2022 INFINITI QX60 vs 2021 Ford Explorer

The 2021 Ford Explorer presented a familiar yet appealing design, reminiscent of Ford's traditional SUV lineup. Its exterior was marked by sporty, raked belt lines and distinctive visages, making it recognizable among other brands' SUVs. The Explorer offered a variety of trim levels, each with unique grille designs ranging from black to full chrome, catering to different aesthetic preferences. Inside, the Explorer provided three rows of seating as standard, with the base model featuring cloth upholstery. The interior was practical, with a clean dashboard, an 8-inch LCD touchscreen, and ample storage space, including a rotary gearshift that freed up additional room. The XLT trim was particularly popular, offering enhanced features like a power front passenger seat and a 6.5-inch instrument panel screen, while higher trims provided leather upholstery and more luxurious finishes.

The 2022 INFINITI QX60 underwent a complete redesign, resulting in a striking and elegant crossover SUV. Its exterior featured a prominent grille, slim LED headlights, and a concept-car-like appearance with chrome accents. The long hood and steeply-raked windshield added to its sophisticated look, while the blacked-out pillars created a floating roof effect. The top Autograph trim level included a contrasting black roof, enhancing this visual effect. Inside, the QX60 felt spacious and luxurious, with quilted leather upholstery on the Autograph trim and a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment display. The interior design emphasized horizontal lines and layers, creating an open and inviting atmosphere. The QX60 was built with high craftsmanship and quality, originating from the Nissan plant in Smyrna, Tennessee.

The 2021 Ford Explorer, weighing in at 4,345 pounds at its lightest, offered a range of powertrains. The base model featured a 2.3-liter EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder engine, delivering 300 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque, outperforming competitors like the Kia Telluride. All trims came with a 10-speed automatic transmission. The Explorer Limited Hybrid increased power to 310 hp and 331 lb-ft of torque, while higher trims boasted a 3.0-liter EcoBoost twin-turbo V6 engine, producing 365 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque. The sport-oriented Explorer ST offered the most engaging driving experience with 400 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque. The Explorer excelled in towing capacity, ranging from 5,000 to 5,600 pounds, depending on the configuration.

The 2022 INFINITI QX60 featured a 3.5-liter V6 engine, producing 295 horsepower and 270 lb-ft of torque. The new nine-speed automatic transmission replaced the previous CVT, providing a superior driving experience with clean and crisp shifts. The QX60's suspension was reworked for improved handling, featuring MacPherson struts in the front and an independent multilink setup in the rear. The vehicle offered a smooth and serene ride, with ample comfort in the second and third rows. The QX60's fuel economy was estimated at 21 mpg city/26 mpg highway for FWD models and 20 mpg city/25 mpg highway for AWD models. While not designed for off-road adventures, the QX60 excelled on highways and suburban streets.

The 2021 Ford Explorer offered seating for seven in the base model, with captain's chairs in higher trims reducing capacity to six. It provided 39 inches of legroom for second-row passengers, surpassing some competitors but falling short of others like the Kia Telluride. With the third row deployed, the Explorer offered 21 cubic feet of cargo space, expanding to 81 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. This cargo capacity was competitive with smaller SUVs.

The 2022 INFINITI QX60, with its three-row configuration, catered to passenger comfort and convenience. The interior featured ample storage, charging ports, and a spacious center console. The second-row seats could slide fore and aft, allowing easy access to the third row. The QX60 offered 14.5 cubic feet of luggage space behind the third row, expanding to 41.6 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 75.4 cubic feet with both rows down. It also had a towing capacity of up to 6,000 pounds with the optional towing package.

The 2021 Ford Explorer came equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen as standard, offering features like AM/FM radio, SiriusXM, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a 4G WiFi hotspot. Higher trims included a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system and an optional 10.1-inch touchscreen. The Explorer provided multiple charging options, including USB ports and 12-volt power points, with a wireless charging pad available on higher trims.

The 2022 INFINITI QX60 boasted a 12.3-inch InTouch Interactive display with wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto. It featured full LED lighting, a power liftgate, and an AT&T WiFi hotspot. The QX60 offered six USB charge points, a wireless charging pad, and a navigation system with TomTom map data. The Autograph trim included a head-up display and a smart rearview mirror, enhancing safety and convenience. The QX60's audio system ranged from a nine-speaker setup in base models to a 17-speaker Bose Performance series in higher trims.

The 2021 Ford Explorer was rated as a Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS, with top scores in crash tests and an "Acceptable" rating for adaptive headlights. It featured the Ford Co-Pilot360 suite, including auto high-beam headlights, blind-spot monitoring, lane keeping assist, and more. Higher trims offered additional safety features like adaptive cruise control and evasive steering assist.

The 2022 INFINITI QX60 had not yet been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA, but previous models received high safety ratings. It came with a comprehensive set of airbags and advanced driver assistance systems, including forward emergency braking, rear cross-traffic alert, and blind-spot warning. ProPilot Assist was standard on all trims except Pure, with additional optional safety features available.