With the recent launch of the QX55, Infiniti aimed to put some sporty performance into its line-up. Now, with the debut of the QX60, the Japanese luxury brand is aiming for a more “practical” and “serene environment.”
What began life in 2012 as the Infiniti JX has become one of the marque’s most important products, so the launch of the third-generation QX60 will be a critical step in taking on competitors like Lexus, as well as German brands Mercedes-Benz and BMW. Infiniti claims the 2022 model has gone through a complete makeover, but a few of its key selling points haven’t been changed, starting with its three-row, family-oriented layout.
“The all-new 2022 Infiniti QX60 was designed with busy lives — friends, family, community — in mind,” Infiniti’s Global Head of Product Strategy Eric Rigaux said in a statement. “We focused on creating a serene environment inside that’s beautiful and practical, packed with new Infiniti IQ technology. In so many ways, the all-new QX60 is not just spacious, but stunning, and smart.”
Infiniti designers went for an aggressive, more coupe-like look with the new QX55. With the 2022 QX60 they retained a more traditional crossover layout intent on making leg and headroom for up to seven passengers.
“A Japanese essence”
The design adopts what the automaker calls a “Japanese essence,” with “kimono folds in the headlamps, origami in the grille, and ripples on a pond in the leather-appointed seats.”
More traditional luxury cues include the chrome framing the larger new grille. Borrowing from the QX60 Monograph concept of a year back, the production model adopts piano key-shaped front and rear lighting. A subtle character line runs the length of the CUV and the new QX60 adopts flowing curves that drape over its wheels — with new, 20-inch designs available on most trim levels.
The crossover features a floating roof design — though, for the first time, the QX60 can be ordered in two-tone with a black roof that emphasizes the chrome surrounding the greenhouse. An alternative is the Moonbow Blue paint scheme, Infiniti notes, which uses special pigments to change its apparent color spectrum from purple to green, depending upon your viewing angle.
Roomier interior
The QX60 cabin has been upgraded, the automaker claims, with the increased use of soft-touch materials like semi-aniline leather trim, There’s new ambient lighting. And, with the new Autograph grade, open pore wood is introduced. The front row, meanwhile, features Infiniti’s “Zero Gravity” seats which, it claims, enhances comfort during long trips. Ergonomic seat designs were added for mid and third-row passengers, as well.
“True to our QX60 Monograph design study, the all-new 2022 Infiniti QX60 embraces the concept of ‘ma.’ The new QX60 embraces Japanese minimalism in its shape but balances that in its details,” said Infiniti design chief Taisuke Nakamura. “The interior and exterior reflect harmonies in their designs that play off each other.”
On a practical level, the new QX60 now stores up to 41.6 cubic feet of cargo with the third row folded, and the 2022 crossover’s underfloor storage space has been increased by nearly 70 percent.
More technology onboard
The automaker bills the 2022 QX60 as its “most advanced SUV yet” from a technical standpoint. That includes a new 12.3-inch touchscreen for the InTouch infotainment system. It can handle wireless Apple CarPlay, though Android Auto still needs you to connect by USB. There’s a wireless smartphone charging system, meanwhile, large enough to handle the big Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max.
The crossover now gets the semi-autonomous ProPilot Assist system. While it requires a driver to maintain a light touch on the wheel, the technology helps hold the vehicle in the center of the lane and adjusts speed automatically to traffic flow. The latest version of ProPilot Assist adds Navi Link so it can read traffic signs and adjust speed, when needed and, as when a destination is plugged into the navigation system, the vehicle slows as it prepares to exit a highway.
A 10.8-inch head-up display is available, and the 2022 Infiniti QX60 gets high-tech safety technology including Rear Automatic Braking, Predictive Forward Collision Warning, and Forward Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection as standard equipment.
More details to come
All U.S. versions of the crossover are powered by a 295-horsepower 3.5-liter V-6 paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel drive is available. And, depending upon the grade level, the 2022 QX60’s towing capacity jumps 20%, to 6,000 pounds.
Additional details, including fuel economy ratings and pricing, will be revealed shortly before the 2022 Infiniti QX60 goes on sale later this year. The outgoing model now starts at $41,750 — before factoring in delivery fees and taxes.
