INFINITI QX60 vs Lincoln Nautilus

In 2022, Infiniti completely overhauled the QX60, introducing a fresh exterior design, an updated interior, new powertrains, and advanced technologies. This redesign paralleled Nissan Pathfinder’s updates, given both SUVs utilized the Nissan D platform. The QX60 originated in 2013 as the JX and adopted the QX60 name in 2014 following Infiniti's rebranding strategy. The 2022 QX60 marked the start of its second production generation.

The new exterior of the QX60 was striking and elegant, featuring a prominent grille, slim LED headlights, and large air intakes, creating a concept-car aesthetic enhanced with chrome accents. Its long hood and steeply raked windshield conveyed sophistication from the side, with a floating roof effect achieved through blacked-out pillars. The top-tier Autograph trim further accentuated this floating look with a contrasting black roof. The QX60's big wheels—starting from 18-inch on base models to 20-inch on higher trims—filled the outlined wells, adding to its aggressive stance. The rear design was tasteful, highlighting a planted look with “INFINITI” spelled out in large chrome letters across the top-hinged liftgate.

The interior of the QX60 felt spacious and open, especially with the quilted leather upholstery in the Autograph trim wrapping around the seats and dash. The 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment display was prominently positioned on the dash’s center. Crisp graphics and intuitive controls made for a user-friendly experience. Built at Nissan’s Smyrna, Tennessee plant, the QX60 exemplified high craftsmanship and build quality.

The 2022 Lincoln Nautilus, particularly the Black Label trim, was an equally attractive SUV. Showcasing 21-inch machined-finish wheels, the Nautilus maintained balance without appearing plain, enhanced with sufficient detailing to radiate character. Approaching the SUV after dark triggered the Lincoln Embrace lighting sequence, and opening the door revealed luxurious interiors with the Chalet or the new Flight design theme. The Chalet design featured light gray premium leather, providing a decadent feel.

The Black Label trim of the Nautilus included premium features like a simulated suede headliner and luxury floor mats. However, some design elements, like the center console and chrome-plated plastic pieces, seemed a bit cheap. The Nautilus started at an MSRP of $44,225, with the top-tier Black Label costing $66,825. Our test vehicle included Ultra Comfort 22-way power-adjustable front seats with Active Motion massage, perfect for long drives.

Infiniti’s decision to replace the CVT with a nine-speed automatic transmission in the 2022 QX60 resulted in a significantly improved driving experience. The new transmission provided clean and crisp shifts, avoiding the rubber-banding and droning issues seen with the old CVT. However, it still needed slight fine-tuning for better kickdown during passing. The QX60's 3.5-liter V6 engine, producing 295 horsepower and 270 lb-ft of torque, paired well with the new transmission. Fuel economy hovered around 21 mpg city/26 mpg highway/23 mpg combined for FWD models and slightly less for AWD models.

Infiniti reworked the suspension, adopting MacPherson struts for the front and an independent multilink setup for the rear, ensuring a smooth ride. The QX60 was equipped with four-wheel ventilated disc brakes and electric power steering, providing good feedback. Despite its size, the QX60 offered a very serene ride, making it suitable for highways and suburban streets, though off-roading wasn’t its forte.

The 2022 Lincoln Nautilus offered different powertrains depending on the trim. The standard and Reserve trims featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 250 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Black Label trim had a more powerful twin-turbocharged 2.7-liter V6 engine delivering 335 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque, requiring AWD.

The Nautilus allowed drivers to choose between Comfort, Normal, and Sport modes, adjusting the powertrain behavior and steering effort. However, Comfort mode felt overly woozy, and Sport mode made the steering too heavy. Normal mode provided the ideal balance.

On a road trip from Los Angeles to Scottsdale, Arizona, the Nautilus Black Label’s adaptive suspension and massaging seats made for a comfortable journey. Fuel economy for the Black Label’s twin-turbo V6 was rated at 21 mpg combined, with real-world highway performance showing a maximum range of 450 miles.

In the Santa Monica Mountains, the Nautilus impressed with its handling, though the steering lacked engagement. Its Ford Edge ST underpinnings contributed to its unexpected grace and athleticism on winding roads.

Infiniti designed the QX60 to cater to a wide range of passengers. The spacious cabin featured multiple storage options, charging ports, and enhanced comfort. The gear selector's shift-by-wire technology allowed more storage space below the center console, ideal for handbags and devices. The second-row seats, sliding on rails, optimized space sharing, and the third-row seats accommodated passengers comfortably, provided second-row occupants adjusted their space.

Cargo capacity was impressive, with up to 14.5 cubic feet behind the third row, 41.6 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 75.4 cubic feet with both rows folded. The QX60 also boasted a towing capacity of 3,500 pounds, expandable to 6,000 pounds with the towing package.

The Nautilus Black Label impressed with its luxurious interior touches and comfortable seating. The front seats were heated and ventilated, with a power-adjustable heated steering wheel. Optional 22-way power front seats with massage features ensured long-drive comfort. The rear seats, however, were somewhat cramped for a midsize SUV.

Practical storage was adequate but less intuitive, with some hard-to-access spots. Cargo space was ample, offering 37.2 cubic feet behind the rear seats and expanding to 68.8 cubic feet with the seats folded. The hands-free power liftgate added convenience.

The 2022 Infiniti QX60 was packed with impressive tech features. Outside, full LED lighting and adaptive front lighting enhanced visibility. Inside, the 12.3-inch InTouch Interactive display boasted wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto. An AT&T WiFi hotspot supported up to seven devices, crucial for long trips. A wireless charging pad was also included in higher trims.

The Autograph trim featured a 10.8-inch head-up display and a smart rearview mirror. The latter provided a live camera feed, beneficial when the SUV was fully loaded. A 17-speaker Bose Performance series sound system ensured excellent audio quality.

The 2022 Lincoln Nautilus came with the latest Sync 4 software on a 13.2-inch touchscreen. Sync 4 supported over-the-air updates, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a WiFi hotspot. Our Black Label test vehicle included premium features like connected navigation and a 19-speaker Revel audio system, delivering exceptional sound quality.

Physical stereo and climate controls, despite looking a bit cheap, were user-friendly. The natural voice recognition system worked well, and the infotainment system's depth of menus and settings made for a customizable experience. Phone as a Key technology added a modern touch by enabling the use of a smartphone as a digital key.

While the 2022 Infiniti QX60 had not yet undergone crash tests by the IIHS and NHTSA, it was expected to maintain its predecessor's high ratings. The QX60 came equipped with a comprehensive suite of standard airbags and advanced driver assistance systems, including ProPilot Assist, forward emergency braking, pedestrian detection, predictive forward-collision warning, and blind-spot warning. Additional optional safety features included lane-departure prevention and a surround-view camera system.

The 2022 Lincoln Nautilus featured Lincoln Co-Pilot360 1.0, offering safety systems like forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keeping assist. The Black Label trim added Co-Pilot360 1.0 Plus, which included adaptive cruise control, lane-centering assistance, a surround-view camera, and parking sensors. Semi-autonomous parking assist and post-collision braking systems further enhanced safety. The NHTSA awarded the Nautilus a five-star overall rating, with a four-star rating for rollover resistance.