I once heard someone call the Infiniti QX60 “a three-row station wagon.” Unflattering, please. I don’t think this person really remembers station wagons, which began a dinosaur’s death with the advent of SUVs in the 1990s. Station wagons were a box on wheels. Styling was an afterthought, if a thought at all, and station wagons were designed for stay-at-home moms hauling kids and groceries.
Buying a Chevy, Ford, or Chrysler wagon was the last nail in the coffin for men who, kicking and screaming, finally had to admit they were no longer cool and were now family men. Any lingering thoughts of being a bro ended as they signed paperwork at the dealership.
But SUVs, while providing the same practicality, looked more rough and tough, helping to boost the facsimile of testosterone. The Infiniti QX60 is indeed a three-row vehicle, but that may be its greatest strength, along with its quiet cabin. It is a sharp-looking people hauler, able to house a party of seven. This is a sleek SUV, in keeping with the Infiniti brand.
The QX60 is feature-rich and comes with four models—Pure, Luxe, Sport, and Autograph—that range in MSRP between $53,200 and $66,150.
Bold and Refined: A Strong, Stylish SUV
Its styling is also a strength. This is no boxy wagon. Based on the Nissan Pathfinder platform, this midsize luxury SUV is price-competitive with others in its class but doesn’t deliver the same performance as, say, the BMW X7 or Mercedes-Benz GLS. But it is more affordable and offers most of the same luxuries as the more expensive models.
The QX60 lacks the status to go head-to-head with luxury SUVs from brands like BMW, Lexus, and Mercedes-Benz. It does, however, have enough style to compete with cars such as the Acura MDX or Volvo XC90.
Entry-Level Excellence: The QX60 Pure
Let’s begin with the Pure, the QX60 base trim, and start with the basics, the powerplant, and how it performs down to its wheels. Then we’ll look at the Autograph trim, the top of the QX60 models.
The QX60, which was known as the Infiniti JX until the 2014 model, began life with a 3.5-liter V6. In 2025, Nissan, the parent company of Infiniti, announced the V6 would be replaced by a 268 hp turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder from its smaller QX50 line. The EPA testing for the new engine showed that it got 24 MPG combined. This rating is a little better than most other SUVs in this class.
Consumers complained that the engine in previous years sounded whiny, and Nissan engineers gave it some new tuning that was apparently only a minor success. The problem is, the smaller engine seems sluggish, and overall handling tends to be a bit awkward, without the driver’s feel of complete control. The Sport and Autograph trims of the 2026 QX60 have standard all-wheel drive, but front-wheel drive is an option on the Pure and Luxe.
Hauling Power: Towing and Cargo Capacity
The QX60 is rated to tow up to 6,000 lbs, which is demanding a bunch from this 2.0-liter power plant. However, it is more than the tow rating of competing four-cylinder, three-row luxury SUVs, such as the Audi Q7, Lexus TX, and Volvo XC90. The Mercedes-Benz GLS and BMW X7 can tow more, but they come with 3.0L I-6 engines, and you’ll pay more for those luxury models.
The trim names for the QX60—Pure, Luxe, Sport, and Autograph—are a bit goofy. Autograph? Really? But style-wise, there is nothing funny about the QX60. For 2026, it has a fancier new grille with new headlights, taillights, and LED running lights.
The Google built-in infotainment and navigation system runs on the user-friendly 12.3-inch touchscreen, which is standard for all trims. This system supports wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, so you can connect your phone without having to plug it in. With its plentiful front and second-row USB ports, the QX60 gives passengers lots of charging options.
Serene Comfort: Quiet and Climate-Controlled Cabin
As with other luxury SUVs, the QX60 promises a quiet cabin, and climate control is another strong point. Easy to operate, its roof-mounted air vents provide rear passengers with a nice breeze. The front seats may look comfy and feel luxurious, but over a long drive, they may lack the needed support. The QX60 is roomy and, as noted, holds up to seven passengers.
Second-row riders get a lot of legroom, but might have to give some of that up when adults take the rear seat, which, by the way, is somewhat difficult to access. While 14.5 cu.ft. of storage behind the rear seats is a little less spacious than some of its rivals, folding those rear seats down expands storage significantly. The underfloor storage is a nice, handy touch.
The QX60 is available in seven colors and is made in the United States at Nissan’s Smyrna, Tennessee, plant. The facility employs over 7,300 workers and can build 640,000 cars a year. Because this SUV is built in the United States, QX60 shoppers may be eligible for a tax deduction of up to $10,000 on loan interest.
Enhanced Luxury: Nice Extra Features and Safety Package
The second-generation QX60 debuted in 2022 and has been refreshed for the 2026 model year. New features include a front fascia based on Infiniti’s Artistry in Motion design language, digital piano key daytime running lights, an illuminated 3D Infiniti grille logo, new Light Path welcome lighting, and different alloy wheel designs.
The infotainment system features a standard nine-speaker stereo system, which can be upgraded to a 20-speaker Klipsch Reference Premiere setup. Safety goodies include a 3D Around View Monitor system and the hands-free capable ProPILOT Assist 2.1 advanced driving system.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety rates this vehicle as a Top Safety Pick, which is the organization’s second-highest ranking. Meanwhile, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has given the 2026 QX60 a five-star overall safety rating.
Premium Elegance: The Autograph Trim
Inside the cabin, the front and second-row seats of the Autograph trim get an upgrade with luxurious quilted semi-aniline leather. Aniline is a substance applied to enhance the leather’s beauty. You also get contrast stitching, and the first-row seating has a massage function for those long trips or hard commutes. Heated second-row seats and an air purifier are also onboard. The front seats are heated and cooled. The 20-speaker Klipsch Reference Premiere Audio System with Individual Audio has speakers mounted in the headrests.
The Autograph retains the same 2.0-liter engine and nine-speed automatic transmission, with the same complaints of clunky acceleration and engine noise. The vehicle is estimated to get 22 MPG in the city and 27 MPG on the highway, even with all-wheel drive. Smart All-Wheel Drive technology adjusts the wheels as the road conditions change, providing traction and control in nearly all types of weather.
Making the Choice: Is the QX60 Right for You?
The revamped QX60 trims and its fresh interior have drawn in many car buyers. The QX60 is comfy and well-appointed, but when compared against others in this class—including luxury three-row SUVs such as the Acura MDX and Volvo XC90—Infiniti still has work to do.
In 2024, Acura moved more than 50,000 MDX units, and Volvo racked up close to 40,000 XC90 sales. The QX60 sold fewer than 28,000 units. Obviously, the sales data is telling, and some people say the QX60 looks a little too much like a Nissan rather than an Infiniti. The compliments are there for sure, but so are the complaints, especially engine power and a rather stiff ride.
Overall, the QX60 is far from the most popular vehicle in its class and doesn’t offer the same powerful performance that several competing models are known for. However, that doesn’t mean it’s a bad buy, especially after the refresh it received for the 2026 model year. You may even be able to get a much better deal on a QX60 than you can with its more popular competitors.
