Infiniti QX60 midsize SUV is all new and deluxe for 2022

Infiniti’s QX60 midsize SUV has a whole new look for 2022, with bolder exterior styling, a premium interior with tech upgrades, and a new top trim level called Autograph.

There are four 2022 QX60 models: Pure, Luxe, Sensory, and Autograph, all with three rows of seats. Up to seven passengers can be accommodated in every model except the new Autograph, which has two captain’s chairs in the middle row instead of a bench seat, reducing seating capacity to six. The middle-row seats are separated by a removable center console.

Front-wheel drive is standard across the board, with all-wheel drive available at extra cost. Here again, the Autograph stands alone. The AWD surcharge is $2,000 for Pure, Luxe, and Sensory models, but $2,900 for Autograph. That’s because it includes a tow package, boosting capability up to 6,000 pounds, a 2,500-pound increase over the standard 3,500 pounds.

A 3.5-liter V6 engine is the power source for every 2022 QX60 model, generating 295 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque. It’s joined to a nine-speed automatic transmission, replacing the CVT (continuously variable transmission) used in the previous QX60. Any personal issues that might arise with acceleration delivery are mitigated by the inclusion of different driving modes as well as paddle shifters.

Fuel economy ratings for front-drive versions are 21 mpg city, 26 mpg highway, and 23 mpg combined. For AWD numbers, subtract one mile in each category.

With the $1,025 destination charge included, pricing starts at $47,875 for a Pure model with front-wheel drive and tops out at $64,275 for an AWD Autograph.

QX60 models are nicely equipped at every level. Standard features on all models include a panoramic moonroof, power liftgate, rear parking sensors, heated eight-way power front seats with lumbar, heated steering wheel, Wi-Fi, SiriusXM satellite radio, and a 12.3-inch infotainment display with wireless Apple CarPlay and USB-based Android Auto integration. Safety and driver-assistance features are plentiful and standard.

The least expensive QX60 Pure has 18-inch wheels, six USB ports including charge points in all three rows, LED headlights and taillights, three-zone automatic climate control, rear automatic braking, and blind spot monitoring.

My tester was a QX60 Autograph with all-wheel drive. This new top-tier model has 20-inch wheels and its exclusive equipment includes massage function for the front seats, dual-occupant seat memory for the driver’s seat, heated middle-row seats, a head-up display, motion-activated liftgate, and power seat folding operation for second- and third-row seats.

QX60’s lush interior is embellished in the Autograph by black open-pore ash wood trim and semi-aniline leather-appointed seats with contrast stitching and quilting.

Infiniti’s signature zero-gravity front seats are duly comfortable and so is the QX60’s serene ride. Passengers traveling in the captain’s chairs are given lots of legroom and pretty good headroom. The captain’s chairs have nearly flat seat bottoms and would be more comfortable if they were contoured or bolstered. As is, they’re more like lieutenant’s chairs.

The new infotainment and climate control systems are a visual and tactile delight. The big 12.3-inch screen rises prominently from the upper dash, separated from the instruments below by a horizontal strip with climate air vents concealed inside. Climate controls are within a glass-covered panel with haptic feedback in the center stack, and the center console is home to the infotainment controls and gear shifter. An ever-important knob is included for volume adjustment, but someone forgot to include an ever-important tuning knob. (To be fair: The main rotary knob control for the infotainment system includes tuning function, but it’s more complicated.)

Autograph’s exterior exclusivity includes a color-contrast black roof and roof rails. Paired with my tester’s rich Deep Bordeaux premium paint ($900), the two-tone color combo gave the QX60 an extra touch of class.

2022 INFINITI QX60 AUTOGRAPH AWD

Base price, including destination charge: $64,275

Price as driven: $65,175

Mary Lowry is a member of the Motor Press Guild and a member and past president of the Northwest Automotive Press Association. She lives in Snohomish County. Vehicles are provided by automotive manufacturers as a one-week loan for evaluation purposes only. Manufacturers do not control content of the reviews.