Is Infiniti Bringing the Third Row Vents Back in the Qx60

Buttons buttons everywhere —

Ticking all the boxes: Infiniti QX60 review

Infiniti hits most of the must-haves with this three-row, mid-size luxury SUV.

Sometimes the right car comes at the right time. In this case, the Infiniti QX60 arrived in the midst of a particularly nasty stretch of Chicago winter. It snowed each day I had the car, and temps barely cracked freezing. And each time I got into the QX60 to go to the store, pick up my son from wrestling practice, or run errands, I was glad to be behind the wheel. It's a fantastic cold-weather vehicle. In fact, it's a really solid SUV, period.

But it could be better.

The QX60 slots neatly into the middle of Infiniti's lineup of SUVs and crossovers. Measuring 200.6×77.2×68.6 inches (5,083mm×1,961mm×1,742mm), it's a three-row, seven-passenger mid-size SUV that is based on the Nissan Pathfinder. It comes standard with a transverse-mounted, direct-injection 3.5-liter V6 engine capable of 295hp (217kW) at 6,400rpm and 270lb-ft (366Nm) of torque. That V6 is not a variable-compression power plant like the one that debuted with the 2019 Infiniti QX50, but it gets the job done. The 11:1 compression-ratio engine is paired with a continuously variable transmission and either front-wheel or all-wheel drive, depending on trim level.

For 2019, the QX60 has seen some very modest tweaks compared to the 2018 model I drove a couple of months before the polar vortex took up residence over Chicago. Infiniti has made some of the driver-assist tech standard across the lineup, added a new Limited trim with more polished interior touches, tweaked some of the other trim levels, and added three color options. Aside from that, you'll be hard-pressed to tell the difference between the two models at a glance; the 2019 QX60 cuts the same familiar SUV silhouette, with the crescent-cut D-pillar and double-wave hood that say "this is an Infiniti."

Pricing starts at $44,250 for the basic Pure FWD model; with AWD, that goes to $46,050. The review vehicle was the Luxe AWD, which starts at $47,850. Add to that the $5,000 Limited package, which includes leather and wood accents along with 20-inch wheels; $3,500 for the Sensory Package; $3,400 for the Proactive Package, which adds driver-assist tech and eight sonar sensors; a $2,150 Theater Package for a pair of displays built into the headrests of the front-row seats; and $2,900 for the Essential Package. The result is a $65,930 MSRP with just about every option Infiniti offers in one of its vehicles.

Buttons, buttons everywhere

• The cockpit of the QX60.

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• Not pictured: 24 other buttons.

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• Unlike the dashboard, the wood-trimmed center console has just a shift lever, seat heat/cooling dials, and a pair of cupholders.

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• The front row of the QX60.

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• The instrument console has a pair of analog dials and a small LCD in between.

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• The second-row seats are heated and quite comfortable.

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• Keep your offspring mollified with the displays built into the front-row headrests.

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• Both the second and third rows fold flat in a 60-40 layout.

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• The view from the third row.

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Like the 2018 model—and unlike the QX50—the QX60 has a single-screen infotainment system. The eight-inch display is a touchscreen, but the primary means of interacting with the car (aside from the steering wheel and pedals) is buttons—60 of them, to be exact.

Of course, that includes steering wheel controls and the DVD player, but it makes for a distracting interface. The reliance on buttons also means some of the commonly used items are in odd locations. Want a nice, toasty steering wheel on a cold winter morning (who wouldn't)? Reach down to the lower part of the dashboard near your left knee to turn it on. But don't hit the liftgate release button by mistake. There is a scroll wheel right below the display, but it's primarily for zooming in and out of the infotainment display or for moving through the list of apps. In short, Infiniti has taken the "unitasker" approach loathed by Good Eats creator Alton Brown to the UX, and the result is an infotainment system that will steal the driver's attention away at times.

Once you get past the vast array of buttons, there is much to like about the interior of the QX60. The wood trim and leather accents are pleasing to the eye, and more importantly, the seats are extremely comfortable and supportive. The driving position and sight lines are outstanding. There's scads of room in the heated back seats, along with a dedicated set of climate controls and USB ports. And don't forget those LCDs in the headrests—those come with two sets of wireless headphones and a remote control to keep your little ones occupied during long rides.

The third row, like that of most mid-sized SUVs, is not a pleasant place for adults. But it's great for carpooling to soccer practice, and you can set the car to remind you to check for sleeping kids in the back seat when you walk away. Behind that third row are 16.0 cubic feet (453L) of storage space that increases to 40.5 cubic feet (1,146L) with the third row down and 76.2 cubic feet (2,158L) with the second row flat.

I now know why I see so many QX60s in nice suburbs

• We took these pictures of the 2018 QX60 in late autumn. The 2019 model is essentially unchanged, and the weather did not give us the opportunity to get new pictures.

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• LED headlights, foglights, and running lights are standard on the QX60.

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• 18-inch wheels are standard; the Luxe trim comes with 20-inch aluminum alloy wheels.

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• You can see the trademark crescent-cut trim around at the D pillar.

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• You can open the liftgate by making a kicking motion directly underneath it.

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• 16.0ft³ of space with the third row up. That increases to 76.2ft³ with the back rows folded flat.

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• In case you forgot what kind of car you're climbing into, just look down.

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Where the QX60 excels is on the road. The cabin is well-insulated from the sounds of the road and traffic, resulting in a serene driving experience (assuming the second and third rows aren't populated with small children). The continuously variable transmission is nicely responsive—that is unless you have a lead foot. Even in Sport mode, the QX60 doesn't feel up to the task of screaming off the line or darting in and out of traffic. That's not the QX60's sweet spot.

The QX60 has three other drive modes beyond Sport: Standard, Eco, and Snow. Most of my time behind the wheel was in Standard mode, but as my time with the car came in the midst of a 17-day stretch in which snow fell every day, I came to appreciate Snow mode. When engaged, Snow mode adjusts the engine output, and the intelligent AWD system sends equal amounts of power to front and rear axles to reduce wheel spin. If you've ever gotten stuck in the snow and started in second gear in an attempt to extract yourself, you'll understand how Snow mode feels. Obviously, putting a set of snow tires on your car is the best solution for cold and snowy winters, but the QX60's Snow mode made dealing with nasty winter driving conditions much more tolerable—it's a great winter car.

Infiniti does not make ProPilot Assist available in the QX60. In its place is a competent lane-keep assist system, adaptive cruise control, and the usual blind-spot warning (mounted on the A pillar instead of integrated into the side-view mirrors). It works well enough, but ProPilot—available in the QX50—is superior.

The QX60 is rated at 22mpg (27mpg highway and 20mpg city). I saw 20.4mpg in a week of cold-weather—albeit pre-vortex—driving.

After a week driving the QX60, I was left with mixed feelings. I never felt comfortable with the subpar infotainment system and vast array of buttons on the dashboard, and the lack of support for CarPlay and Android Auto is unfortunate in a 2019 luxury car. But I more or less liked everything else about the QX60. I felt comfortable and relaxed behind the wheel, unfazed by traffic and snow outside the car. Infiniti nailed the luxury touches, too. At around $10,000 less than a similarly specced Q7, the QX60 is an attractive option if you are hunting for a three-row, mid-size luxury SUV.

Is Infiniti Bringing the Third Row Vents Back in the Qx60

Source: https://arstechnica.com/cars/2019/02/review-the-infiniti-qx60-makes-winter-driving-almost-enjoyable/

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