2024 Infiniti QX60
| The Good: – Handsome styling – Cabin trim and space – Fair handling |
The Bad: – Could use more power – Rides a bit on firm side – Limited offroad prowess |
The Infiniti QX60 was born when the Nissan Pathfinder moved to a three-row crossover platform, sharing the same platform and a lot of the mechanical bits. While previous iterations didn’t do a good job of differentiating between the two, the current generation does it a lot better.
Wearing much of Infiniti’s latest corporate style, the front end shares the high-mounted headlights and big grille-look of its SUV siblings, while the rear features a clean tailgate design with faux exhaust tips in the bumper. With controlled dollops of chrome, there isn’t much more Infiniti could’ve done to make it look more upscale, but its fuss-free handsome styling may not stand out among the gaudy designs that first-tier German luxury brands are coming out with nowadays. That said, all trim levels come with 20-inch alloys, and even the base model appears well-specced.
Stepping inside doesn’t require pole-vaulting skills as the QX60 doesn’t ride too high off the ground. Once inside, we were greeted with a pleasant cabin design, well laid out and nothing too offbeat to report. The stitched leatherette trimmings mixed with metal-look panels are in keeping with class standards, and most areas within reach are well padded.
Luxe and Sensory trims have seating for seven across three rows, while the Autograph gets second-row captain’s chairs, which brings capacity down to six.
The driver and front passenger are very comfortable, as the “zero gravity-inspired” seats are moderately bolstered and come with ventilation and massage functions on higher trims. Second row passengers have more than enough space all round, with enough cup-holders and pockets. And while the third row is also equipped with cup holders, USB ports, and a/c vents, actual headroom and legroom are limited, so only short adults and kids would be comfortable back there.
As far as cargo capacity is concerned, it’s excellent. There’s 410 litres of space with all seats upright, 1,177 litres with the third row folded, and 2,135 litres when both second and third rows are folded down.
Standard features include LED exterior lighting, a panoramic sunroof, power tailgate, leather upholstery, eight-way power-adjustable heated driver and front passenger seats, heated second-row seats, a strong tri-zone climate control a/c with rear controls, an intuitive 12.3-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay, wired Android Auto, wireless charging, and more. Available features also include a 17-speaker Bose audio system and a heads-up display.
Every QX60 comes with a now-common list of active safety features that includes lane departure warning and keeping assistance, forward collision warning with pedestrian detection and automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control and surround-view cameras.
All QX60 models come with the naturally-aspirated 3.5-litre V6 engine and 9-speed automatic transmission. The GCC-spec V6 makes 279 hp at 6400 rpm and 350 Nm of torque at 4800 rpm. Other markets only get a 4-cylinder turbo with less power now, but Infiniti chose to continue with the V6 in the Middle East.
When given a stomping, power comes on linearly and acceleration is brisk. But low-end kick “feels” less nowadays in the era of torquey turbo/hybrid engines, so if you’re cruising sedately at 2000 rpm, you have to rev the motor up to make quick overtaking manoeuvres. Our as-tested 0-100 kph time was average, at 8.6 seconds.
Still, it’s one of the last models to feature the brand’s once award-winning “VQ” V6, and the old-school engine’s predictable responses are well-appreciated, with our as-tested fuel consumption of 12.5 litres/100 km (8 km/litre).
The QX60 generally offers a refined experience with five driving modes that affects throttle inputs and transmission behaviour, but the ride is a bit on the firm side, partly due to the somewhat low-profile tyres. The interior is well insulated from the outside world, with minimal wind and road noise, and almost no engine noise in most cases, but when you go hard on the throttle pedal, there is plenty of that gruff V6 noise at higher revs.
The QX60 handles corners well, with minimal body roll. The 9-speed automatic transmission is very smooth and the brakes are adequate, which adds to the bit of driving fun that this three-row crossover can muster up, although the steering lacks feedback and the limits of grip are reached very easily and safely.
All trims have standard all-wheel-drive, but the QX60 is not marketed as an offroader. Sure, it can traverse gravel trails and packed sand lots with ease, and will offer some level of comfort on wet roads, but taking it on loose sand or untamed beaches will require a high level of skill, since it does not come with low-range gearing or serious underbody protection. As such, it plays alongside the Audi Q7, Lincoln Aviator, Cadillac XT6 and Volvo XC90 rather than the Jeep Grand Cherokee L, Lexus GX and Land Rover Defender 110.
The Infiniti QX60 is a handsome three-row crossover contender in a premium segment that is constantly under attack from both pricey Western brands and upstart Chinese players, but interestingly, it remains the only Japanese entry in the GCC. That has to count for something.
Photos by Marouf Hussain Chowdhury.
| Price Range: Dh 255,000-312,000 Current Model Introduced in: Body Styles: Engines: Transmissions: Setup: Suspension: |
Brakes: Front: discs Rear: discs Curb Weight: Length: Wheelbase: Top Speed: Test Acceleration 0-100 kph: Observed Test Fuel Economy: |
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