2022 INFINITI QX60 vs 2021 Toyota Highlander

The 2021 Toyota Highlander was anything but boring. It stood out with its wide headlights, long hood, and assertive trapezoidal grille. The character line along its side, reminiscent of the Supra sports car, and taillights that looked like they came off a Lexus model, gave it a distinctive appearance. The Highlander XSE trim added a more aggressive front end, 20-inch wheels with black accents, and a unique front fascia, although it didn't quite match the performance of sportier competitors. Inside, the Limited trim shone with near-flawless fit and finish, tan leather seats, and dark brown trim, making it a luxurious choice for families.

In contrast, the 2022 INFINITI QX60 received a complete makeover, featuring a dramatic new exterior with a prominent grille, slim LED headlights, and oversized air intakes. The long hood and steeply-raked windshield conveyed elegance, while the blacked-out pillars created a floating roof effect. The top-of-the-line Autograph trim level added a contrasting black roof and big wheels, enhancing its upscale look. Inside, the QX60 felt wide and open, with quilted leather upholstery on the Autograph trim, a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment display, and a TFT instrument panel. The craftsmanship and build quality were top-notch, reflecting Infiniti's commitment to luxury.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander featured a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 295 horsepower and 263 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It offered smooth and predictable operation, making it a reliable choice for families. While it wasn't designed for drag races, it provided sufficient power for highway merging. The Highlander's suspension was soft and comfortable, though it tended to lumber through corners. The XSE trim added higher-rated springs, retuned shock absorbers, power steering, and a rear stabilizer bar, offering a bit more driving excitement for family-focused shoppers.

The 2022 INFINITI QX60, on the other hand, featured a 3.5-liter V6 engine with 295 horsepower and 270 lb-ft of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. This new transmission provided a superior driving experience compared to the outgoing CVT, with clean and crisp shifts. The QX60's suspension, with MacPherson struts up front and an independent multilink setup in the rear, delivered a smooth and serene ride. While it wasn't designed for aggressive cornering, it excelled on highways and suburban streets. The QX60's fuel economy was competitive, with FWD models achieving 21 mpg city/26 mpg highway/23 mpg combined.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander excelled in interior space and functionality. It featured large shelves ahead of the front seats, perfect for storing cell phones, and a wireless charging pad on higher trims. Second-row passengers enjoyed ample legroom, with seats that moved forward and backward to balance space between rows. However, the rear-seat climate control vents were positioned on the ceiling, which could be uncomfortable for middle-row passengers. Cargo space was decent, with 16 cubic feet behind the third row, 48.4 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 84.3 cubic feet with both rows folded.

The 2022 INFINITI QX60 offered a luxurious and spacious interior. The center console featured a cubby for smartphones, big cupholders, and covered storage. The second-row seats slid fore and aft, with the Autograph trim offering twin captain's chairs and a removable center console. Access to the third row was easy, and adults could sit comfortably with shared legroom. The QX60 provided 14.5 cubic feet of cargo 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 Toyota Highlander came with an 8-inch touchscreen on lower trims, while the Limited trim offered a 12.3-inch touchscreen as an option. The top-tier Platinum trim had the 12.3-inch screen as standard. Both systems were user-friendly, but the navigation system struggled with points of interest. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay were standard across the lineup. The JBL audio system sounded good, but the 12.3-inch screen only displayed certain apps in full width, limiting its usefulness.

The 2022 INFINITI QX60 impressed with its technology offerings. It featured full LED headlights, running lights, taillamps, and a power liftgate. The 12.3-inch InTouch Interactive display came 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, powered by TomTom, was standard on all but the base trim. The QX60 also introduced a simplified version of Alexa for voice commands. The Autograph trim included a 10.8-inch head-up display and a smart rearview mirror, enhancing safety and convenience.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander featured Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+ (TSS 2.5+), which included automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, intersection support, road-sign assist, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-tracing assist, and automatic high beams. The Highlander received a five-star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and was named a Top Safety Pick+ by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

The 2022 INFINITI QX60 came with a comprehensive suite of safety features, including front- and side-impact airbags, roof-mounted curtain side-impact airbags, knee airbags, and second-row side-impact airbags. It also had advanced driver assistance systems like 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, and additional features like blind-spot intervention and lane-departure prevention were available.