2014 INFINITI QX60 Review

The 2014 Infiniti QX60 is essentially last year's JX with a new name and a few revised option packages. The big news is the debut of a hybrid version.

With its roomy seating and high fuel economy ratings, the 2014 Infiniti QX60 is a solid choice for a family-oriented, seven-passenger luxury crossover SUV.

No, your eyes are not deceiving you: The 2014 Infiniti QX60 looks exactly the same as last year's JX35, which itself was a new addition to the company's lineup. That's because the JX and QX60 are the same vehicle other than some minor feature shuffling and the debut of a hybrid version. This luxury three-row crossover's name change was spurred on by the adoption of Infiniti's new model nomenclature: "QX" denotes an SUV and the numbers following indicate where a given model stands in Infiniti's lineup (a higher number means a higher standing).

Like the JX, the QX60 is related to the Nissan Pathfinder. The QX60 and Pathfinder's mechanicals are very similar, so the differences pertain mostly to styling, interior design and feature availability. The QX60 projects a more luxurious vibe inside and out, but above all, it's an excellent vehicle for parents looking for a family hauler. Within its spacious cabin, the QX60 can seat adults in all three rows (with a maximum passenger count of seven) and features second-row seats that recline and slide nearly 6 inches forward and back, offering expansive legroom and making third-row access a breeze. Materials quality is top-notch and various high-tech luxury and safety features are here in abundance, including systems that help you avoid blind-spot collisions or incidents while backing up.

This year does bring a new choice, however. In addition to the standard V6-powered QX60, there is also the QX60 Hybrid. The latter sports a supercharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that, with the help of an electric motor and a lithium-ion battery pack, promises V6 power with four-cylinder fuel efficiency. Indeed, given its output of 250 horsepower and its EPA combined fuel economy estimate of 26 mpg, the Hybrid looks to handily achieve those objectives.

You've likely gathered by now that the 2014 Infiniti QX60 makes for a pretty good family rig. Still, we have a few quibbles. One is that the pairing of the standard V6 and continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) just doesn't provide the accelerative grunt and refinement commonly expected for this class of vehicle. Similarly, the QX60 lacks the athletic handling that's otherwise typical for an Infiniti and instead aims for a plusher ride.

To a large extent, how the QX60 stacks up will depend on your priorities. If you want a luxury crossover that's relatively fun to drive, the sportier 2014 Acura MDX and 2013 BMW X5 are going to be better choices. If it's maximum space you want, the bigger 2014 Buick Enclave bests the QX60 in regard to cargo capacity. The two-row Lexus RX 350 and RX 450h (hybrid) shouldn't be ignored either, if you aren't set on getting a third row. But if you've got a family to haul around and appreciate a sense of style burnished by technology, the 2014 Infiniti QX60 is a great choice.

The QX60 is powered by a 3.5-liter V6 that makes 265 hp and 248 pound-feet of torque. A CVT is the only available transmission. Front-wheel drive is standard, while all-wheel drive is optional.

In Edmunds testing, the identical JX35 equipped with all-wheel drive dashed from zero to 60 mph in 8.2 seconds. This isn't bad for a three-row SUV, but it's still well off the pace of quicker models like the Acura MDX or turbocharged Lincoln MKT.

The EPA estimates fuel economy at 22 mpg combined (20 mpg city/26 mpg highway) for the front-drive version, while the all-wheel-drive version drops slightly to 21 mpg combined (19 mpg city/25mpg highway). In extensive Edmunds testing, however, we've found the QX60 typically struggles to match these mileage numbers in real-world driving. Properly equipped, an all-wheel-drive QX60 can tow up to 5,000 pounds.

The QX60 Hybrid features a supercharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that joins forces with a 15kW electric motor fed by a lithium-ion battery pack. Combined output is rated at 250 hp and 243 lb-ft of torque. Official EPA numbers stand at an impressive 26 mpg combined (26 city/28 highway) for the front-wheel drive and 26 mpg combined (25 mpg city/28 mpg highway) for the all-wheel-drive version.

Standard safety features for the 2014 Infiniti QX60 include antilock disc brakes, front seat-mounted side airbags, full-length side curtain airbags, stability/traction control and a rearview camera.

The available Infiniti Connection telematics service includes automatic collision notification, remote door unlocking, stolen vehicle location, and speed and geo-fencing notifications. Also optional are front and rear parking sensors, a lane-departure warning and prevention system, blind-spot warning (with an automatic intervention feature when the Technology package is equipped), a 360-degree view parking camera system and automatic frontal and back-up collision mitigation systems.

To help avoid frontal collisions, the forward collision mitigation system uses the laser range finder from the adaptive cruise control to analyze closing speeds to an obstacle ahead. If a forward collision is deemed imminent, the system sounds a warning to prompt driver action and can automatically apply the brakes. The back-up collision intervention system uses radar and the QX's parking sensors to detect approaching vehicles (as well as objects behind the vehicle) when you have the transmission in Reverse. Potential collision situations trigger audible warnings followed by automatic brake application.

In government crash testing, the 2014 Infiniti QX60 earned an overall rating of five out of five stars, with four stars for overall frontal crash protection and five stars for overall side crash protection. In tests conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the 2014 Infiniti QX60 received the top score of "Good" in the agency's moderate-overlap frontal-offset and side-impact tests.

In Edmunds brake testing, the similar JX stopped from 60 mph in a respectable 120 feet.

The 2014 Infiniti QX60's V6 can feel a little sluggish during passing maneuvers, and the efficiency-oriented CVT can be slow to respond if you get aggressive with the gas pedal. In time, you get used to both of these traits, but depending on your priorities, they might not meet your performance expectations for a luxury-branded vehicle.

You won't have any complaints about the QX60 once it's up to speed on the highway. With its cushy ride, the QX shrugs off road imperfections. In general, this is a very comfy, quiet and luxurious vehicle to while away the miles. The trade-off, however, is that the QX60 is a grudging partner when you drive it through turns. It feels heavy, the steering is too light to have any true precision and the soft suspension tuning allows for a lot of distracting body lean.

We haven't yet driven the QX60 Hybrid, but as soon as we do we will update this review.

Flexible seating is one of the QX60's hallmark features. The second row tilts and slides 5.5 inches fore and aft (even in the hybrid version thanks to a super-slim battery pack), allowing passengers to reach and exit the third row with ease, even with a child seat installed in the second row. The third row offers enough headroom for 6-foot passengers, but clearance gets a little tight beyond that. Both second- and third-row seatbacks also recline.

Although cabin room is generous for passengers, cargo capacity tops out at 76.5 cubic feet with the second and third-row seats folded. That's not a bad number for a luxury crossover, but the Enclave and MDX give you more space. On the upside, the hybrid QX has the same amount of cargo volume as the regular V6 version.

With a rich combination of leather, wood and metal accents, this is a classy Infiniti interior in every respect. Infiniti's electronics interface is one of the best available, as its combination of physical buttons, a touchscreen and a rotary knob make it easy to accomplish tasks. We also like the optional 360-degree camera system, as its top-down view of the vehicle in relation to its surroundings is very useful when it comes time to park in tighter spots.