2022 Infiniti QX60 Autograph AWD
Like it or not, the big crossover is here to stay. Three rows of seating that would really be better suited to a minivan or – dare I say it – a wagon shall be jacked up slightly so drivers can feel somewhat at ease when surrounded by all of the other tall wagons, pickups, and eighteen-wheelers clogging our roads.
Just because the words Sports and Utility are theoretically in the definition of the vehicle segment doesn’t mean that sport needs to be part of the equation. We’ve seen many a big crossover that should never see anything more rugged than a dirt path to a youth soccer field – and many a rugged SUV that never actually sees anything more rugged than that same dirt path, so it doesn’t matter much anyhow. These are comfortable family vehicles with easy step-in heights – no more, no less. That hasn’t stopped automakers from tossing the classic luxury playbook at these vehicles, however. Leather, wood and metal trim, big wheels, and the usual advanced tech features abound on the upmarket trims.
The 2022 Infiniti QX60 Autograph is a noble effort from Nissan’s luxury division for this particular market. Light on the ruggedness, heavy on the plush – can the QX60 find a path to sales success?
Incidentally, you might notice a difference in the photos used here. Indeed, it seems that I’ve deleted all of the photos I took of the QX60 Autograph, so I’m using photos provided by Infiniti. I apologize to all of the B&B who have come to expect a certain level of photographic incompetence from my reviews – I won’t let you down again.
I’m not sure that I’d have properly captured the style of the QX60, however. The best way I can describe it is benignly attractive. It doesn’t grab you by the lapels – excuse me, we’re all working from home now – it doesn’t grab you by the strings on your hoodie and exclaim “look at me I’m a big bad luxury ride!” nor does it repulse you. It simply sits in the parking lot, glimmering just a bit brighter than the blah parked beside it. The profile is one funky character line away from being slab-sided, and yet it’s reasonably handsome. I kinda dig the “floating roof” effect here, too – especially as the entire roof sorta disappears due to the blacked-out treatment given by the Autograph trim package.
Driving the QX60 is refreshingly unremarkable. There’s enough power from the corporate 3.5-liter V6, and the nine-speed automatic is mercifully a real automatic and not the cursed variable transmission that has infected so many Nissan products over the years. The ride quality was good, though the big 20-inch alloy wheels did transmit more noise and pavement irregularities into the cabin both to my ears and to the steering wheel than I’d like. Those tiny sidewalls terrified me as I strayed from the tarmac onto a gravel road where traffic – yes, traffic on a gravel road – was inexplicably moving at 40mph. The QX60 remained composed, but I didn’t as I fully expected a blowout or at least a long call with Infiniti PR explaining alloy wheel damage.
The interior at once shines and disappoints. My tester was the top-of-the-line Autograph trim, which features quilted semi-aniline leather seating and trim, second-row captain’s chairs, a heads-up display, and a video rear-view mirror. My long weekend with the QX60 was a solo trip without the family, so I didn’t need the third row – but I crawled back there briefly for science. Linebacker-sized adults like yours truly won’t be happy for long, but that third row ain’t bad for most normal folk. And the second-row captain’s chairs are nearly as nice as what the front row gets. While the leather is lovely and the seats themselves are marvelous, there is little else that feels particularly special about this interior.
Of course, the QX60 is closely related to a product in parent Nissan’s lineup – the Pathfinder. From the 295 hp V6 to the nine-speed automatic transmission down to suspension and even overall dimensions, the two are virtually identical. And that’s not necessarily a bad thing – badge engineering has a long tradition within the industry. But here, even considering the improvements in interior materials over the Nissan, there isn’t much that differentiates the Infiniti…other than the sticker price. Switchgear, displays, controls, and even fonts are indistinguishable between the two.
The 2022 Infiniti QX60 is a fine crossover. But I’m afraid that the similarities between it and the corporate platform mate are too close to overlook, making the Pathfinder a much more compelling choice should you choose this over another brand. Perhaps Infiniti buyers will be most persuaded by the simple fact that they don’t want to be associated with someone who buys a Nissan – and that’s a shame.
[Images: Infiniti]
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