2027 Infiniti QX60 vs. QX65 Specs Comparisonwilliam walker - MotorTrendOftentimes, a luxury automaker's lineup can get too extensive and confusing: a model soup of letters and numbers. Then, there's the opposite end of the spectrum, where limited options can lead to a lack of differentiation. Infiniti falls into the latter camp, but it's clearly hoping the 2027 Infiniti QX60 and 2027 Infiniti QX65 offer enough distinction to appeal to two separate types of luxury shoppers.Although they share the same platform, engine, and numerous other features, the QX60's lane is as Infiniti's attainable luxury three-row SUV. Meanwhile, the two-row QX65 hopes to tap into Infiniti's enthusiast roots as a sportier option.Which one should you choose? Let's take a closer look at what these two QXes have to offer.MotorTrend - MotorTrendQX60 vs. QX65: Exterior DesignBoth the QX65 and QX60 wear Infiniti's updated and attractive exterior styling. However, the QX65 has a more textured front grille and a three-dimensional rear taillight signature. It also has a piece of brightline trim arching from A- to D-pillar that the QX60 lacks. Wheel sizes for the QX60 span from 18 to 20 inches, while the QX65 comes standard with 20-inch wheels. A 21-inch alloy wheel is fitted on the QX65's top Autograph grade.Both SUVs come in a variety of black, gray, dark blue, and white exterior paint, as well as with two-tone options. The striking Deep Emerald is also available and would be our pick across the line, but the QX65 offers a new color: Sunfire Red. This scintillating paint comes with gold-coated glass flecks that catch the sunlight.2027 Infiniti QX60MotorTrend - MotorTrend2027 Infiniti QX65william walker - MotorTrendFrom the outside, the QX65 is 0.4 inch longer, but the QX60 has almost an inch more ground clearance. Everything else—wheelbase, width, height—remain the same.QX60 vs. QX65: Powertrain and EfficiencyBoth SUVs are built on the same platform and come equipped with Nissan/Infiniti's variable-compression turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder that produces 268 hp and 286 lb-ft of torque. The QX60 can be had with either front- or all-wheel drive, whereas the QX65 is equipped exclusively with all-wheel drive. Both utilize a nine-speed automatic transmission.william walker - MotorTrendThe front-drive QX60 returns an EPA-rated fuel economy of 22/28/24 mpg city/highway/combined. That falls to 21/27/24 mpg city/highway/combined with the addition of all-wheel drive. The QX65 returns the worse rating of 20/26/22 mpg.QX60 vs. QX65: Driving ExperienceThe four-cylinder engine provides adequate acceleration for the QX60, though it's certainly no segment leader. Our testing yielded an OK sprint of 7.4 seconds to 60 mph. Response from the throttle pedal at low speeds can also be tippy—that is, a light touch that yields a surge of noise and acceleration that peters out soon after. Conversely, acceleration from higher speeds can take a beat as the transmission isn't the quickest acting. But once you find that nice highway speed, the Infiniti SUV rides quietly as the engine works invisibly in the background.The brakes are decent, though there's a strange dead spot at the top of the pedal travel before they start to bite, which can take some getting used to from a modulation standpoint. In addition, the QX60's ride also felt choppy in around-town driving, though this may have been due in part to our test car's 20-inch wheels.2027 Infiniti QX65william walker - MotorTrendAs for the QX65, not surprisingly, it behaved in much the same way as the QX60 other than its choppy ride behavior being arguably worse, and it didn't handle rebounding quite as well. As was the case with the QX60 and its 20-inch rims, the 21-inch wheels on our QX65 test car probably didn't help matters. We also thought the acceleration tip-in issue felt more severe than it did in the QX60.And because the QX65 is presented as the sportier offering of the two, its Sport mode pipes louder sound "enhancements" into the cabin that aren't particularly dulcet, and the transmission holds gears longer than it should while traveling at a constant speed. Contrasted against the car's actual acceleration feel and generally relaxed attitude, this came off as incongruous.2027 Infiniti QX60MotorTrend Staff - MotorTrend2027 Infiniti QX65william walker - MotorTrendQX60 vs. QX65: TechnologyBoth models come standard with a 12.3-inch driver information screen and a 12.3-inch central infotainment screen with built-in Google Maps, as well as wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Midgrade models come with the 16-speaker Klipsch premium audio system, and only the Autograph cars are shipped with the Klipsch 20-speaker system with speakers built into the driver's headrest for taking calls and hearing navigation commands. A color head-up display also comes standard on Autograph.Climate is handled via its own menu bar.2027 Infiniti QX60MotorTrend Staff - MotorTrendProPilot Assist is standard on all QX60s and QX65s, except for the base QX60 Pure. This grade instead comes with regular cruise control. The hands-free ProPilot Assist 2.1 system is only optionally available on Autograph cars. In our experience, it works well and is only getting better. Finally, Infiniti's Invisible Hood Voice system—a camera function that allows you to "see through" the car's hood and onto the ground underneath—is standard across all trims except for the lowest one.2027 Infiniti QX65william walker - MotorTrendQX60 vs. QX65: Seating and Cargo VolumeThe biggest difference between the QX60 and QX65 is that the QX60 is a three-row SUV that can be optioned with either a bench or two captain's chairs in the second row. The QX65 only comes as a five-seater with a second-row bench.Here's a chart comparing the cargo volume of each model with their various rows of seats up and down.As you can see, the QX65 offers more front legroom but less rear legroom than the QX60, and less cargo volume overall than the QX60. That's the price to pay for that sporting silhouette: The QX65 is slopier than the more upright QX60, and the sacrifice is a reduction in usable cargo volume.In practice, both cars have sizable cargo areas, and we don't think most would notice the difference in space unless they're filling the SUVs up to the ceiling. With the QX60's third row folded down, the depth can just be a little challenging to reach for shorter people.2027 Infiniti QX60MotorTrend Staff - MotorTrendSecond-row roominess in both is terrific. No matter the seating configurations, passengers are treated to soft and supportive cushioning. The only thing to note is if the QX60 is configured with captain's chairs, the mid-mounted cupholders are affixed to the floor and get in the way of walking through the aisle to reach the third row unless removed. Folding down the second row to get back there is the other option, but the seats don't slide forward too easily.The QX60 is one of those three-row SUVs whose third row should only really be used in a pinch. Those rearmost seats are difficult to access and cramped.Things are just peachy up front, however, especially if you opt for the Autograph version, with its quilted, semi-aniline leather seats that look great contrasted with the open-pore wood trim. They're also phenomenally comfortable, though we're curious to see what the base grade for both models feels like—maybe Infiniti will send us one to check out one day.2027 Infiniti QX65william walker - MotorTrendQX60 vs. QX65: Trims and PricingThe QX60 comes in four trims, with the base Pure FWD serving as the entry-level model. The QX65, as mentioned above, only comes in AWD and forgoes the Pure grade entirely.Here's a chart for visualizing prices across the two and how they stack up against each other.Pure-grade QX60s receive LED headlights and daytime running lights, a panoramic moonroof, power liftgate, powered and heated front seats, and a heated leather-wrapped steering wheel as standard.2027 Infiniti QX60MotorTrend Staff - MotorTrendGetting into the Luxe brings Pure features, as well as cooled front seats, heated outboard rear seats, and a memory steering wheel. Sport adds gloss-black exterior accents and standard captain's chairs. Autograph adds the top-tier audio system, the best interior leather seating, front-seat massagers, the open-pore wood trim, and big wheels.Clearly, Infiniti has priced the QX60 and QX65 in a straightforward manner. Want that third row that you can't get in the QX65? Be prepared to pay about $5,000 more for an equivalent QX60. Curiously, the biggest delta is between the QX60 and QX65 Sport AWD that represents a difference of $6,700.2027 Infiniti QX65william walker - MotorTrendQX60 vs. QX65: Which Is Best?Given all of this, we'd choose the QX65 Luxe. We'd gladly sacrifice the tiny third row for a full-time big cargo area, and theoretically, the 20-inch wheels on the Luxe could lead to a slightly more settled ride than the 21s on the QX65 Autograph. To pay under $60,000 for midgrade luxury is a good deal, and the Luxe is relatively loaded. Choosing the top grade doesn't always mean the most usable or necessary features. For example, the Autograph's massage functionality wasn't that great. Plus, we like the look of the QX65 better.2027 Infiniti QX65william walker - MotorTrendDespite their mid-pack driving performance, the midsize Infiniti SUVs make up for it with a quality and comfortable cabin with tons of room to stretch out. If you don't need the extra third row and Autograph-specific features, save your money and check out the Luxe. Just make sure to get it in the emerald green sheen.
