cu.ft. All seats folded, max capacity: 75 cu.ft

Interesting Safety issue:
The outside mirrors too far back – they need to be closer to the A pillars – preferably in line with them. I had them set properly, yet I almost sideswiped a minivan that was in my blind spot when I tried to change lanes on the highway. The bliss was probably flashing but I couldn’t see it. I signalled, changed lanes and out of the corner of my eye I saw the van at the same time he leaned on the horn. Quickly I returned to my lane and breathed a sigh of relief… that was close! If the mirrors are moved further forward towards the A pillar than they can be set properly for the blind spot. Alternatively, Infiniti should put the warning light back up onto the A pillar like other older models, I’d never have missed it flashing there and it’s one of the features I raved about for a couple of years now with Nissan/Infiniti vehicles. I tried the same exercise the next day after re-setting the left mirror, but again…I watched as a car disappeared from my rear view mirror, appeared in my left mirror and then I watched it completely disappear when it got up beside me. A convex mirror on the outside edge of the mirror would also be a huge benefit. I use the convex all the time on my truck – it’s simple and very cheap to correct – you even see vehicles two lanes over. That’s my 2¢

So How Quick Is It & How Does It Handle?

It feels very solid and well planted – very luxurious
As a large SUV, it can’t be compared or even driven as a “sporty” vehicle, but it is nimble and doesn’t feel as large as it actually is
Switching into Sport mode improved the steering feel immediately, but not a great deal from the go pedal. As a reference point – the Nissan Pathfinder we had a couple of months ago, the steering feedback changed instantly and the whole vehicle became firmer and more responsive – along with a much better response from the gas pedal.
There are paddle shifters if you want a bit more control over the transmissions shift points – does anyone actually use these after the first week of ownership?
The Auto Start/Stop feature never appeared to work
Nissan’s Intelligent AWD system – At takeoff, the system doles power to the front and rear axles in a 50:50 split and if no slip is detected, the system can send up to 100 percent of the power to the front wheels only

Horsepower: 295 @ 6,400 rpm
Torque: 270 @ 4,800 rpm
Top Speed: 192 km/h – 119 mph
0-60 mph (sec): 6.2

What Does It Cost? For up-to-date pricing and options visit: www.Infiniti.ca

To Buy…
Starting price: $66,995
($10k more than the top-of-the-line Nissan Pathfinder Platinum $54,998)

As Tested: $67,745
Options: Pearl Paint – $750
To Operate…

Rated at (L/100 km): City – 11.9 / Highway – 9.5 / Combined – 10.8
We averaged between 8.5 and 9.50 L/100 km on the highway (120-135 km/h). Our best was 8.1 L/100km
Town/City we averaged 13. 9- 14.4 L/100km

NOTE: comes standard with the INFINITI Oil Change & Tire Rotation Plan. It covers engine oil (Synthetic) and filter changes, plus tire rotation or seasonal tire changeover for up to 4 years or 80,000 km.

Warranty:

Basic: 4 years/100,000 km
Powertrain: 6 years/110,000 km
Roadside Assistance: 4 years

The Competition
BMW X5, Ford Explorer Limited, Genesis GV80, Hyundai Palisade, Kia Telluride, Lincoln Aviator, Mercedes-Benz GLE-class, Volvo XC90

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

The Good: Looks, build quality, long list of standard features
The Bad: Audio system kept resetting to default sound
The Ugly: Outside mirrors locations and blind spot warning light location

What’s The Verdict?
I’m not usually a big fan of 3-row SUV’s simply because they have too many compromises when a van does the job so much better, but every now and then a good one comes along that changes my viewpoint and the 2022 Pathfinder is a winner. With the 2^nd row captain’s chairs, it’s a breeze getting in and out of the 3^rd row. And let’s not forget probably the biggest problem associated with 3-row seating – there’s usually a tiny cargo space behind the 3^rd row – but not in the Pathfinder, there’s plenty of cargo room for a family back there. Bottom line, this HAS to be on your list if you’re in the market for an SUV – especially if you have a family.

SAFETY – Safety Shield 360
(Several cameras, radar technology and sonar work together to create a system that looks in front, behind and beside the vehicle as it drives)

Intelligent Forward Collision Warning – It watches two cars ahead, monitoring your speed and distance, and when it detects sudden deceleration, it can give you a warning to slow down.
Intelligent Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection – can provide audio and visual alerts and even apply the brakes to help avoid or mitigate a collision
Blind Spot Warning – was disappointing only because Nissan/Infiniti usually place the blind spot light – nice and high on the A-pillar where it’s very easy to get your attention. For some reason they’ve put it on the outside mirrors like all the other manufacturers. There’s probably a reason for it, but we just loved the other location
Rear Automatic Braking – will actually stop the vehicle if it detects something that may not be in your field of vision
Rear Cross Traffic Alert – can alert you to approaching cars that might be out of sight
Intelligent Around View Monitor with moving object detection – Four cameras combine to give you a composite, bird’s-eye view from above – works great, a regular single backup camera is sooo yesterday!
Lane Departure Warning – vibrates the steering wheel just enough to get your attention without being annoying
Driver Attention Alertness – analyzes driver steering behavior to provide an alert if signs of drowsiness or inattention are detected
High Beam Assist