2027 INFINITI QX65

The new luxury midsize SUV cuts a more European curve along its coupe-like roofline than the related QX60. Think of the BMW X6’s rounded back compared to the more boxy SUV proportions of the BMW X5. A bold 3D mesh grille flows into thin daytime running lights that expand towards the smooth sides, and an available black roof with an integrated rear spoiler profile seems to capture the fastback design in motion. It looks good, but the fashionable look comes at the expense of function with less legroom, headroom, and cargo volume than its QX60 relation.

With a reasonable starting price and a well-equipped interior, but limited to just one turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder for now, the stylish QX65 competes with premium rivals such as the Lexus RX, Lincoln Nautilus, Volvo XC60, and the Genesis GV80.

We’ve spent hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of luxury midsize SUVs, including the Infiniti QX65.

The 2027 QX65 comes with standard all-wheel drive (AWD) and is offered in Luxe ($55,535), Sport ($57,235), and Autograph ($64,135) grades. Prices include the $1,545 destination fee.  It’s priced about $1,500 higher than the best-selling Lexus RX AWD, but the QX65 is better equipped and a better deal than German rivals and the Genesis GV80. The mid-grade Sport is the best value and a real swell looker, with 20-inch black alloy wheels, gloss black accents, and a chrome window surround; inside, it has a surround-view camera, ventilated front seats, and a 16-speaker Klipsch audio system.

Before buying a QX65, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should really pay. Recouping more money when selling a vehicle can mean a bigger down payment and lower monthly payments on the next one.

The 2027 Infiniti QX65 comes with a 268-horsepower turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine with standard all-wheel drive (AWD). This variable compression turbocharged engine earned some criticism for being twitchy in other applications, but paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission, the power delivery is predictable in any mode. In Sport mode and augmented by paddle shifters, it’s responsive and spirited, though it won’t crack the 7-second mark on a sprint to 60 mph. Artificial engine sounds get tuned up in Sport mode to sound like a V6, but we’d prefer the real thing. Dropping in the twin-turbo V6 that exists in other applications in the Nissan family would make good on the QX65’s sporting profile.

With MacPherson front struts and an independent rear suspension, it handles well enough, but pushing it into corners will push you back. It’s a sizable SUV, and it feels like it. Even though it’s tuned more for comfort, befitting how owners would prefer it, the steering feel tends to be on the firm side. It’s as if in preparation for a larger engine to come. Infiniti covers it with sound-deadening materials and active noise cancellation, which mutes road and engine noise for a quiet ride.

Towing capacity maxes out at 6,000 pounds, which is above average for the midsize SUV class.

Infiniti dresses up the interior of the QX65 with luxurious touches such as metal Klipsch speaker grilles and quilted semi-aniline leather, but Nissan’s part bin makes an appearance as well. The mouse-like gear shifter in the console, a haptic climate panel with temperature dials, and a 12.3-inch touchscreen mounted on the dash evoke similarities with the related Nissan Pathfinder, but that’s where the similarities end. The tiered dash and a gloss-black plastic vent panel jut out over the front passenger’s knees, then taper down into a wide center console trimmed in chrome. The available wood trim would be a welcome soft element to balance the dash materials, but we didn’t see it during our test drive.

The QX65 differs from the QX60 behind the front seats, where the curving roofline shaves off 0.6 inches of headroom. A rear passenger taller than 6-foot-2 might need to slouch a bit. The 60/40-split rear seats slide and recline to optimize space, so most normal-sized humans fit just fine.

The cargo hold faces similar constraints due to the fashion-over-function equation. Still, it fits four golf bags, but you might have to be clever with oversized drivers. Measuring 1.9 cubic feet, an underfloor storage area could fit two backpacks or an emergency road kit.

Solid standard features
The QX65 comes with a long list of convenient and comfy standard features: a panoramic sunroof, a power liftgate, heated power front seats, and rear seats that fold down with the push of a button from the cargo area. At this price point, you might expect the 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster with crisp graphics and 12.3-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. It also has a smart wireless device charger with a built-in fan to keep it cool and a magnet to keep the phone on the charger, no matter how you drive. It’s a small thing, but one we wish other automakers would emulate. There’s also a full suite of advanced driver-assist features, such as adaptive cruise control that restarts from a stop.

ProPilot Assist 2.1
There are two versions of Nissan’s semi-autonomous drive system. The most advanced version, ProPilot Assist 2.1, enables limited hands-free driving for more than a minute on highways in our testing. It’s convenient. The automated lane-changing feature is silly, though, because you need to have a hand on the wheel for it to work. Why not just do it yourself? Regardless, ProPilot Assist 2.1 foreshadows Nissan’s impressive point-to-point self-driving system that launches in Japan next year, with the U.S. market to follow.

Klipsch audio
Even the base model has active noise cancellation for a quieter ride, as well as an artificial engine note that dials up the engine revs in Sport mode to sound like a V6. It’s more convincing than the artificial engine sounds in EVs, at least. Recommended for audiophiles, the upgraded Klipsch system on Sport and Autograph trims further enhances it. The top Autograph trim boosts the speaker count from 16 to 20, including front headrest speakers. Those speakers activate individually, so if you have navigation voice guidance, it will speak to the driver’s headrest while the music from the main system continues to play. Same with voice calls. It essentially creates sound zones for both front-seat occupants.