Right off the top at the press drive of the new Infiniti QX65, Vice President of Infiniti Americas Eric Ledieu acknowledged that the upmarket division of Nissan has gone through a rough patch. “We’ve had a few years of negative growth, but we have a plan to bring the brand back to where it deserves to be,” he said.The 2027 QX65, which has already gone into production in Smyrna, Tennessee, and will be sold internationally, is a big part of that plan. Ledieu said the company has been “slowly teasing it out,” first with a showing of the concept car at Pebble Beach last year, then a gala reveal at Grand Central Station on March 26 just before the New York International Auto Show. The QX65 is a new SUV in a crowded luxury segment. But Infiniti said that these midsized and upscale two-row entries make up 40 to 45 percent of the whole premium SUV segment. Brian Maragno, director of product marketing, told Autoweek that the QX65 is aimed at relatively affluent people who are “pre- and post-family. Families typically want three rows. So we’re offering something for these other folks that is a little more sporty and bold.”The QX65, will be offered in three models, starting with the Luxe ($55,535) and moving on to the Sport ($57,235) and the Autograph ($62,590)1545 at the top. All will be powered by a two-liter, four-cylinder variable compression turbo engine producing 268 horsepower and 286 lb-ft of torque paired with a nine-speed automatic, and all will be AWD. 2027 Infiniti QX65Variations on this engine are in the three-row QX60, the QX55, and QX50, and in the Nissan Murano, though not always with the same transmission. A two-wheel-drive version, which the company said is possible, might get the price down to the $50,000 that is the average of what car buyers pay today. The QX65 is up against tough competition from the Lexus RX, Lincoln Nautilus, Cadillac XT5, and Genesis GV80. Perhaps most concerning for today’s buyers in the face of $4 a gallon gas is the 22 mpg overall fuel economy (21 city/27 highway). Autoweek suggested that a hybrid model would make sense, and Ledieu said, “We’re absolutely looking at alternative powertrains, in every segment.” Another company executive, who asked not to be named, said a hybrid is “what a lot of us want to have happen.” A V6 version is also possible.The QX65 has a lot going for it. The styling, with a coupe-crossover fastback reminiscent of the FX, is handsome, especially in the Sunfire Red paint with mixed in gold-coated glass flecks and contrasting black roof. One wag asked the value of said gold, which led to the journalists being advised not to try and scrape it off. The paint is a $900 option. The big three-dimensional grille was inspired by Japanese bamboo forests and the offset, asymmetrical quilting takes its cue from kimonos. The rear treatment hides the windshield wiper in the rear spoiler, and features a full-length LED taillight treatment. The storage space is surprisingly large, considering the vehicle’s relatively compact dimensions: 35.8 cubic feet with the second row up, and 67.7 with it down. The SUV can handle four golf bags or four suitcases and two duffel bags. infiniti qx65 interior.JPGOn the road the QX65 Autograph model tested ($71,355) was eager and responsive, taking about seven seconds to get to 60 mph, and handled quite well. The engine is tuned more aggressively than in the QX60, which explains, at least in part, why the 60 (despite having three rows) gets slightly better fuel economy (24 mpg combined). But probably more important than performance for buyers of the QX65 are a quiet (helped by active noise cancellation) and refined ride, with comfortable seats that eat up long distances. The Autograph model adds 21-inch wheels, wood accents, leather massaging front seats and a Klipsch 20-speaker (including in the headrests) infotainment system, among other amenities. The headrest speakers were useful in hearing turn-by-turn directions. The company touted an improved 15-watt wireless phone charger that uses a fan to keep it cool and a magnet to keep it in place. This brand, after suffering some tarnish, is trying to shine itself up. Upcoming from Infiniti, Ledieu said, are a V-6-powered performance sedan (maybe named Q50) with a manual transmission option, a hybrid midsized SUV, and two body-on-frame SUVs, with V-6 and hybrid options. Some EVs are in development.
