Infiniti QX60 review

We’re going to be a bit of a broken record here, but we were truly surprised that this business-casual Nissan Pathfinder brought this much fun to the table, particularly with its very modest power unit. The 2.0 turbo I-4 works very hard to get all 268hp out, and when put into sport, you can certainly hear it.

That said, it’s playful enough to tempt you to push a little faster and hit a corner harder than you usually would in a family utility vehicle.

What’s unfortunate is that the Infiniti doesn’t fully leverage its AWD system for the sake of performance. It’s capable of throwing half the available power to the rear, but that’s there primarily for when the road gets slushy. Otherwise, the drivetrain favors the front axle. When you push, you can feel it through some notable torque steer. Push hard enough to load the weight on a rear corner and you can even feel its upfront opposite slip from being slightly raised.

What if you drive it like a normal person?

We guess it’s fine. If you manage to rein in your inner hoon, the QX60 feels similar to other cars in its class: fairly smooth and comfortable, responsive and otherwise unobtrusive to your daily commute.

It should be noted, if it wasn’t obvious, that the engine punches above its weight and performs its magic at the low end. Put your foot down and you’ll eventually get to higher cruising speeds, though you’ll struggle to push it much higher on the more lonely stretches of highway.

Can it off-road?

That’s not really the QX60’s kind of thing. The AWD system, if so equipped, is really handy for bad weather or some light terrain. Beyond that, it’s like you’re showing up to a hike with your smart office shoes.