The 2024 Infiniti QX60 fooled me the first few days I drove it – in a good way. The midsize three-row luxury SUV is based on the affordable Pathfinder manufactured by Nissan, Infiniti’s parent company. I knew that because I had tested both the QX60 and Pathfinder when they were completely redesigned two years ago. But I had forgotten it and was surprised to rediscover that when researching the newest QX60 for this review. The Pathfinder is an excellent affordable SUV, but the QX60 is so much more sophisticated there is no comparison, despite sharing the same platform, engine, transmission, and much of the sheet metal.
That is a big challenge for all affordable manufacturers who own luxury brands, including Honda (Acura), Ford (Lincoln), General Motors (Cadillac), Hyundai (Genesis), and Toyota (Lexus). Sharing components is essentially for keep the prices of their luxury vehicles below equivalent models produced by legacy European luxury companies. But their luxury models must be better than even the top-of-the-line versions of their affordable ones to genuinely compete against the legacy company models.
The 2024 Infiniti QX60 accomplishes this goal with an especially attractive rounded front end, an upgraded interior with a larger leather-covered dash, a much more refined suspension, and enough additional sound-deadening technology to cancel out the noise of the normally-aspirated 3.5-liter V6 that delivers 295 horsepower through a smooth-shifting nine-speed automatic transmission, the same set up in the most powerful Rock Creek edition of the Pathfinder. The driving experience feels much different, however – more refined and quieter, fully meeting all luxury standards.
The Pathfinder Rock Creek is intended to be a more off-road capable version of the crossover SUV, a trend being embraced by most other affordable SUV manufacturers. When I tested the then-new 2022 model, I was impressed by how the all-terrain tires made it easier to drive over the poorly maintained streets in my part of town. The 2024 QX60 easily handled the cracked pavement and potholes just as well on conventional tires, thanks to its refined suspension.
The QX60 comes standard with front-wheel-drive but is available with the company's competitive Intelligent All-Wheel-Drive system. Despite the plush interior, it faces the same challenge as most other midsize three-row SUVs – the third row is too small for anyone bigger than a teenager. Only Toyota and Lexus have really solved this problem with the extended 2024 Grand Highlander and the Lexus TX three-row midsize SUV based on it.
My top-of-the-line Autograph AWD version was loaded with just about every luxury, convenience, safety, and technology feature, including a 12.3-inch display with two controls — a touch screen and a rotary dial on the center console. The review mirror even offers an optional wide screen camera view.
During a week of daily driving, the 2024 QX60 was always amazingly serene, a hallmark of the Infiniti line. But it was also peppy, thanks to the well-proven V6 that delivers its power much smoother than smaller displacement turbocharged 4-cylinder engines that are so in vogue these days. That ride always felt very refined, despite its humble origins. Although a midsize, the QX60 felt like a smaller, more nimble SUV, which made me rethink my approaches to some parking spaces, although I suspect that will pass with time.
But now for the moment of truth. The top-of-the-line 2024 Nissan Pathfinder Platinum 4X4 starts at $51,520, which is a very good price. But stepping up to a 2024 Infiniti QX60 is not hard. The base Pure FWD undercuts that by starting at $49,650, while the lowest-priced all-wheel-drive equipped model, the Pure AWD, starts at just $230 more, or $51,560. Naturally, my fully-loaded Autograph AWD was considerably more at $69,240, you get the idea. The luxury of the 2024 Infiniti QX60 is not out of reach.
2024 Infiniti QX60
Base price: $49,650 (Pure FWD)
Price as tested: $69,240 (Autograph AWD)
Type: Midsize three-row SUV
Engine: 3.5-liter V6 (295 hp, 270 lbs-ft)
Transmission: 9-speed automatic with available AWD
Drive modes: Eco, Auto, Sport, Personal
EPA estimated mileage: 20/27 (FWD)/20/25 (AWD)
Overall length: 198.2 inches
Curb weight: 4393 to 4655 pounds
Final assembly: Smyrna, Tennessee
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