New Addition to the Infiniti Lineup
The 2027 Infiniti QX65 is a new nameplate in the brand’s SUV lineup. It’s meant to be a higher-shelf alternative to the mid-size QX60, with a sleek sportsback roofline and added performance to match.
According to Infiniti, the QX65 draws inspiration from the Infiniti FX SUVs of the 2000s and early 2010s. The 2027 Infiniti QX65 is a sporty, luxurious crossover SUV with curves meant to evoke slipstream agility, while offering body-hugging leather-appointed seats.
Driving a Sunfire Red, fully loaded, 2027 Infiniti QX65 Autograph for a week left a memorable impression on me. This is one vehicle that delivers an unforgettable driving experience.
It reminded me why I love this job!
High Class Expectations for Infiniti
I’ve always respected Infiniti. Like Acura, Infiniti has always struggled to get out of Lexus’ shadow. Let’s face it, out of the three Japanese luxury automakers, most people know Lexus. Whereas you may forget about Infiniti or Acura until you see one on the road.
Now, that’s not necessarily a bad thing, as oversaturation can hurt a brand. While being somewhat unknown can spark an alluring sense of mystery that draws curiosity.
I’ve never driven an Infiniti I didn’t like – until now. The new Infiniti QX65, as stunning as it looks, does not meet the high expectations I have for this brand.
That’s not to say I wouldn’t recommend Infiniti to someone who’s shopping for a luxury vehicle under six figures that isn’t German. But as much as it hurts me to say it, the 2027 Infiniti QX65 felt rushed into production without a proper final inspection.
The QX65 is marketed as a glamorously styled, sporty, luxurious SUV but misses the bullseyes in two out of the three categories.
A Pretty Face with a Premium Paintjob
The exterior styling on the Infiniti QX65 is fantastic and will praise it all day!
The 2027 Infiniti QX65 Autograph shown in photos wears a premium shade of Sunfire Red tricolor ($1,900) with a gloss black roof. It also has black painted roof rail crossbars ($490) that will most likely never see a scratch from a luggage bag.
It sits on 21-inch aluminum alloy wheels wrapped in low-profile tires.
Like red lipstick on full lips, the SUV’s Sunfire red paint color can look radiant in the sunlight and seductive in the moonlight. The front grille features a dashed line design sharp enough to mimic a pinstripe suit. It turns heads and can fool the uninformed into thinking it’s a luxury brand from a much higher tax bracket.
If visual aesthetics are a top priority when shopping for a new vehicle, the Infiniti QX65 definitely meets your criteria.
Quilted Leather Interior with Massaging Seats
The Infiniti QX65 Autograph shown in photos features a Vermillion Red leather interior. The perforated and quilted upholstery is accented with Open Pore Ash Wood trim. On display, the QX65 interior feels like stepping into the lobby of a newly renovated luxury hotel. Everything feels firm to the touch and contemporary.
While the slicked-back roofline does eat into the Infiniti QX65’s rear cargo space, it’s not a big enough bite to matter. Moreover, because this crossover SUV isn’t trying to impress anyone with how many people it can carry, the second seats are spacious and comfy.
The rear seats don’t fully recline, but they do adjust far enough back to help jumpstart a nap. Moreover, a spare tire is included, located under the SUV.
Looks Good Just Standing Still
That really sums up the 2027 Infiniti QX65. It looks better standing still, because once it starts moving, oh boy. This crossover SUV is a hot mess wearing a designer dress. It may look like the definition of grace, but it moves like Bambi wearing stilettos, which is a real shame.
It’s like love at first sight, and then discovering they are rude to servers. This luxury SUV has a very distinctive driving personality, and it’s toxic.
The steering and suspension feel like a throwback to 1976. The engine has revolutionary technology but suffers from a personality disorder and an indecisive transmission, and the brakes have an anxious mind of their own. Not to mention, there’s a camera behind the wheel that scans your face and stays on even when you turn it off.
All this may sound harsh, but that’s only because I experienced it for myself, and so did my passengers. I’ll explain each one, but I must insist that while the QX65 didn’t meet my expectations, I still have a professional and personal fondness for Infiniti.
The Driver Disclaimer, Acknowledging My Madness
I know most people reading this don’t care about driving as much as I do. To me, driving is like Taylor Swift beating Lionel Messi at Pokémon during the Super Bowl. It is my obsession, and I have dedicated a significant portion of my life to driving as many kinds of vehicles as I can to acquire the skill and experience to be considered an expert in driving dynamics.
I know most people don’t care and won’t even notice the QX65’s shockingly peculiar driving characteristics. BUT I NOTICED! And now you’re going to read about all the details that drove me insane (pun intended).
A Variable Compression Engine with a Personality Disorder
The 2027 Infiniti QX65 has a truly intelligent engine offering the best of both worlds, on paper. It’s a 2.0L, four-cylinder VC-T, which stands for variable compression turbocharged.
Infiniti was the first automaker to debut this technology in 2018. A VC-T engine features a joint in the piston’s connecting rod, allowing it to adjust its angle to limit or increase the amount of compression on the fly. This means the engine can switch from low compression efficiency to high compression horsepower depending on your right foot… and a bunch of electronic bureaucracy.
This technology is fantastic because it gives you the best of both worlds: efficiency and performance. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde at your control. On paper, a luxury SUV with 268 horsepower, 268 pound-feet of torque, all-wheel drive, and 6,000 pounds of towing capacity sounds like a great ride. And it would be if the QX65 could make up its mind or listen to driver input.
Slow to Respond, Reluctant to Follow Commands
The first issue is when you press on the gas pedal. You hear a lot of noise and notice yourself waiting before any real forward movement happens. Moreover, the engine noise doesn’t inspire a symphony of fine-tuned performance. It sounds more like an opera singer trying to hit a high note with a stuffy nose.
When acceleration finally does occur, the nine-speed automatic transmission can’t decide what gear works best for the occasion. Infiniti does provide the QX65 with paddle shifters with the theory that the driver can select a gear and decide for the transmission, but nope. Anytime I wanted to shift, the SUV immediately changed to what it thought was best.
I found this particularly annoying during normal city driving. The QX65 kept downshifting, raising the RPMs and making a lot of noise.
This constant gear changing meant the tachometer was always bouncing to the point that passengers asked why I was revving the engine so much.
Self-Aware Brakes
The 2027 Infiniti QX65 has excellent brakes, but they have a mind of their own. These brakes are self-aware and incredibly anxious. At least that’s what it feels like when I press the brake pedal and the brakes grab, then let go, then grab again while my foot stays steady on the pedal.
Like a nervous Driver’s Ed teacher, the QX65 brakes harder than what you commanded. It feels like ABS as it slows in chunks of hard braking input, creating a choppy ride experience. It is virtually impossible to brake smoothly in this SUV, which is a problem because it is meant to be a suave, luxurious crossover but ends up feeling like James Bond after having one too many vodka martinis.
It Drives Like It’s 1976
I own several cars from the early and late 1970s. They are true land yachts that dive, dip, and can lean down to their door handles if you throw them into a turn at speed. Yet those Detroit steel mammoths feel way more in control than the 2027 Infiniti QX65.
Seriously, part of me hopes this particular QX65 had a factory defect because the handling was shocking. At 50 mph, I jerked the steering wheel to replicate a scenario where you might need to switch lanes rapidly and suddenly to avoid a crash. The QX65 suspension reacted like Jell-O during an earthquake, throwing the SUV’s weight around.
The rear end kicked out almost immediately, triggering the automated braking system to try to slow it down and prevent it from tilting. Ordinarily, I like this kind of handling because it is fun, but not in a top-heavy crossover SUV loaded with safety features. It was a mess.
The suspension is sloppy and soft, yet it isn’t comfortable, as rear passengers complained about rough ride quality and feeling every bump in the road. Those low-profile tires weren’t helping either.
I can forgive a luxury vehicle for not handling as gracefully as a ballerina. But if it can’t even glide over the road, then what are you left with?
Driver Monitoring Means Infiniti Is Always Watching You
I will never agree with driver monitoring systems in vehicles. Call me a radical, but I believe a vehicle should be a private space. It’s often the only place we get to be ourselves—a place to recharge, regroup, or vent, before stepping into the world again.
So, I wholeheartedly disagree with the increasing implementation of driver monitoring systems in new vehicles. It’s a textbook infringement of personal freedom and privacy. I’m not singling out Infiniti. I’m just using it as an example.
The 2027 Infiniti QX65 has a camera behind the wheel with two creepy red dotted lights pointed at your face. This is a Driver Monitoring system meant to scan your face for clues that the driver isn’t looking at the road or showing signs of impairment.
My problem with this tech is that even though there’s an option to turn it off, the camera stays on! I’m the driver and the “owner”. If I don’t want a camera looking at me, I should have the right to turn it off.
I don’t need HAL 9000 constantly looking at me from a machine I’m paying for. Starting in 2027, new car buyers need to be aware of these driver-monitoring systems appearing on their dashboards.
Safety is one thing, but this crosses a line because it’s not just about safety; it’s about collecting information. Information about us. Learning our routines, habits, etc.
They have our location, ID, and Instagram handle. What more do they want?
The Price of Luxury
According to Infiniti’s official website, the starting MSRP for the 2027 Infiniti QX65 Luxe is $53,990. The mid-tier QX65 Sport starts at $55,690, and the top-tier Autograph starts at $63,285.
As shown, this Infiniti QX65 Autograph has an MSRP of $71,355 with options like the SunFire Red paint and the Technology package ($3,700). The package adds a 3D around-view camera, the Driver Monitoring System, towing hardware with a trailer sway control, and a supplemental airbag.
So, if you don’t plan to tow with the QX65 and don’t like the idea of being watched, skip this tech package and save some money.
Of course, you’d still be left with a luxury SUV that can win a beauty contest but lacks grace everywhere else. At the very least, the Infiniti QX65 offers a ride you’ll never forget. Like a bad vacation, it leaves you with a good story.
