2018 Infiniti QX60 Pros vs Cons

The new 2018 Infiniti QX60 sits smack-dab in the middle of Infiniti's lineup of luxury SUVs. With the QX50 taking a one-year hiatus, the QX60 is the only choice Infiniti leaves for a mid-level luxury SUV. This year's QX60 greatly resembles the outgoing model, and there were plenty of things to love about the 2017. For 2018, you get the same features, the quiet and comfortable ride quality, and the massive amount of cargo space when all the second- and third-row seats are both folded down.

What's New for 2018?

The only discernible change for the 2018 Infiniti QX60 is that the automaker scrapped last year's low-volume hybrid option.

Ten Reasons You May Like the 2018 Infiniti QX60 – The Pros

1. A Quiet Ride

The 2018 Infiniti QX60 has an impressively smooth and quiet ride quality that reminds you that you're riding in a luxury vehicle. The tires are almost completely silent, and barely any wind noise seeps into the cabin, which is well-insulated. The vehicle absorbs almost all shocks with grace.

2. The Comfy Cabin

The cabin offers an all-around comfortable ride. The seats are nice and plush, and they're well-bolstered for maximum comfort. There is plenty of lateral and lumbar support in place, and the front seats are easy to adjust. Also, the second- and third-row seats recline, adding a nice touch to the QX60.

3. Third-Row Seats Are Easy to Access

Rear seat passengers won't have to contort their bodies to access the third row. Instead, there is plenty of space to get to the third row, which, even though it can feel a little crowded in the back, is not much of a problem for the average-sized adult and especially not for kids.

4. Transmission Shifts Smoothly

The 2018 Infiniti QX60 has an automatic CVT instead of your average automatic transmission, and it shifts with ease. It doesn't seem to hesitate and search for gears. Instead, shifts are smooth and basically unnoticeable by the driver.

5. Secure Braking Abilities

Although the brakes feel slightly too squishy when making an emergency stop, they don't pose a problem. In fact, the 2018 Infiniti QX60 has one of the shortest stopping distances in its class when making a panic stop from 60 to 0 mph. Overall, the brakes are pretty predictable and reliable.

6. Controls Are Easy-To-Use

The physical controls along the center console are easy for any driver to figure out. ALso, the touchscreen infotainment's interface is relatively user-friendly, so even non-tech-savvy drivers won't feel too flustered when learning how to access items on the menu. Everything is clearly labeled, functions as expected, and is conveniently placed within the driver's reach.

7. Sufficient Interior Space

While legroom in the rear is a bit jammed, the rest of the QX60 feels pretty open and spacious. There is more than enough head, shoulder, and legroom up front, and the second-row is also fairly generous on space, especially when you slide the seats back to their 5.5-inch maximum.

8. High-Quality Interior Materials

Despite a few hard plastic surfaces, the Infiniti's interior looks as high-quality as drivers can expect for a vehicle in this class. The leather is simply gorgeous and well-stitched. The wood trim is especially eye-catching and looks nice with any interior trim color option.

9. Plenty of Small Item Storage Space

All throughout the cabin, you will find a ton of small item storage spaces. The front bin between the seats is a bit on the small side, as are the door pockets, but everything else is rather large. The glovebox is quite cavernous, and there are a mind-boggling 14 cupholders located throughout the vehicle.

10. A Huge Maximum of Cargo Space

While cargo space might look small (at only 15.8 cubic feet of space) with all seats in place, the second- and third-row seats can be folded almost completely flat. This maxes cargo space in the 2018 Infiniti QX60 out to a whopping 76.5 cubic feet of space. You can easily fit a few bikes back there or tote a bulky piece of furniture.

Reasons You May Not Like the 2018 Infiniti QX60 – The Cons

1. Cramped Legroom In the Third Row

The biggest issue with the interior of the 2018 Infiniti QX60 is that the third-row has a lack of legroom. Of course, this is common in quite a few SUVs in this class. However, this could be a bit uncomfortable for passengers who are over 6 feet tall.

2. Not Very Sporty

Some of the QX60's competitors are a bit sportier, which might turn some drivers off to this vehicle. Acceleration is just average, and nothing about the powertrain makes the QX60 feel particularly powerful.

3. Not An Off-Roader

You can try to take the QX60 off of the road, but it won't go well. Even with the optional all-wheel drive equipped, the QX60 just doesn't handle off-roading situations with ease. There is way too much body roll for drivers to comfortably take this vehicle on narrow, winding mountainous pathways.

4. Too Many Features Are Bundled Into Packages

Unfortunately, a lot of the features that drivers love to get as standard or stand-alone options are bundled into pricey packages. There are nine different packages to choose from, which seems a bit excessive, even for a luxury vehicle. Since customers are paying quite a bit of money for this vehicle, it would make sense for Infiniti to be generous and add a few of them as standard features.

How it Stacks up to the Competition:

2018 Infiniti QX60 vs. 2018 Volvo XC90

The 2018 Volvo XC90 lacks the performance and ride quality of many competitors, but it brings to the table an abundance of standard features. Also, the XC90 feels more spacious and has spunkier handling capabilities than what you get on the QX60.

2018 Infiniti QX60 vs. 2018 Acura MDX

The 2018 Acura MDX is another top contender in the class for this model year. The MDX packs a ton of standard driver assist and tech features into a relatively affordable package. Although the adaptive cruise control function is a bit wonky, the rest of the ride quality feels pretty comfortable.

Conclusion

Overall, the 2018 Infiniti QX60 has a lot going for it. Drivers will enjoy the secure braking, generous interior spacing, and easy-to-use controls. The interior is quite pleasing to the eye and is comfortable enough to justify taking a few long road trips.