Under the fashionable skin, a nine-speed automatic transmission is hidden.
The current Infiniti HTML60 is a relatively anonymous entry in the luxury midsize three-row SUV market. This is partly due to its round styling and partly because of its droning, constantly variable transmission. A new model is on the horizon, as shown in the QX60 Monograph. It promises to make a huge improvement. Customers will be impressed by the 2022 Infiniti QX60’s new exterior and interior styling. It also features a nine-speed auto transmission.
The new QX60 is unchanged from its predecessor. It features a 3.5-liter V6 that produces 295 horsepower and 295 pound-feet (220-kilowatts and 366 Newton-meters), and has been slightly modified with idle-stop and retuned timing. A modified version of the QX60’s architecture is used in the 2022 model. It has been updated with high-strength steel, and other materials to increase stiffness. Infiniti created a new identity for the crossover, which is distinct from the outgoing model as well as the current Nissan Pathfinder.
The 2022 QX60’s front end is where it gets an updated styling that is reminiscent of the QX55 fastback SUV. The large front grille has a texture that recalls origami. While the narrowed headlights have “digital piano keys” segmented LED accents and a reflector texture inspired from the folds of a Kimono. The bumper corners have a subtle appearance, while the split skid plate beneath the grille is a little more noticeable.
The QX60’s side profile is the closest to the Pathfinder. This is due to the bulging front and rear fenders. These fenders, which are connected by a subtle crease at the doors, give the crossover more aggression than its predecessors, the QX35 and QX60. It’s a nice change from crescent-cut window styling. The Lincoln Aviator ‘s tapered roofline and invisible B, C and D-pillars are reminiscent of the Lincoln Aviator . However, if you want to copy someone else’s work, the American SUV is a good choice.
The crossover’s flagship Autograph trim level, the new for 2022 Autograph, really shines inside. The crossover’s new-for-2022 Autograph flagship trim level, which features semi-aniline leather upholstery and genuine open-pore wood trim, is a complete departure from the Pathfinder. It also has double-quilted accents at the dash fascia as well as the seat faces. The cabin’s new styling is inspired by the Japanese QX50 or HTML55. It features a cantilevered central stack and a sliding electronic gear selector. The standard second row captain’s chairs in the Autograph trim are heated and ventilated.
Cyber Family
The standard infotainment package for the 2022 QX60 is an improvement on the models’ twin-display setup. It makes use of one 12.3-inch touchscreen, which is mounted at the top and center of the stack. Infiniti’s most recent infotainment software is used. It is intuitive to use and responds quickly in other corporate products. Standard features include wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto. There are seven USB ports (both USB A and USB C) in each row. The QX60’s suites of driver-assistance features can be monitored with ease thanks to the 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster.
The QX60 now has ProPilot Assist and Navi-Link. It works in the same way as other Infiniti ProPilot system. It combines adaptive cruise control, lane departure intervention and lane centering into one function. This reduces driver fatigue while driving on the freeway and keeps the vehicle away from other vehicles. Navi-Link, however, takes things to the next level. It actively slows the QX60 ahead of curves on the freeway and can also read speed limit signs to adjust the crossover’s speed. Although it is not certain if all QX60 trims will receive these driver-assist options standard, the Autograph almost certainly will.
Going the Distance
There aren’t many issues with Infiniti’s VQ series of long-running engines. The 3.5-liter V6 is a good companion for road trips. The ZF nine-speed automated transmission replaces the QX60’s CVT. However, it should be a significant improvement. This is likely the same gearbox that we used in the Pathfinder. We loved its intuitive shift behavior, decent responses, and, as with the Nissan, it allows the QX60’s tow vehicle to pull up to 6,000 pounds when properly equipped.
The new platform’s stiffer design should allow it to carry more weight and provide a smooth, comfortable ride. We can again make assumptions basing on the mechanically identical Pathfinder, which was both more enjoyable and more comfortable to drive up a mountain road than we expected.
Formal Living Room
The 2022 Infiniti QX60, which is an eight-seat Nissan, can seat seven people. It has a two-position rear bench, which allows for storage and shoulder room. As we already mentioned, the standard second-row bench can be replaced by an optional pair captain’s chairs (standard for the Autograph). The standard tip-forward second rows, which allow access to the third row regardless of whether a child restraint has been installed on the LATCH tethers, is a carryover feature from QX60. Infiniti is proud to say that this feature is a major reason why many SUV customers purchase it.
Infiniti claims that the new QX60 offers more space in the second and third rows. This improves passenger comfort. However, the interior volume of the 2020 QX60 is only 140.6 cubic feet, compared to its 149.0 cubes. The luggage space with the third row stowed in is 41.6 cubic yards, an increase of 1.1 over the previous SUV. However, all other cargo metrics are lower. There’s only 14.5 cubic feet of storage behind the third row. However, a 1.9-cube cargo bin under the floor helps to improve things. It’s better to consider the QX60 a vehicle that can be used for four or five people, and not a seven-seater, as it is more suitable for road trips.
Coming Soon to a Country Club Near You
The QX60 Autograph that we saw in person was not intended for production, but we are still months away from seeing them in local dealerships. The company plans to have the vehicles on sale by the end of this year. They will announce pricing, feature availability and trim breakdowns near that date. The 2022 Infiniti QX60 will continue to be the company’s most popular product due to its attractive new styling, interior design, and improved driving dynamics.
The three-row Infiniti must compete against a growing number of competitors, including the new Acura MDX and the updated Buick Enclave. The 2022 QX60, a vast improvement on the model it replaces, will hopefully attract premium buyers while keeping current Infiniti fans.