New Infiniti QX65 Has the Biggest Grille Yet. And It’s Getting Ridiculous
Just when it seemed like oversized grilles were on their way out, Infiniti goes even bigger. The all-new QX65 doesn’t just embrace the old trend, it pushes it to the extreme. The grille is now enormous, stretching across the entire front end and surrounded by crappy looking black plastic trim that only makes it look heavier. The whole thing is quite ghastly…
Looks Good… Until You See the Front
Here’s the frustrating part: the rest of the Infiniti QX65 actually works. It looks quite good, if not very original.
Its sleek, coupe-like profile clearly nods to the old Infiniti FX, a model that once gave Infiniti real design credibility. That SUV felt unique and sporty without trying too hard.
The QX65? It tries…
From the side and rear, it looks clean and modern. But overall, it blends into a growing crowd of generic coupe SUVs. The character that made the FX special just isn’t fully there.
Sport Trim Turns Everything Up—For Better or Worse
The Sport model adds even more visual drama:
- A more aggressive version of that already oversized grille
- Cheapo looking Carbon-fiber-style interior trim that feels more flashy than premium
It’s meant to look sportier, but ends up feeling a bit overdone. (Can I say ghastly again?)
268 HP Sounds Fine. Until You Look Closer
On paper, the QX65 delivers 268 horsepower through a 9-speed automatic.
What Infiniti doesn’t highlight is the engine: a 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder, shared with the Infiniti QX60. That engine hasn’t exactly impressed in real-world driving. It’s adequate, but not particularly smooth or refined, two things buyers expect in a luxury SUV.
And that’s where things get confusing.
The V6 Is Coming Back… Again
The QX60 originally launched with a V6, just like the Nissan Pathfinder. Then Infiniti replaced it with the 4-cylinder for 2025. Now, the company says a V6 is coming back. At least on the QX65.
So:
- They had a V6
- They removed it
- Now they’re bringing it back
Meanwhile, the cheaper Pathfinder never lost it.
Go figure…
Sales Tell a Complicated Story
The QX60 hasn’t dominated the segment, but it hasn’t failed either.
Infiniti sold over 30,000 units last year, its best performance yet for this generation. That still trails the Acura MDX, which hit around 41,000 units, but it’s closer than many would expect.
Not bad at all for a brand that’s struggled to stay relevant. A name most people forgot.
Pricing That Raises Eyebrows
The QX65 starts at $54,000, with the Sport at $55,700 and the top Autograph trim at $62,600.
But here’s where it gets strange:
- The base QX65 costs more than the larger 3-row QX60
- Higher trims of the QX65 are actually cheaper than comparable QX60 versions