Used 2015 INFINITI QX60

The 2015 Infiniti QX60 is a 7-passenger, 3-row crossover SUV that boasts impressive levels of standard equipment, easy and comfortable driving manners, and innovative technology that includes a system that applies the brakes to prevent a collision when backing up. The QX60 is available in front- or all-wheel drive and with a standard V6 engine or a hybrid powertrain that nets better fuel economy. With the ability to tow up to 5,000 pounds, Infiniti’s 3-row luxury SUV is versatile, while its roughly $43,000 starting price makes it a tempting and capable competitor to the Acura MDX and Audi Q7.

The Infiniti QX60 luxury SUV accelerates with ambition, rounds corners responsively and generally deals with everyday driving situations better than might be expected. Though not herculean, the 2015 QX60’s standard 265-horsepower V6 is willing and smooth. For 2015, the Infiniti’s continuously variable transmission (CVT) has been enhanced to feel more like a traditional automatic with fixed gears. Though its engine/CVT combination doesn’t make the QX60 smoking-fast, it yields improved fuel economy – now up to 27 mpg on the highway. More efficiency – notably in city driving – can be had with the QX60 Hybrid. Although it uses a smaller, supercharged 4-cylinder engine, the hybrid’s power output is similar to the regular version thanks to its supplementary electric motor. Apt for most families and drivers, Infiniti’s luxury SUV has a ride quality tailored for comfort more than sporting ambition.

There’s no shortage of SUVs with seating for seven, but unlike some of the more confined competition, the QX60’s leather-lined interior is comfortable for all aboard. Adults can actually fit in the pair of 3rd-row seats, and the second row adjusts fore and aft, making it easy to access the third row. You can even enter the rear-most row with a child safety seat attached in the second row, which is nearly impossible in other luxury 3-row SUVs. The front seats are comfortable, and audio, climate and navigation controls are easy to reach and use.

The 2015 Infiniti QX60 will please most eyes with its sleek, rounded design that stands in contrast to angular, more traditional-looking SUVs. Seen from the side, it has a gently sloping roof that somehow doesn’t conflict with its impressive interior room. Most distinctive is the bowed window frame above the rear windows. The Infiniti’s front is graced with elongated headlights and a prominent grille. In back, a standard power-operated liftgate makes for easier loading and unloading of groceries and gear.

BACKUP-COLLISION INTERVENTION
Many newer vehicles – including this one – can automatically apply the brakes to prevent a forward collision, but the QX60 was the first to introduce emergency backup braking. If the vehicle detects a potential collision when in reverse, this system warns the driver, then applies the brakes if action isn’t taken.

REAR-SEAT ACCESS
Quickly getting passengers in and out is essential in a family vehicle, and is one reason why minivans remain popular. The QX60 is certainly no minivan, but with 2nd-row seats that slide forward and tilt, it offers similar ease of access to the last row – no gymnastics required.

Even the least expensive QX60 is admirably equipped. This is a luxury SUV, after all, and this Infiniti offers a lot. Its standard features include leather interior, heated and power-operated front seats, power-adjustable steering column, power tailgate, tri-zone climate control, push-button start, moonroof and a rearview camera with 7-inch color monitor. Audio and entertainment are provided by a 6-speaker AM/FM/CD system with Bluetooth connectivity and USB/auxiliary inputs. Hybrid QX60 models include a system that emits a sound to notify pedestrians of the otherwise hushed vehicle. The QX60 also includes Infiniti Personal Assistant, a live concierge service.

Aside from choosing either a standard gasoline engine or gasoline-electric hybrid powertrain and opting for all-wheel drive, most upgrades to the 2015 QX60 are bundled into packages. Among the options are navigation, 13-speaker or 15-speaker Bose premium audio systems and climate-controlled front seats. Safety and tech systems include intelligent cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure warning and prevention, and systems that can automatically apply the brakes when traveling in both forward and reverse. A rear-seat entertainment package is available with dual 7-inch screens built into the front-seat headrests and a pair of wireless headphones.

The standard 2015 QX60 is powered by a smooth, 265-horsepower V6 linked to a CVT automatic transmission. In addition to its Standard setting, Infiniti’s luxury SUV features Sport, Snow and Eco modes for a variety of driving situations, plus a manual mode that simulates shifting gears. The 2015 QX60 Hybrid uses a 2.5-liter supercharged 4-cylinder that, in combination with a 15kW electric motor, has a net power output of 250 horsepower. It, too, is fitted with a continuously variable transmission. Like V6 versions of the QX60, hybrid models are available in front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD). For 2015, fuel economy has risen slightly in all models. Towing capacity is rated at a laudable 5,000 pounds for V6 models and 3,500 pounds for the hybrid.

3.5-liter V6
265 horsepower @ 6,400 rpm
248 lb-ft of torque @ 4,400 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 21/27 mpg (FWD), 19/26 mpg (AWD)

2.5-liter supercharged inline-4/15kW electric motor
250 net horsepower @ 5,600 rpm
243 lb-ft of torque @ 3,600 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 26/28 mpg (FWD), 25/28 mpg (AWD)