2026 Infiniti QX60 Quick Spin: Incrementally Improving

What’s Different on the 2026 Infiniti QX60?

Not much other than some minor stylistic tweaks, interior packaging and powertrain tuning for general smoothness. It all adds up, however, to a solid mid-size three-row premium SUV.

How Does the 2026 Infiniti QX60 Stack Up to the Competition?

Fairly well, though look for the Volvo XC90 to be a bit more upscale and feature-rich and the Acura MDX to have notably better driving dynamics. For the most part, the QX60 matches most premium and luxury three-rows from a value perspective — it all boils down to your needs and priorities.

First things first: Check out that color, huh? I’m a sucker for green cars, and the 2026 Infiniti QX60’s new Deep Emerald paint is easily one of the best in this premium luxury mid-size segment. And though my test vehicle’s Stone Gray upholstery is nice, I’d really go bonkers if it’d been swathed in the available Saddle Brown, lending an oh-so-Britannic aesthetic to this refreshed Japanese SUV.

I digress — I don’t have too much to discuss here regarding the refresh, considering it was just moderately reworked for the 2025 model year. Visually, there’s a new slatted front grille with revised LED headlights, and around back, the Infiniti badge is scrapped for just the automaker’s name spelled out in individual letters. Exterior chrome is generally darkened, and standard 20-inch wheels replace the prior base trim’s 18-inch rollers. Just pinches and tucks here and there.

Ditto for the interior, where the 12.3-inch digital driver’s display is now standard and the rest of the new options are, uh, optional. That aforementioned Stone Gray color is new for 2026, as is your choice of open-pore wood trim with snazzy metal inlay. Taking notes from the larger QX80, there’s a choice of two Klipsch audio systems, one with 16 speakers and the top-shelf, 20-speaker Reference Premiere system available exclusively on the Autograph trim.

What Engine Does the 2026 Infiniti QX60 Have?

The powertrain remains untouched, with all QX60s packing the carryover 2.0-liter variable-compression turbocharged four-cylinder. Power is the same 268 horsepower and 286 pounds-feet of torque routed to either the front or all four wheels via a nine-speed automatic transmission. Decent figures, but plenty of folks — us included — weren’t crazy about Infiniti’s decision to replace the SUV’s tried-and-true 3.5-liter naturally aspirated V-6 for the 2025 model year. Power and performance are both acceptable, but our distaste for the apparent discordant relationship between engine and transmission was shared industry wide.

Infiniti took our complaints to heart and fettled with the drivetrain tuning that, according to product reps on hand, improved throttle response, shift logic and general drivability. All good stuff addressing all of our key complaints — at least on paper. To find out, we pointed the QX60’s green schnozz into one of the greatest daily-driving gauntlets imaginable: the mean, mean streets of Hollywood.

No need for deep-throttle stabs here. I crept the lean, green QX60 Autograph down the iconic and eternally clogged Sunset Strip, finding the tweaked 2.0-liter utterly and completely fine for the low-speed stuff. The drivetrain’s not balky, hesitant or overly loud when pootling around city congestion — it was only when I booted it to snip around a turning box truck when the latent drivetrain hesitancy surfaced. Urgent downshifts are neither clunky nor overly slow, but those accustomed to the excellent, rapid-fire shifting of most modern automatic transmissions will be surprised at the delay, improved as it might be.

How Does the 2026 Infiniti QX60 Drive?

It’s simply not a drivetrain combination set up for quick power on demand, but you’ll never, ever feel in danger merging or overtaking, provided you’re confident with both the accelerator and traffic flow. Outside of these brief moments of aggression, the nine-speed is a well-mannered transmission that cruises well and settles down to highway speeds nicely.

Beyond that, power and acceleration toe the line of adequacy. Performance is hardly a leading metric with this segment, but consider the frequent use case for a three-row SUV; if the goal is to haul the family, friends and luggage around town, wouldn’t you rather not feel much of that additional bulk? I imagine the 2026 QX60 would have no issue whatsoever dragging a full house up to a mountain cabin, but it certainly wouldn’t be happy about it, either.

For the rest of the time you’re gridlocked in Los Angeles, it’s a pleasant and well-muted place to wick away the hours. Seats, materials and touch points are requisitely soft-touch and notably primo, with my general preference lying with Infiniti’s quilted plushness against competitor Acura’s sporty-ish tautness. Driver inputs are anodyne and digital, but that’s right on the money for its intended function, as is the pillowed, slightly floaty ride that fits right in with the Infiniti’s premium positioning. Even so, the mild wheeling I did winding through the Hollywood hills revealed good body composure and A-OK handling for a three-row.

How Is the 2026 Infiniti QX60 to Live With?

The route spit me out of the city for a brief stretch on the freeway, the perfect opportunity to futz with the new ProPilot Assist 2.1 driver-assistance system that offers hands-free cruise control. I have no real issues to report in the medium-speed, medium-traffic testing environment, including the execution of assisted lane change.

Back at Infiniti’s West Hollywood basecamp, I clambered around the second- and third-rows for a comfort check. My 5-foot-11 frame fit fine in the similarly cushy second-row captain’s chairs, though it was a bit smushed in the third row. It’s great for kids and occasional dinner runs with family, but consider sourcing a QX80 for frequent third-row occupancy.

If you were already interested in what the 2025 QX60 had to offer, the updated 2026 model is that same experience, now topped with whipped cream — it has small updates and meaningful improvements, if only just. Might I suggest speccing yours in Deep Emerald over Saddle Brown?

Cars.com’s Editorial department is your source for automotive news and reviews. In line with Cars.com’s long-standing ethics policy, editors and reviewers don’t accept gifts or free trips from automakers. The Editorial department is independent of Cars.com’s advertising, sales and sponsored content departments.