Infiniti wasn’t the fastest growing luxury brand last year, but then again it gained market share while plenty of others lost ground. What’s more, its best-selling QX60 mid-size crossover SUV increased sales by more than 17 percent for the strongest result in its mid-size class, when the Acura MDX, Audi Q7, BMW X5, Mercedes GLE and GLS, plus most others saw their numbers go down.
That’s an impressive result for an SUV that’s merely a more luxurious Nissan Pathfinder. Ouch, I know, that might sound harsh to some, but really it’s no bad thing. Look around and you’ll see plenty of premium brands that rely on their mainstream volume counterparts for rolling stock and more, and to be fair Infiniti has done a good job visually separating the two when it comes to exterior styling.
Inside, however, it’s easy to see where the QX60 pulls more than just inspiration. The gauge cluster layout is near identical, as is the rest of the instrument panel and entire centre stack, not to mention the door panels and the three rows of seats front to back. Still, where the Pathfinder feels a bit less refined than its closest rivals, with way too much hard plastic, you’ll be hard pressed to find anything discomforting in the QX60.
Our tester is outfitted in the new $4,200 Sensory package, which ups the luxury quotient further by adding maple hardwood inlays to the dash, console and doors, plus special hourglass quilting to the leather upholstery, while the already heated front seats are now ventilated and the second-row outboard positions heated. Additionally, the third row gets a powered return to make loading cargo easier, while accessing the rear luggage area is more convenient thanks to a motion activated liftgate. Back inside, all occupants will enjoy a 15-speaker surround-sound Bose audio upgrade featuring digital 5.1-channel decoding, while appreciate the Advanced Climate Control System (ACCS) featuring auto-recirculation, a plasmacluster air purifier and grape polyphenol filter, while second- and third-row passengers benefit from the open airiness of a powered panoramic moonroof overhead, complete with powered sunshades. Lastly, 15-spoke 20-inch alloys on 235/55 all-seasons improve the QX60’s look and driving characteristics.
But wait, there’s more. In order to get the Sensory package you first need to upgrade to the new $5,000 Essential and $4,800 ProActive packages, the first including remote engine start, entry/exit assist for driver’s seat and steering wheel, rain-sensing wipers, reverse tilt-down side mirrors, two-way power lumbar support for the driver’s seat, two-way driver’s memory with an Enhanced Intelligent Key, a 13-speaker Bose audio system, leather upholstery, Infiniti InTouch infotainment with navigation, lane guidance, and 3D building graphics, voice recognition, an Around View parking monitor with Moving Object Detection, front and rear parking sensors, SiriusXM Traffic, and more.
The ProActive package adds auto-dimming side mirrors, high beam assist, full-speed range adaptive cruise control, distance control assist, active trace control, Lane Departure Warning (LDW) and Lane Departure Prevention (LDP), Blind Spot Intervention, backup collision intervention, front pre-crash seatbelts, and Infiniti’s exclusive Eco Pedal.
All of this kit gets added to a QX60 that’s already well equipped in renamed base Pure form with features like auto on/off LED headlights, LED daytime running lights, LED fog lights, LED taillights, roof rails, power-folding side mirrors with integrated turn signals, proximity-sensing keyless access, pushbutton ignition, a heatable leather-wrapped steering wheel, a powered tilt and telescopic steering column, electroluminescent gauges, an eight-way power driver’s seat, a six-way power front passenger’s seat, a auto-dimming mirror, a HomeLink universal garage door opener, a powered moonroof, micro-filtered tri-zone automatic climate control, an 8.0-inch centre touchscreen with a backup camera, SMS/email display, satellite radio, three USB charging ports, a powered rear liftgate, Predictive Forward Collision Warning (PFCW), Forward Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection (PFEB), Blind Spot Warning (BSW), and more.
The QX60 also comes standard with all-wheel drive fed by a highly efficient continuously variable transmission with default, Sport, Eco and Snow driving modes, the second mode mentioned making the most of the standard direct-injection infused 3.5-litre V6 that makes a strong 295 horsepower and 270 lb-ft of torque while still claiming a very reasonable 12.5 L/100km in the city, 9.0 on the highway and 10.9 combined.
2019 QX60 pricing starts at just $48,695, and take note all pricing for the QX60 and its competitors can be found at CarCostCanada, where you’ll also benefit from rebate information and dealer invoice pricing that could save you thousands.
We’ll have more on how the QX60 drives in our upcoming road test review, along with how the front strut and rear multi-link suspension behaves through town, down smooth freeways, around fast-paced corners, and over bumpy terrain, so make sure to return soon to get our full critique…
