The Right Spec: 2022 Infiniti QX60

Fresh off the line for this model year, the new QX60 turns Infiniti’s offering in the brutally competitive luxury crossover segment from a long-in-the-tooth ride to a modern new whip with screens and tech galore. Snicker if you will at my choice of mentioning those two features off the top, but customers spending in excess of 50 large on a rig like this tend to be entranced by those items.

There is a quartet of trims on tap for the 2022 QX60, all of which are propelled by the same engine and transmission combo. Our man Tim had the chance to sample a top-shelf trim in the tony environs of Napa Valley, but is that the one to get? Let’s break down the options and find out.

Let’s get one thing out of the way from the start. Those all-important screens of which we spoke? The QX60 deploys the same 12.3-inch interactive display no matter how much scratch one spends on the thing. The only trim not receiving that cool gauge set, which shows up even in fancy versions of the much cheaper Rogue, is the entry-level $48,850 Pure AWD. Niceties like 2nd-row manual sunshades, remote engine start, and ventilated front seats also vanish from the base car.

Every QX60 is powered by a 3.5L V6 engine making 295 horsepower and 270 lb-ft of torque. That’s 11 more ponies than the Pathfinder’s equivalently-sized engine, and the company specifies premium unleaded for the QX60 but not its less powerful cousin. This is worth noting for running costs and, before you bleat, customers shopping in this price range absolutely do care about such things despite what us commoners may think. A nine-speed automatic has replaced the unloved CVT.

There’s no doubt that $6,000 is a large chunk of change, representing a roughly $100 hike in monthly payments depending on term and rate. But if you’re bent on rolling a QX60 out the door, the $54,900 Luxe AWD trim may be the one to get. A number of high-zoot features appear for your extra scratch, such as that neato digital gauge set and 20-inch aluminum alloys. Perhaps more importantly for shoppers in this segment, climate-controlled seats appear at this level, plus a power-operated steering column, navigation, and top-grade ProPilot Assist with an Around View monitor.

Actually, this leads us to a conclusion similar to what Tim mused about in his review. The Right Spec for a 2022 Infiniti QX60 could be a Nissan Pathfinder Platinum 4WD – laden with Bose audio, Navi-Link ProPilot Assist, and those natty gauges – for $48,090. Of course, there are always those in certain neighbourhoods who don’t look beyond the grille badge and would never consider a Nissan (explaining why Infiniti and its ilk exist in the first place) but save for an infotainment screen a couple of inches smaller and some swanky upholstery, the top-rung Pathfinder could represent a smart (and several thousand dollar cheaper) alternative to a mid-level QX60.

Please note the prices listed here are in American bucks and currently accurate for base prices exclusive of any fees, taxes, or rebates. Your dealer may (and should) sell for less, obscene market conditions notwithstanding. Keep your foot down, bone up on available rebates, and bargain hard.

[Image: Infiniti]