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Cars in the City

To Infiniti… and beyond

11/30/2022

“To infinity… and beyond” is a quote from Buzz Lightyear in “Toy Story.” This article may as well read, “To the Infiniti dealership… and go beyond ordinary.” Because that’s what the carmaker strives to do — stand out among luxury brands.

The 2023 Infiniti QX60 is redesigned. After a pandemic and a chip delay, the 2023 models of Infinities have ramped up on the lots. The mid-level SUV crossover price tag is a luxury model at $66,200. This vehicle includes many safety features, which are standard. Unlike decades ago when I first had a car with intermittent wipers and power windows, I thought I got quite the upgrade. 

The all-wheel drive Infiniti includes around view monitoring, which senses moving objects within the camera’s view. This helps with parking and backing up — especially good for those with stiff necks who can’t look over their shoulders. Glance at the rearview mirror and it gives you a clear view what’s going on in the back of the vehicle, whether you have passengers or cargo in the back or not. Now you can load up your vehicle with “stuff” — and the stuff of those ever-constant college kids who are schlepping their belongings between home and dorm.

Passengers are just as important as the driver in this vehicle. With three rows of seating, it’s a roomy ride for normal-sized adults. And with theater-type seating, the height in the backseats is higher. This means they can have a better view in front of them, and not just focus on that one unraveling thread on the back of your buddy’s hat. 

With seven USB ports located throughout the vehicle, all passengers can keep devices charged. There are roof-mounted vents in the second and third rows. That solves my common complaint of sitting in the back seat, either freezing in the winter or sweating in the summer because the front passengers get all the comfort. The QX60 does it right.

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Another feature I liked on the 12.3-inch display was minor, but helpful. For example, when changing screens to view the map on the display, you press a button. This actually has a click-feel, so you know you depressed the correct screen. 

The first time I drove a vehicle with massaging seats, it was the Volvo XC90 — for the April 2021 Cars in the City column. I was hooked. Every car since then, I’ve fiddled with the buttons at the base of the seat, hoping for a seat massager. When melting into the high-grade Infiniti leather seats, I found the Infiniti’s seat massager. My sister asked, “Isn’t massaging seats too relaxing as you’re driving along?” No. Once Iowa winter sets in, a heated massage hits the lower back on just the right achy spots. 

With 295 horsepower, it gets 23 miles per gallon combined city and highway. The motion-activated liftgate is convenient when you have a bag of groceries or your college kid’s stuff. Just kick your foot underneath the back hatch, and it opens hands-free. 

Infiniti is a fairly new vehicle brand. Nissan carmakers wanted to offer a luxury brand to compete with the higher-end imports. In 1989, the first Infiniti debuted in Japan as an import. Today’s model reviewed is made in Tennessee. 

If you’re looking for a luxury vehicle where passengers are king, consider an Infiniti.

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