Infiniti QX65 Test Drive.
The Infiniti QX65 is basically a slightly smaller 2-row, 5-seater version of the more typical QX60 SUV. It also has a shape that tries very hard to remind us of the good old Infiniti FX series. However, these had completely different RWD proportions and did look 100 times better…
Still, besides the ridiculously oversized and plasticky front grille, the new FX65 is not a bad-looking SUV.
If you thought the “regular” FX60 was a rare sight, you’ll be quite amazed at how few units of the FX65 are on the road. So far, Infiniti has sold under 5600 units. A small fraction of the FX60’s sales numbers of over 30,000 units in 2025.
Inside, the Infiniti FX65 is trying hard to look and feel like a luxury car. And at over $71,000 for my Autograph AWD test car, it should. First, you get your quilted leather seats, which to me just look plain cheesy. And not really luxurious anymore. Then you get everything you can imagine in a car.
The seats are quite comfortable, but the headrests are still pretty flat. And they don’t move forward. I was expecting better for the price.
The stereo sounds great, as it should with 20 speakers. However, you do have to dive into the menu to get the most out of it.
Everything looks and feels very solid and very well put together. And the whole thing is very roomy. The phone charger has a magnet, which is a very nice touch.
I noticed that the A/C takes a while to cool things down on a very hot day. Which is a bit disapointing on a luxury car/SUV. But I also noticed that in other Nissan vehicles.
Being based on a larger 3-row SUV, the FX65 has a huge cargo area. Not surprising, yet still very impressive.
The first thing you notice when you start the Infiniti FX65 is, unfortunately, the engine. There is no way to avoid the fact that this is a large SUV with a 4-cylinder engine. The roughness and noise of the powertrain make you miss a good old V6 every time you start the car. There is plenty of power, but for over $71,000, I would expect something much more refined.
At idle, you can even feel small vibrations in the center armrest. It seems a 6 cylinder engine is hard to get in a Luxury SUV these days. You’ll need to spend at least $74,000 to get one in a Mercedes GLE. Or $70,000 in a BMW X5.
Still, a good option is the Acura MDX, with its amazingly smooth and refined V6 starting at $52,000…
Once you get going, the steering feels very nice. The ride seems too rough, but gets a bit better if you leave it in the “auto” mode. But it’s no magic carpet.
The best way to describe the powertrain si “abtrupt”. At very low speed, parking the car, it is hard to move around smoothly. The car seems just jerk forward or backward. When driving around , you hear and feel the transmission shifting, and especially, downshifting, all the time. Which, I guess, is trying hard to give a sporty impression in a big SUV that is just not sporty at all anyway.
(It is something I rememebr experience in in the Cadillac CT6 V6 years ago for some reason)
On the highway, things settle down to a smoother and quieter experience.
The official MPG numbers are 20 City and 26HWY. Which by the way, is really terrible for a 4 cylinder engine. During my weekly drive, I averaged 18 around town. But was able to easily get around 29/30MPG on the freeway.
By the way, this compares to 18 MPG City and 28MPG Hwy I got a few years ago in the Acura MDX. A 3 row SUV with one of the smoothest V6 engines I’ve ever experienced.
In my opinion, the Infiniti FX56 is a tough sale. It’s trying hard but its powertrain is not up to the standard expected in a $71,000 luxury SUV.
I hear Infiniti will soon switch to a V6. A Hybrid V6 is also coming to a few Nissan vehicles.
There might be hope…