2022 INFINITI QX60 vs 2021 Honda CR-V

The 2021 Honda CR-V had a design that blended into the crowded compact crossover market. Its exterior styling was nearly identical to its competitors, with only minor details like the grille and some chromed plastic features setting it apart. The color options were limited, especially for the base LX trim, which only offered black, silver, and white. Inside, the CR-V featured a modern look with angular seats and a choice of black, gray, or ivory cloth or leather, depending on the trim level. However, mid-tier trims from competitors like the Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson offered more distinctive styling.

In contrast, the 2022 INFINITI QX60 underwent a complete makeover, resulting in a dramatic and attractive exterior design. The new front featured a prominent grille, slim LED headlights, and oversized air intakes, giving it a concept-car look. The long hood and steeply-raked windshield added elegance, while the blacked-out pillars created a floating roof effect. Inside, the QX60 felt wide and open, with quilted leather upholstery on the Autograph trim level and a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment display. The overall craftsmanship and build quality were high, as expected from Infiniti.

The 2021 Honda CR-V was not designed for high-performance driving but rather for smooth and steady acceleration. It featured a 190-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder engine, which provided a 0-60 mph time of about 7.8 seconds. All trims came with a continuously variable transmission (CVT), which held engine revs constant as the vehicle gained speed. Front-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive available as an option. The CR-V's suspension setup included MacPherson struts in the front and a multi-link suspension at the rear, offering decent handling and ride quality.

The 2022 INFINITI QX60, on the other hand, 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 used MacPherson struts up front and an independent multilink setup in the rear, delivering a smooth and serene ride. Fuel economy was estimated at 21 mpg city/26 mpg highway/23 mpg combined for FWD models and 20 mpg city/25 mpg highway/22 mpg combined for AWD models.

The 2021 Honda CR-V was designed to fit five people comfortably and carry their gear. It offered 102.9 cubic feet of passenger volume and 75.8 cubic feet of total cargo volume with the rear seats folded. Depending on the trim, the tailgate could be manually operated, power-operated, or hands-free. Roof rails were only standard on the top-of-the-line Touring trim.

The 2022 INFINITI QX60, with its three-row seating, catered to all passengers with ample storage, charging ports, and comfort. The second-row seats could slide fore and aft, and the third row was accessible with one-touch flip-forward seats. The QX60 offered 14.5 cubic feet of luggage space behind the third row, 41.6 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 75.4 cubic feet with both rows folded. It also had a towing capacity of up to 6,000 pounds with the towing package.

The 2021 Honda CR-V's base LX trim had a 5-inch color screen with Bluetooth connectivity, while other trims featured a 7-inch high-definition touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. The audio system ranged from a 180-watt system with six speakers in the Special Edition and EX trims to a 300-watt system with a subwoofer in the Touring trim. Charging ports were available throughout the cabin, with a wireless phone charger in the Touring trim.

The 2022 INFINITI QX60 came with a 12.3-inch InTouch Interactive display with wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto. An AT&T WiFi hotspot, six USB charge points (seven in higher trims), and a wireless charging pad were standard. The navigation system was included in all but the base Pure trim. The Autograph trim featured a 10.8-inch head-up display and a smart rearview mirror. The audio system ranged from a nine-speaker system in Pure and Luxe models to a 17-speaker Bose Performance series system in Sensory and Autograph trims.

The 2021 Honda CR-V excelled in safety, earning a five-star NHTSA overall crash test rating and an IIHS Top Safety Pick award. It featured the Honda Sensing system, which included a multi-angle rearview camera, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking, road departure mitigation, lane keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and auto high-beam headlamps. The only feature not standard on the base LX trim was blind spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert.

The 2022 INFINITI QX60 had not yet been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA, but the previous generation received high marks. It came with a comprehensive set of airbags, LATCH connectors, and advanced driver assistance systems, including forward emergency braking with pedestrian detection, predictive forward-collision warning, rear automatic braking, rear cross-traffic alert, rearview camera, rear sonar, and blind-spot warning. ProPilot Assist was standard on all trims except Pure, with additional optional features like blind-spot intervention and lane-departure prevention.