Used 2016 INFINITI QX70

Although it began life wearing the old Infiniti FX badge, the 2016 QX70 luxury-performance crossover SUV from Infiniti remains relevant. Sleek and low, with an aggressive driving manner and powerful V6, the QX70 remains one of the best-performing vehicles in its class. Sure, there is no V8 option and you can find more interior room in a Lincoln MKX or Lexus RX, but these attributes were never high up on the QX70 buyer’s “must have” list. Like the Porsche Cayenne and BMW X6, the QX70 is all about the experience behind the wheel. Thanks to its stunning interior, long list of standard and available equipment and good resale and reliability, Infiniti’s QX70 remains a contender, albeit an aging one.

The 2016 Infiniti QX70 performance crossover SUV isn’t your run-of-the-mill luxury SUV. A near 50/50 weight distribution coupled with an independent sport suspension and host of electronic driver-assist systems make the QX70 an enthusiast’s ride first and foremost. Big 21-inch wheels ensure plenty of grip during high-speed cornering where the QX70 exhibits limited lean. The ride is firm, even jarring at times, so if you’re more about ride comfort we suggest sticking with the standard 18-inch wheel-and-tire setup. Infiniti’s 325-horsepower 3.7-liter V6 delivers excellent response, while the rev-matching 7-speed automatic suffers none of the lag or indecision experienced with some auto-manuals. When so equipped, the QX70’s Intelligent All-Wheel Drive system enhances performance on both dry pavement and snow-covered asphalt. With only seven inches of ground clearance and no terrain-specific settings, however, the QX70 is strictly an on-road performer.

Step into the 2016 QX70 luxury-performance crossover SUV, and it feels more like a sports sedan, from the curved dash to the oblong analog clock. Flowing lines help the Infiniti stand out from hard-angled surfaces of other more rugged SUVs. In the QX70, a driver-centric cockpit with a pronounced center-stack confirms the message that this luxury vehicle is for driving first. The front seats are roomy and comfortable, but the 3-passenger rear bench is surprisingly stingy. Cargo room is also compromised because of the QX70’s swooping rear roof, which also creates blind spots. Thankfully, the rear seats fold for increased capacity.

The 2016 QX70 performance SUV from Infiniti may have seen its exterior soften over the years, but you still won’t confuse it with your cousin’s Nissan Rogue Select. Among its most prominent features are a long hood that creates the image of momentum and functional air vents just behind the front wheel wells. Sharply ascending rear windows make the QX70’s sloping rear roof appear even more dramatic, but their shapely design comes at the cost of outward visibility. Twin tailpipes below the standard power rear hatch round out Infiniti’s contoured crossover SUV.

AROUND VIEW MONITOR
Infiniti’s 2016 QX70 has four cameras positioned about the vehicle to give a 360-degree bird’s-eye view. The Around View Monitor makes parallel parking a breeze, as well as allows the driver to see objects otherwise not in view.

3.7-LITER DOHC V6
Infiniti’s 3.7-liter V6 is one of the best engines ever built. Smooth, quiet, efficient and powerful, this V6 sounds as good as it performs and holds a reliability record enviable among its peers.

The 2016 QX70 luxury crossover SUV comes in two trims: QX70 and QX70 AWD. Standard equipment includes leather seating, heated front seats, high-intensity-discharge headlights, a moonroof, a power tailgate, a rearview camera, Bluetooth, and an 11-speaker Bose AM/FM/CD/USB sound system. Also standard are Intelligent Key keyless entry and start, power-folding heated side mirrors, manual tilt/telescoping for the steering wheel, dual-zone automatic climate control and cruise control.

Major options for the QX70 are bundled into packages. The Premium Package includes a hard-drive navigation system, Around View monitor, streaming Bluetooth audio and a power-adjustable steering wheel. Building on that are the Deluxe Touring Package and Technology Package. Deluxe brings extras such as quilted-leather seating, maple accents and 20-inch wheels, while the Technology Package ladles on intelligent cruise control, lane-departure warning and forward-collision warning. The Sport Technology package brings climate-controlled sport bucket seats with thigh extensions and driver’s-side power bolster support, 21-inch wheels, steering-wheel paddle shifters, and numerous dark-finished trim pieces.

The sole engine powering the 2016 Infiniti QX70 crossover SUV is a 3.7-liter V6 good for 325 horsepower. The only transmission choice is a 7-speed automatic with both manual-shift mode and Adaptive Shift Control, which basically pays attention to how you’re driving and adapts shift patterns accordingly. The QX70 is available in rear-wheel-drive form (RWD) or with all-wheel drive (AWD).

3.7-liter V6
325 horsepower @ 7,000 rpm
267 lb-ft of torque @ 5,200 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 17/24 mpg (RWD), 16/22 mpg (AWD)