They’re also an example of how marketers play with words in a way that obfuscates all meaning, but that’s a topic for another day. The days of the word “coupe” meaning only a two-door sports car are long gone. And Infiniti is neither the only nor the worst offender.
Pedantic complaints aside, how does the 2026 Infiniti QX60 drive?
Torque News Takes The 2026 Infinit QX60 On The Road
Infiniti wants you to think of the QX60 as sporty, and the on-road manners don’t hurt. The 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder produces 268 horsepower and 286 lb-ft of torque, and mates to a nine-speed automatic transmission.
That twist is felt on the road - the QX isn’t slow. Not super fast, mind you, as it’s still a heavy crossover that tips the scales between 4,500 and 4,800 pounds. But quick enough to satisfy in the cut-and-thrust of the urban commute. Merging onto the freeway isn’t dramatic. The engine sounds good, too.
Handling is a mixed bag - Infiniti has sharpened the responsiveness in cornering, but the steering is a tad too distant and dull, and some body roll intrudes on the proceedings.
The ride, however, is smooth, as befits a luxury vehicle.
What we have here is a powerful luxury crossover SUV that handles well enough but could be more buttoned down. Meanwhile it rides well enough to avoid any drama on the school run.
This one has all-wheel drive, and paddle shifters can add a bit to the fun factor.
Perhaps the best part of the Infiniti QX60 is its styling. The swoopy, curvy design has aged well, and it promises a sporting experience - one that the car semi-delivers. The QX60 stands out in traffic or a parking lot, in a good way, though the expansion of vehicle waistlines over the years hasn’t skipped the QX. It does loom a bit, looking quite large.
Inside, the interior is nicely packaged, though the QX60 is infected by the trend of tacked-on center infotainment screens. It looks a little tacky, no pun intended. But the buttons and knobs work and Infiniti didn’t overdo the haptic-touch aspect.
Some materials look and feel price-point appropriate, but others are a tad downmarket - disappointing for a vehicle priced in the mid-$60Ks. The shifter is a tad wonky, and that could be an issue when trying to do some tight urban maneuvering, such as parallel parking.
Headroom and legroom are good up front, I was all-day comfortable. Rear-seat room was fine, even for my taller and bigger frame. Getting to the third row is not easy for adults – kids will be fine.
One note: My tester was a pre-production unit, so the fit and finish may have been a little below production standard.
Fuel economy for this QX60 Autograph checked in at 22 mpg city/27 mpg highway/24 mpg combined.
Torque News Details The Features Of The 2026 Infiniti QX60
The QX60 is definitely priced as a luxury crossover - the base price of my Autograph test unit was $66,150. Standard features included 20-inch wheels, transmission oil cooler, trailer harness, tow hitch, power panoramic moonroof, 12.3-inch display, head-up display, rain-sensing wipers, keyless entry and starting, leather seats, heated and cooled front seats, massaging front seats, power tilt/telescope steering column, remote start, second-row heated captain’s chairs, rear-door sunshades, and power-folding third-row seats.
We’re not done. Other standard features included hill-start assist, parking sensors, a camera that makes the hood “invisible”, ProPilot Assist semi-autonomous driving, traffic sign recognition, navigation, satellite radio, wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, wi-fi hotspot, wireless cell-phone charging, Klipsch audio with 20 speakers, and front headrest speakers.
Advanced driver-aid systems on my test unit included predictive forward collision warning, forward emergency braking with pedestrian detection, high-beam assist, lane-departure warning, lane-departure prevention, blind-spot warning, blind-spot intervention, 360-degree camera, rear automatic braking, rear cross-traffic alert, trailer stability control, and adaptive front lighting.
Options included an upgraded ProPilot Assist system, upgraded 360-degree camera, and fixed second-row center console. The two-tone paint and splash guards completed the package.
Infiniti has been trading on its past a bit lately - the QX60 and new QX65 are meant to evoke the sporty FX crossovers of years past. Both are a little more subdued than those vehicles were, adjust for current market tastes and also to better blend sport and luxury. The FX could be fairly said to have sacrificed some comfort for fun, and that’s not the case with the QX60.
The question is, does the QX60 blend comfort, convenience, luxury, and engaging driving dynamics well enough? It gets most of the way there, but minor issues hold it back. The interior materials need to feel a tad more upmarket and the handling needs a bit more tuning to improve cornering without sacrificing ride.
Buyers will end up with a stylish crossover that’s fairly fun to drive but could use more zest. That’s not a bad start, but Infiniti needs to add some more seasoning to complete the meal.
Return tomorrow, or check our Torque News Home Page for more interesting automotive news articles.
About The Author
Tim Healey is an experienced automotive writer and editor from Chicago. He has covered automotive news at Consumer Guide Automotive, Web2Carz, AutoGuide, and was the managing editor at The Truth About Cars. Tim is a member of the Midwest Automotive Media Association. You can find him on Facebook, X/Twitter, and on LinkedIn.
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