Comparison Data
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2022 Acura MDX Platinum Elite
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2022 Infiniti QX60 Autograph
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Engine Displacement
3.5L
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3.5L
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Engine Cylinders
V6
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V6
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Peak Horsepower
290 hp @ 6,200 rpm
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295 hp @ 6,400 rpm
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Peak Torque
267 lb-ft @ 4,700 rpm
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270 lb-ft @ 4,800 rpm
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Fuel Economy
12.6 / 9.4 / 11.2 L/100 km cty/hwy/cmb
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11.9 / 9.5 / 10.8 L/100 km cty/hwy/cmb
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Cargo Space
513/1,368/2,690 L behind 3rd/2nd/1st row
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411 / 1,178 / 2,135 L behind 3rd/2nd/1st row
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Base Price
$68,900
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$67,995
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A/C Tax
$100
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$100
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Destination Fee
$2,375
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$2,095
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Price as Tested
$71,875
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$71,190
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Optional Equipment
$500 – Liquid Carbon Metallic Paint, $500
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$1,000 – Two-Tone Paint, $1,000
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With manufacturers relentlessly cranking out new or dramatically updated sport utility vehicles, it might seem like the market is well past its saturation point.
Still, SUVs are constantly being improved for driveability, utility, safety, and, in the case of premium entries, luxury. What’s more interesting is just how varied each brands’ interpretations of their premium midsize entries can be. With everything from rugged off-roaders like the Land Rover Defender to fully electric vehicles like the Tesla Model X and performance machines like the Maserati Levante, there seems to be something for everyone.
Among the more conventional entries, Acura’s MDX has been a consistently strong seller. And while Infiniti doesn’t move nearly as many QX60s, it’s been a very important model for the brand nonetheless. With both the 2022 Acura MDX and 2022 Infiniti QX60 marking new generations for these midsizers, they’re excellent examples of how even run-of-the-mill models can be completely different in their approaches.
Power
These days it can be tough to put fair comparisons together due to the various drivetrain options and trim levels, but these two couldn’t be more closely matched. A 3.5L normally aspirated V6 is the heart of each, which may seem old-school in this era of turbocharged or electrically boosted engines, but they deliver a pleasingly mechanical driving experience.
The Acura dispenses with 290 hp and 267 lb-ft of torque, inconsequentially less than the Infiniti’s 295 hp and 270 lb-ft of torque. The MDX sends its power to all four corners through a 10-speed automatic transmission versus the Infiniti’s brand-new nine-speed automatic, and on the road, the Acura’s drivetrain is the one that feels decidedly sportier – a theme that carries on in other respects.
The MDX’s shifts are swifter and more direct, and the power comes on more eagerly than it does in the Infiniti. To be clear, the Infiniti in no way feels sluggish, just that the engineers gave the QX60 a personality focused on smoothness and sophistication rather than sportiness.
Both SUVs have enough guts to pull away from a stoplight with gusto, and passing power feels ample in each, too.
Acura MDX: 7.5/10; Infiniti QX60: 7/10
Driving Feel
As much as the personality differences are evident in the power delivery, they’re equally apparent in driving feel. Acura seems to presume buyers of large, luxurious family buses also need back-road-ready performance machines. The MDX’s handling is livelier and offers better ride control when pressed into corners, and its steering is more communicative. The QX60 is a thoroughly competent machine, but where it feels less happy being hustled, it makes up for it with a smoother, more luxurious driving experience.
Acura MDX: 7.5/10; Infiniti QX60: 7/10
Fuel Economy
Unsurprisingly, with such similar drivetrains and sizes, these two are evenly matched in terms of fuel consumption. The Acura ekes out a tiny advantage on the highway, with a rating of 9.4 L/100 km versus the Infiniti’s 9.5, but despite having fewer cogs in its transmission, the QX60’s 11.9 L/100 km figure for city driving is notably better than the MDX’s 12.6.
During our test loop, observed consumption came close to the published combined results, with an overall average of 10.8 L/100 km for the Acura and 10.9 for the Infiniti, despite winter weather and tires to match. Both machines call for premium-grade gas.
Acura MDX: 6.5/10; Infiniti QX60: 7/10
Practicality
For three-row SUVs, those consumption rates are very reasonable, as is the considerable practicality these machines avail. With ample space for several passengers and their luggage, crossovers like these have all the average family needs to get around.
The MDX is a master class of space efficiency, where despite boasting smaller overall dimensions than the QX60 it still offers slightly better space for all three rows of passengers – and appreciably more cargo room, too. The third rows split and fold in both vehicles, while the second-row seat console is removable in Infiniti and folds up or down in MDX, adding to their versatility in different ways.
In terms of towing, the Infiniti with a tow package that’s included on most trims allows up to a 2,722-kg (6,000-lb) capacity – surpassing the Acura’s 2,268-kg (5,000-lb) limit.
Acura MDX: 8.5/10; Infiniti QX60: 8/10
Comfort
All that space adds up to a comfortable place to collect kilometres, especially for the front and second-row passengers, all of whom will enjoy supportive captain’s chairs. In both rigs, the front two rows offer heated seats, with front seat passengers also having the option of cooling their buns in warm weather. The Infiniti’s seats blend suppleness with support much better than the Acura’s firmer thrones, plus they also provide massaging functions up front, taking the level of comfort far beyond what the MDX offers.
The Acura’s sportier handling results from a stiffer ride that, while still able to smooth out most road irregularities, falls short of the creaminess of the Infiniti’s ride, giving the sense that at the end of a long trip, occupants in the QX60 will feel more relaxed than those in the Acura. Meanwhile, road and engine noise are hushed in both machines, but AutoTrader.ca Associate Editor Dustin Woods felt the Infiniti let more wind noise into the cabin.
Acura MDX: 8/10; Infiniti QX60: 9/10
Features
Testing the poshest trims for each model, it’s expected that these machines will be well-equipped. But when comparing what comes standard against their German counterparts, the feature count is remarkable.
Multi-zone climate control systems, a multitude of plug-in ports, onboard navigation, head-up displays, premium sound systems, wireless charging, and panoramic sunroofs are standard fare in each machine. Infiniti trumps the Acura with its massaging seats, power-folding rear seats, and its camera-based rearview mirror.
Acura MDX: 8/10; Infiniti QX60: 9/10
Safety
Much like with comfort amenities, Acura and Infiniti have loaded up these SUVs with a wealth of both passive and active safety functions. Both machines offer forward and rear collision-mitigation braking, lane-keeping assistance, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and, of course, an interior filled with airbags. Both also offer excellent LED headlights and bird’s-eye camera views for parking, as well as parking assist sensors.
Acura’s MDX has earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the not-for-profit Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), while the QX60 also gets favourable overall IIHS ratings though no award. Neither 2022 model has received a United States National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) rating yet.
Acura MDX: 9.5/10; Infiniti QX60: 9/10
User Friendliness
While Dustin found issue with the Infiniti’s haptic controls for its climate system, that’s where the complaints end in the QX60’s cockpit. The 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system is bright and sharp, with a logical menu system to navigate its many functions. Infiniti still provides a rotary knob controller for those wishing to reduce the number of smudged fingerprints on the display.
Conversely, Acura’s own 12.3-inch display is managed by a large touchpad situated on the centre console. We found the system not only finicky to use, but downright distracting at speed. The absence of touchscreen functionality is shocking, and this system is the most frustrating infotainment system I can recall. That Acura continues with its tedious push-button gear selector only adds to the annoyance.
Both crossovers feature configurable digital gauge displays and wiring pad in each; however, both the devices used during testing slid around on the MDX’s enormous charge pad, causing the wireless connection to the infotainment system to glitch and the screen to go black. In the QX60, our phones stayed put and consistently charged.
Acura MDX: 6/10; Infiniti QX60: 9/10
Styling
Acura’s subtle updates to the MDX’s exterior are welcomed, and there’s a strong familial resemblance to the smaller – and quite attractive – RDX. Acura sells plenty of MDXs in Canada, and this latest rendition wisely differs little from the previous version. It’s a big SUV that hides its bulk well.
Infiniti’s designers have given the new QX60 a more significant styling overhaul, especially around back, where the wordmark and thin lighting strips give a subtle nod to contemporary Range Rover models. The silver accents where exhaust cut-outs might’ve been in the lower valance look rather silly, though, and are the only glaring styling misstep. The profile is a triumph, looking every bit the premium machine its interior and driving experience confirm. The two-tone paint treatment on this tester rounds it out perfectly.
Inside, the Acura has a convoluted dashboard layout that includes an absurdly large drive mode knob and push-button gear selector. It’s a design that seems to be different just for the sake of it, without much luxury or functional purpose. Conversely, the QX60’s interior is clean and genuinely luxurious with its high-end hides featuring quilted stitching and contrasting piping.
Acura MDX: 6.5/10; Infiniti QX60: 8.5/10
Value
Based on the interior alone, it would be easy to assume the Infiniti costs $10,000–15,000 more than the Acura, but that’s not the case. In fact, at $67,995, the range-topping QX60 Autograph slots in just under the MDX Platinum Elite’s $68,900. Those prices are before non-negotiable freight fees, which add more than $2,000 to each.
Add in the QX60’s more robust feature count, and it becomes an obvious value leader between these two, not to mention when compared to other notables within the class like the BMW X5, Mercedes GLE-Class, or even the Genesis GV80.
Skipping the most expensive trims, meanwhile, sees a similar price disparity across their lineups. The MDX starts at $57,900 before freight and tax, with incremental increases of a few thousand dollars at each stop along the way to a maximum of $83,000. The QX60’s lineup is far more simplified, with a starting price of $54,995 and two trims – the $59,495 Luxe and $64,995 Sensory – to choose from before reaching the top.
Acura MDX: 8/10; Infiniti QX60: 9/10
The Verdict
It’s easy to see why Acura’s MDX has remained such a popular offering within the three-row segment. It’s well-built, engaging to drive, and offers plenty of comfort for its passengers. This latest version mostly improves upon the theme, but its confounding infotainment system is enough of a deterrent for us to recommend any number of competitors first.
The new 2022 Infiniti QX60 is a sensational offering with good driving dynamics, an exceptional feature count, and genuine luxury. Add in the QX60’s handsome styling and impressive value, and the Infiniti becomes not only the victor in this test, but should earn itself a spot on any midsize luxury SUV shopper’s shortlist.
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