If you’re willing to trade some utility for a bit more driving fun from your midsize luxury crossover, take a look at the 2016 Infiniti QX70. Loaded with bells and whistles, packing a V6 powerplant, offering seating for 5, and sporting uncommon agility and performance, this mini-ute represents a solid choice in its niche. Be advised, however, that cargo space, at a distinctly cramped 62 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, is near the bottom of its niche, and a mere 2,000 pounds of towing capacity, even with the proper equipment, might mean the boat stays home.

In any case, for the upcoming model year, the QX70 remains offered in a single QX70 Base iteration that returns delivered with standard rear-wheel drive (RWD). But those desiring some added confidence in wintry weather can again purchase this plush people-hauler with full-time intelligent all-wheel drive (iAWD), which Nissan’s Infiniti division labels the QX70 Base AWD.

Few changes are slated for the 2016 versions of this classy crossover, although a Bespoke Edition, featuring a longer wheelbase and a number of upgrades to exterior and interior accents, is rumored to be debuting late in the upcoming model year.

Look for the 2016 QX70 to return packing the traditional 3.7-liter V6 powerplant, which remains under the auspices of a standard 7-speed shiftable automatic transmission boasting standard steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters. This peppy combo will again put out 325 hp and 267 lb-ft of torque, to the tune of 17 mpg city/24 highway/19 combined in the RWD Base QX70 variant, and 16/22/18 in the Base AWD iteration. The current QX70 has been known to scoot from 0-60 in an impressive 6.2 seconds, and there’s no reason to expect less from the 2016 version.

Getting into what this plush crossover does best, expect such standard appearance goodies as 18-inch alloy wheels, heated power-adjustable and power-folding outside mirrors, a power sunroof, and a power-opening liftgate to return for 2016.

Inside, look for this family-oriented posh-mobile to feature standard leather upholstery, heated power-adjustable front-row seats, keyless entry and ignition, and full power accessories. Additionally, cruise control and telescoping tilt-wheel steering will again come standard in the 2016 QX70, as will dual-zone automatic climate control, a rear-view camera, a remote garage door opener, and an auto-dimming rear-view mirror.

Bluetooth hands-free technology is also slated to return for 2016, along with the 300-watt Bose premium stereo that’ll again boast a single-CD/MP3 player, 11 speakers, satellite radio, and a pair of USB ports, all of which are interfaced via a 7-inch color monitor.

Options are slated to return almost exclusively in package form, backstopped by the Premium package that sports roof rails, memory for driver's settings, a power-adjustable steering wheel, a surround-view camera system, front and rear parking sensors, Bluetooth streaming audio, and GPS navigation with an 8-inch touchscreen display. The Deluxe Touring package, featuring 20-inch alloy wheels, upgraded leather upholstery, ventilated front seats, and genuine wood cabin accents, can be added onto the Premium package, while the Sport package throws in 21-inch alloy wheels, further upgraded cabin accents, and ventilated sport front seats. A number of add-ons, the most notable of which are rear-seat DVD entertainment, roof rack crossbars, and upgraded 20-inch alloy wheels, again remain available as accessories.

Returning standard safety equipment, meanwhile, is expected to include 4-wheel antilock brakes (ABS), traction and stability control, front side-mounted airbags, front and rear head curtain airbags, daytime running lights, and front fog/driving lights. Additionally, the 2016 QX70 is scheduled to return toting standard turn-signal-integrated mirrors, high-intensity-discharge headlights and a remote antitheft alarm, while the available safety-oriented Technology package sports adaptive cruise control, forward collision braking, and lane-departure warnings.

The typical (and well-heeled) owner of the current QX70 finds it to be a heck of a lot of fun to drive, with some heady performance attributes and agility complementing its good looks and its superlative creature comforts.

Look for the 2016 QX70 to again challenge Audi’s marginally less expensive Q5, BMW’s competent X3, Porsche’s larger and similarly priced Cayenne, and Acura’s well-wrought MDX when it starts appearing in dealer showrooms later this year.