The 2027 Infiniti QX65 gives Infiniti a stylish new take on the midsize luxury SUV, pairing a sportier fastback-inspired design with an upscale interior, useful cargo space and standard all-wheel drive. Starting at around $53,990, the QX65 offers a more distinctive alternative to the QX60 while retaining much of its underlying architecture and mechanical character.
A Sportier Take on the QX60
The biggest visual change between the QX65 and QX60 comes behind the front doors. The QX65 features a fastback-like roofline and a dramatically redesigned rear section, creating a lower, sleeker and more athletic appearance.
At 198.5 inches long, the QX65 remains a substantial midsize crossover, but its two-row configuration gives it a more purposeful look and feel. Buyers give up the QX60’s third row, but gain a design that places a greater emphasis on style.
The front end is less distinctive. From the nose forward, the QX65 retains an obvious family resemblance to the QX60, while the rear gives the vehicle its unique identity.
Upscale Interior and Modern Technology
The QX65 makes one of its strongest cases inside the cabin. Infiniti uses a combination of materials, textures and available semi-aniline leather to create an interior that can compete with considerably more expensive luxury crossovers.
The cabin can be considered alongside the Genesis GV70 and GV80, depending on how the QX65 is configured. Technology is also a significant improvement over some of Infiniti’s older products.
The QX65 comes with dual 12.3-inch displays, Google built-in, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Higher trims can also be equipped with a 20-speaker Klipsch audio system with speakers integrated into the headrests.
Cargo capacity remains useful despite the sloping roof. The QX65 offers 35.8 cubic feet of space behind the second row and 67.7 cubic feet with the seats folded.
Rear headroom is less generous than in the QX60, however, reflecting the trade-off created by the QX65’s fastback-style design.
268-HP Turbo Engine Delivers Strong Power
The QX65 is powered by Infiniti’s 2.0-liter VC-Turbo four-cylinder engine, which produces 268 horsepower and 286 lb-ft of torque. Power is sent through a nine-speed automatic transmission, with all-wheel drive standard.
The engine provides plenty of usable power, and the QX65 moves with authority, particularly from a stop. Its variable-compression engine has a different character from a conventional turbocharged four-cylinder, but once that personality becomes familiar, there is ample performance for everyday driving.
The nine-speed automatic also performs well during normal driving, delivering smooth power and making the QX65 comfortable around town and on the highway.
Engine Noise Is the Biggest Complaint
The biggest issue appears when the accelerator is pushed harder. Under hard acceleration, the four-cylinder engine becomes extremely loud and raspy.
While engine sound can enhance the experience of a performance vehicle, the QX65’s soundtrack does not deliver the sophisticated mechanical character expected from a luxury vehicle. Under heavy acceleration, the engine can sound more like a modified four-cylinder equipped with an exhaust system of questionable taste.
That is the vehicle’s biggest complaint.
There is also an unusual characteristic with the all-wheel-drive system during aggressive driving. When pushed hard into a corner, the front end can begin to lose composure before the system sends power rearward.
That behavior is largely irrelevant during normal driving but becomes noticeable during spirited driving. The QX65 is not a sports car, but Infiniti positions it as the sportier alternative to the QX60, making greater polish under harder driving a reasonable expectation.
For everyday use, however, the ride remains quite good both around town and on the highway.
Pricing and Value
The QX65 starts at around $53,990, placing it in a highly competitive segment of the luxury SUV market. The vehicle also shares its underlying platform with the Nissan Pathfinder.
That shared architecture does not diminish what Infiniti has done with the QX65. The automaker has taken a fundamentally competent platform and added substantially nicer materials, styling and technology.
At its starting price, the QX65 offers a combination of luxury, practicality and dramatic design without pushing the cost into the stratosphere.
The SUV can also tow up to 6,000 pounds, adding another practical capability to a vehicle whose design is more suited to a valet stand than a boat launch.
Final Verdict on the 2027 Infiniti QX65
The 2027 Infiniti QX65 represents a step in the right direction for Infiniti, even with several compromises. The engine is irritatingly loud under hard acceleration, the all-wheel-drive behavior during aggressive driving could be more polished, and the front-end design does not do enough to separate the vehicle from the QX60.
Much of the rest of the package works remarkably well. The QX65 combines a beautiful interior, useful cargo capacity, plenty of power, standard all-wheel drive and a distinctive design that gives Infiniti a more personality-driven alternative in the luxury crossover market.
The competition includes Lexus, Cadillac, Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Audi, while Genesis continues to set a high bar for interior design. The QX65 may not surpass all of them in technology, performance or brand prestige, but it offers a compelling combination of style, luxury and practicality.
For roughly $54,000, the QX65 looks good, feels expensive and drives well enough to make its compromises worthwhile. The one thing it could use most is a quieter four-cylinder engine.
