2016 Infiniti QX60

The 2016 Infiniti QX60 has a big V6 under its hood which offers the best in class fuel efficiency making it one of the favorites among mileage consciousness folks. That said, the sluggish acceleration and boring driving dynamics remain an Achilles' heel for the QX60. Although it packs in a spacious and practical cabin, the cabin quality of the QX60 is a big turn-off because it rivals the likes of BMW X5, Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class, and Acura MDX.

The Infiniti QX60 is only offered in one single trim as standard that offers features like xenon headlights, 18-inch wheels, 60/40 split second-row, and 50/50 split third row. There's also a hybrid model available for the 2016 model year. Other than the standard features there are a few optional packages like the Premium Package, Driver Assistance Package, Deluxe Technology Package, etc available for those who want more creature comfort features and gizmos. The prices for the standard QX60 start at $42,600 while the AWD QX60 costs $44,400.

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Since there are no options available we would recommend going with the AWD version which improves the handling a tad bit more and does not cost as much. However, if you are worried about your ecological footprint go for the hybrid model which offers better fuel efficiency compared to the standard ones.

The engine offered in the 2016 Infiniti QX60 is a 3.5L naturally aspirated V6 that is coupled to a Continuously Variable Speed Transmission (CVT). The setup puts out a subpar 265 hp and 248 lb-ft of torque. The power is sent to the front wheels as standard while the AWD is available for a slight premium. The Infiniti QX60 was never known for quick performance and the same is true for this year as the V6 engine helped the QX60 scoot from 0-60 mph in a leisurely 7.9 seconds and covered the quarter-mile in 16 seconds. The performance although feels adequate but falls short when compared to other vehicles in this segment.

As for the competition, the BMW X5 comes with a turbo-six engine while the rest of them are powered by a V6 engine. Courtesy of the turbo engine the BMW X5 puts out the highest 300 hp and 300 lb-ft of torque. It didn’t stop here and went on to clinch the title for the fastest 0-60 mph in 5.9 seconds a full two seconds quicker than the QX60 and the X5 covered the quarter-mile in 14.5 seconds, taking 1.5 seconds less than the QX60.

The 2016 Infiniti QX60 powered by the V6 and coupled with the CVT gearbox is rated at 21 mpg in the city, 27 mpg on the highway, and 23 mpg combined by the EPA. The AWD QX60 returns a slightly lower 19 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway. As standard, you get a 19.5-gallon fuel tank and due to the impressive gas mileage, you will be making fewer gas stops compared to the rivals.

Speaking of rivals, none are as fuel-efficient as the Infiniti QX60 although the Acura MDX managed to return a similar 27 mpg of gas mileage on the highway but fell short by 2 mpg in the city and 1 mpg combined. Between the German duo, the BMW X5 returns a better gas mileage. The Mercedes-Benz GLE Class on the other hand comes with the biggest fuel tank capacity of 24.6-gallon and has the longest range among all from a full tank of gas.

The interior of the 2016 Infiniti QX60 is shared with the Nissan Pathfinder and has been given a bit more premium look. But that is all in vain as there are plenty of hard-touch plastics around the cabin and in general, it doesn’t justify the premium price tag of the QX60. Similarly priced rivals do beat it in terms of cabin premiumness without a doubt. That said, the only pro that the QX60 inherited from the Pathfinder is that all three rows are spacious and comfortable and the third row can fit adults. The cargo space is adequate for this type of vehicle at 40.8 cubic feet if the third rows are folded down and 15.8 cubic feet with all three rows up.

When it comes to cabin space there is no doubt the Infiniti QX60 comes with the most spacious cabin and manages to even beat the 2-row SUVs like the BMW X5 and Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class. Although the latter two offer better cargo space as they don’t have the third-row seats, they still fall short of the Infiniti QX60’s more than 40 cubic feet of cargo space if we fold the third-row seats. Key interior features include:

• Keyless entry and ignition
• Auto-dimming inside rearview mirrors
• Leather upholstery
• 8-way power-adjustable driver’s seat
• 6-way power-adjustable passenger seat
• Power tilt and telescoping steering wheel
• Tri-zone automatic climate control

How intuitive is the Infiniti QX60’s infotainment system?

The Infiniti QX60 comes with a big 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system that gets a six-speaker sound system, Bluetooth connectivity, USB ports, satellite radio, CD player, etc as standard. The setup is, without doubt, the most user-friendly in the segment and those looking for a bigger display or a better sound system can opt for the Premium Plus or the Deluxe Technology Package that adds an 8-inch touchscreen with Infiniti InTouch interface, 13-speaker Bose sound system, 15-speaker Bose surround-sound system, etc. Key infotainment features include:

• 7-inch touchscreen 
• Six-speaker sound system
• Bluetooth
• Satellite Radio
• USB ports
• Available Bose premium sound system
• Available 8-inch touchscreen display

For 2016 the Infiniti QX60 has been slightly tweaked in terms of exterior design at the front and the rear fascia. At the front, the headlights and fog lights have been changed and a larger grille has replaced the smaller grille on last year’s QX60. The tail lamps and bumper at the rear have also received a styling refresh. The wheels are also new for the 2016 model year and you get 18-inch alloy wheels as standard while the 20-inch wheels are available with the Deluxe Technology Package. The swooping roofline and chrome accents look great on the QX60. However, after the redesign, the rear fascia is a bit controversial in terms of looks.

The Infiniti QX60 is the longest SUV measuring 196.4-inches in length while the GLE-Class is the widest measuring 78.9-inches and tallest measuring 70.7-inches. The BMW X5 has the longest wheelbase of 115.5-inches and the highest ground clearance of 8.2-inches among all. Compared to the Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class the QX60 is 1.7-inches less wide and 2.1-inches shorter while compared to the X5 the QX60 has a 1.3-inches shorter wheelbase and 1.7-inches shorter ground clearance. Key exterior features include:

• 18-inch alloy wheels
• Power liftgate
• Automatic Xenon headlights
• LED foglights
• Power-folding side mirrors
• Sunroof
• Available 20-inch alloy wheels
• Available front and rear parking sensors
• Available automatic wipers

The IIHS has rated the Infiniti QX60 with the highest rating of ‘Good’ in five out of six parameters and with a second-best rating of ‘Acceptable’ in the front overlap crash test. As a result, the 2016 QX60 managed to bag the ‘Top Safety Pick+’ by the IIHS. As for the NHTSA, it gave the QX60 a perfect score of five-star in the overall rating while the front and rollover crash test received four out of five stars and the side crash test got a five out of five stars rating. Key safety features include:

• Predictive Forward Collision Warning
• Approaching Vehicle Sound for Pedestrians system
• Backup Collision Intervention
• Blind Spot Warning and Blind Spot Intervention Systems
• Forward Emergency Braking w/ Pedestrian Detection
• Lane Departure Warning w/ Lane Departure Prevention Systems

The Infiniti QX60 was designed with one thing in mind- to be a great daily driver and utilitarian vehicle that serves every need of the consumer who wants all this in a premium vehicle. It offers a massive cabin and adequate cargo space along with great fuel efficiency. The few things it lacks are performance, responsive handling, and cabin quality. Overall, the 2016 Infiniti QX60 is a value-for-money crossover that is easy to maneuver in cities while still offering a larger cabin and loads of practicality. But it will surely disappoint enthusiasts looking for performance as it’s not what the QX60 is cut for.