2014 Infiniti QX60 Hybrid TestDriveNow.com Video Review

2014 Infiniti QX60 Hybrid Video Review by Auto Critic Steve Hammes

So let’s say you’re in the market for a 7-passenger vehicle, like a 3-row crossover. Yet, you’re the green type concerned about fuel economy as well as your image. Well, the choices are few but Infiniti has got you covered. This is their all-new 2014 QX60 Hybrid. Formerly known as the JX35 before Infiniti went Q-crazy, I spent a memorable week on vacation with this luxury rig when it debuted in 2012. Jump ahead a couple of years and other than the new gas-electric hybrid system not much has changed. I’ve also driven another Infiniti hybrid; the rarely seen M35h and Infiniti’s Direct Response Hybrid system used here is a derivative of that car’s setup reimagined for a front-wheel drive platform. It uses a modern and compact lithium-ion battery to supplement engine power via a single electric motor contributing a nominal 15kW or 20 horsepower. Perhaps this is why you don’t see the word ‘Hybrid’ plastered all over the QX60 – if not for this tiny fender badge you’d probably never know the difference. It’s also the reason why this vehicle doesn’t rest its supercharged 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine very much – driving without it is quite uncommon. My AWD tester with its continuously variable transmission generates 250 total system horsepower and 243 pounds-feet of torque, both numbers down from its V6 counterpart- a vehicle in itself that could use a little more get-up-and-go. The headline from behind the wheel focuses on the myriad of driver assistance features like Distance Control Alert and Backup Collision Intervention among others. They’re really cool and a specific trio of them are only activated when summoned. But in general, the QX60 doesn’t deliver many feel-good moments acting unwieldy on the country road and failing to deliver the hybrid MPGs. On paper, the $3,000 premium for this hybrid looks pretty enticing seeing as how the EPA estimates you’ll save $750 per year on gas and emit fewer greenhouse gases. But after a week of economical, cool summer weather driving the best I saw was 21mpg…only 2mpg better than my previous non-hybrid test. It’s rated at 25mpg city/28mpg highway. On the plus side, the QX60 is the 3-row styling champion with a gorgeous profile and true luxury stance that clearly distances itself from its Nissan Pathfinder cousin. It’s also quite roomy all the way to the back and contributes a 2^nd row that generously slides fore and aft, reclines and steps aside simply when accessing the 3^rd row. That middle position though is for the kid who draws the short straw. In a $60,000 luxury crossover you might expect to find a power-folding 3^rd row seat and Infiniti might want to consider it seeing as how this one is broken. My QX60 Hybrid AWD with the Theater, Deluxe Technology and Premium Packages adds just about everything a well-heeled family could ask for though Infiniti’s touchscreen is looking dark, small and outdated now and don’t even bother with the voice commands. I do love the Around View Monitor however; your best friend in a parking lot. Base price for this vehicle is $47,495 while mine with every option stickers for $60,780. The QX60 is Infiniti’s second best seller, surely drawing admirers with its sensuous appearance, and though it has a number of laudable crossover attributes, I’d leave the Hybrid behind.

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