Nissan/Infiniti had three main goals they set out to accomplish when revising the 2016 Infiniti QX60; looks, feel and comfort. The platform and steering have been revised to give the driver a better sense of control. The 2016 Infiniti QX60’s interior is a much nicer place to spend time in. It now has updated materials and designs on the doors and dashboard.
Looking a bit more aggressive, the exterior has been sharpened front and rear. Headlights and taillights look more sporty and resemble an animal squinting. Despite the exterior upgrades, the silhouette of the 2016 Infiniti QX60 still looks like its cousin, the Nissan Pathfinder.
While these updates may seem mundane individually, they represent an excellent vehicle when combined.
The 265 horsepower V6 makes 248 lb-ft of torque. Power is put to the pavement through a smooth continually variable transmission (CVT) and is sent to all four wheels via the Infiniti Intelligent All-wheel Drive system. This system works automatically and in conjunction with a rotary dial that selects sport, snow, eco and sport modes. Do yourself a favor, keep it in the sport mode and you’ll be happy. The other modes slow the works – especially the eco mode.
Making the 2016 Infiniti QX60 scoot from one traffic light to another, the 265hp V6 is pretty happy. The only place where the V6 feels unhappy is when pushed hard to pass. It will move you, but it makes a bit of a racket when it does. Gas mileage is okay with 19 mpg city, 26 mpg highway and 22 mpg combined. If you want better efficiency, there is a hybrid model available.
My little ones fit comfortably in the third row of the 2016 Infiniti QX60, one is as tall as a small adult. Still, tall adults will eat their knees back there. The second row is very comfy and that middle row slides, folds, reclines and will scoot forward when a baby seat is mounted. Cargo space is mediocre with 15.8-cubic feet available behind the third row and 76.5-cu-ft with the second and third row folded. That’s small-ish for the category, but usable space is pretty good.
This is where things get interesting: The 2016 Infiniti QX60’s excellent optional Bose 15 speaker “Cabin Surround” stereo system is a treat. When you combine a slightly sharper driving experience with the nicer interior and great sound, the driving experience is transformed.
I spent hours driving through back-roads and twisty highways while listening to Jimi Hendrix’s Valleys of Neptune. The revised steering definitely communicated better than the last model and I could feel the platform shifting direction at the seat of my pants. Much better. It was a surreal experience and I had to re-drive part of the route without the music to confirm that it drove that good – without Hendrix’s influence.
It still drove quite well.
Now that Infiniti made its QX60 handle better, it felt like it would be happier with more power and wider tires. It still leans a bit, but no more than most competitors. Its overall ride is still pretty nice, If you don’t mind a little bit of shudder in the cabin when things get bumpy. It’s a consequence of the stiffer/sportier feel.
On the TFLcar scale of
- Buy It,
- Lease It,
- Rent It,
- or Forget It…
The 2016 Infiniti QX60 gets a Lease It!
Living with the 2016 Infiniti QX60 is a breeze. With the around-view monitor which gives you a 360 degree, bird’s eye view of your surroundings, parking is very easy. Sight-lines are pretty good, but the rear pillars do create a bit of a blind spot. Fortunately, several aids including blind-spot assist are available.
I spent less than a week with the 2016 Infiniti QX60, but I was impressed with what Infiniti did to update their second-best-selling vehicle. With an MSRP of $44,400, my $59,345 fully loaded, AWD version seemed a bit dear. It’s still a bargain compared with most of the competition (Acura MDX, Mercedes-Benz GLS, Audi Q7, Lexus GX and so on).
