Infiniti QX60 Sensory model doesn’t play second fiddle

Infiniti’s midsize QX60 SUV is fully redesigned for 2022 with a more dramatic exterior, higher premium interior, and upgraded tech. I drove and reported on the new-for-2022 Autograph top-tier model some months ago, but was recently behind the wheel of the Sensory model, top of the line before the Autograph came along.

For general information and impressions here about the 2022 QX60, I’ve borrowed from the earlier report.

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 Autograph. It comes with two captain’s chairs in the middle row, reducing seating capacity to six.

Front-wheel drive is standard across the board, with all-wheel drive available at extra cost: $2,000 for the Sensory model.

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 substellar behavior with acceleration delivery is 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. Premium unleaded gas is recommended.

QX60 is 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.

Extra indulgences added as standard features on the Sensory model are in-seat massagers for driver and front passenger, heated second-row seats (outboard positions), power-return third-row seats, an advanced climate control system with Plasmacluster air purifier and grape polyphenol filter, a wireless smartphone charger, motion-activated power liftgate, black open-pore ash wood trim, enhanced interior ambient lighting, illuminated kick plates, and 17-speaker premium Bose audio. An additional USB port is available for the third row, for a total of seven throughout the cabin.

My tester was an AWD model equipped with two optional items: a lighting package ($675) and premium paint ($695).

Infiniti’s signature zero-gravity front seats are duly comfortable and so is the QX60’s serene ride. Passengers seated in the Sensory’s second row will appreciate the generous amount of legroom and headroom.

The Sensory’s 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 physical dial is included for volume adjustment, but an equally important physical tuning dial is missing. The main rotary knob control for the infotainment system does include tuning function, but it’s less convenient.

QX60’s sturdiness can impart the sense of an ungainly vehicle, but in fact it handles with continual grace.

2022 INFINITI QX60 SENSORY AWD

Base price, including destination charge: $59,375

Price as driven: $60,745

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.