The all-new 2027 Infiniti QX65 I have this week is a two-row, five-passenger midsize luxury crossover that gives Infiniti something it has been missing: a stylish, roomy SUV for buyers who do not need a third row. My tester is the top-of-the-line QX65 Autograph AWD, finished in a dramatic red with a contrasting black roof and a gorgeous Vermilion Red semi-aniline leather interior. It is a head-turner, and in my view it is one of the best-looking Infiniti utility vehicles in years.
A little history
To understand the QX65, it helps to look at how Infiniti got here. The QX50 was the brand’s compact two-row crossover and introduced Infiniti’s innovative variable-compression turbocharged four-cylinder engine. Infiniti then created the QX55, essentially the more fashion-forward, coupe-roofline alternative to the QX50. The QX55 deliberately reached back to the original Infiniti FX, one of the vehicles that helped establish the sporty crossover-coupe idea long before that body style became fashionable.
The QX55 was discontinued after the 2025 model year, while the QX50 also disappeared from Infiniti’s current U.S. new-vehicle lineup. At the same time, the QX60 continued as Infiniti’s conventional three-row midsize crossover. The QX65 is the next step in that evolution: it uses the larger midsize formula and much of the mechanical thinking associated with the QX60, removes the third row, and wraps the package in a much sportier fastback body. In simple terms, think of it as the QX55 idea moved up a size, with considerably more room and presence.
What’s new?
Everything about the QX65 nameplate is new for 2027. It is offered in Luxe, Sport and Autograph trim levels, all with all-wheel drive. The QX65 brings back a dedicated two-row Infiniti crossover while also reviving some of the visual attitude of the old FX. It gets its own fastback roofline, distinctive front and rear styling, a wide digital cockpit, Google built-in infotainment, available 3D camera technology and, on the Autograph, some very impressive luxury touches.
The biggest difference from the QX60 is obvious when you walk around it. The QX65 gives up the QX60’s third-row utility in exchange for a lower-looking, sportier rear profile. It is still a substantial vehicle at nearly 199 inches long, but the roof treatment and blacked-out upper section make it look sleeker than the dimensions suggest.
Exterior
The front end is unmistakably Infiniti, dominated by a huge black grille with a lighted Infiniti emblem and very thin LED running lights that stretch toward the fenders. The primary lighting is positioned lower in the fascia, giving the QX65 a modern split-light appearance. On this Autograph, the black roof, black lower trim and 21-inch machined alloy wheels work especially well with the red paint.
The side view may be the QX65’s best angle. A bright trim strip starts near the windshield, follows the upper window line and then drops sharply toward the rear, visually emphasizing the fastback shape. The sheet metal has enough sculpting to keep the large body from looking slab-sided without becoming overly busy.
At the rear is a full-width, three-dimensional LED taillight treatment with vertical elements Infiniti says were inspired by aircraft fins. The INFINITI lettering is spread across the liftgate, and the black lower fascia gives the rear a broad, planted look. There is no mistaking the design mission here: this is the emotional alternative to the more traditional QX60.
Powertrain
Every QX65 uses Infiniti’s 2.0-liter variable-compression turbocharged four-cylinder engine. It produces 268-horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 286 pound-feet of torque at 4,400 rpm. The variable-compression design can alter its compression ratio as driving conditions change, balancing power and efficiency.
The engine is paired with a conventional 9-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters, which is a very important distinction from the continuously variable transmission used in the former QX50 and QX55. All-wheel drive is standard across the QX65 lineup.
Interior
The Autograph interior is where this QX65 really earns its luxury credentials. The Vermilion Red semi-aniline leather is quilted and perforated, with contrasting dark sections and extensive stitching. The red treatment continues across the dashboard and center console, and the overall effect is far richer and more distinctive than the conservative black cabins found in many luxury SUVs.
The front seats are 8-way power adjustable, heated and ventilated, and both front occupants get massage functionality. The driver gets memory settings, and the steering wheel is heated. A panoramic moonroof brightens the cabin, while the second-row outboard seats are heated.
Infiniti has retained enough physical controls that the cabin does not require a touchscreen expedition every time you want to change the temperature. The climate panel is glossy and touch-sensitive in places, but the temperature knobs are large and easy to find. The console also provides dedicated Audio, Menu, Map and Camera controls around a rotary controller, plus the electronic shifter, electronic parking brake and Auto Hold.
Driver cluster & Center screen
The driver faces a crisp 12.3-inch digital meter display that can present vehicle information, navigation and the drive-mode selection. My photos show Sport, Auto, Eco and Snow selections in the driver display. The Autograph also has a large 10.8-inch head-up display that places key information in the driver’s line of sight.
The 12.3-inch Infiniti InTouch touchscreen is mounted high on the dash where it is easy to see. Google built-in brings Google Maps, Google Assistant and access to compatible apps through Google Play. Wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless Android Auto are also included, along with SiriusXM with 360L, Infiniti connected services, a Wi-Fi hotspot and wireless phone charging. I particularly like that Infiniti did not make the touchscreen the only way to operate the system. The console controller and shortcut buttons give you another way to move through common functions, and there is a dedicated camera button exactly where you want it, PLUS you don’t get fingerprints all over the screen.
Drive modes
Infiniti provides selectable drive settings to alter the vehicle’s responses for different conditions. The system includes Sport, Auto, Eco and Snow, with additional capability associated with towing and varying road conditions.
Sport sharpens the response, Eco prioritizes efficiency, Auto is the everyday setting, and Snow is intended to make power delivery more manageable on slippery surfaces.
Second row
The QX65 has a conventional 60/40-split second-row bench that reclines, slides fore and aft and folds to expand the cargo area. Rear legroom is 35.7 inches. The fastback roof naturally gives the rear of the cabin a different feel from the more upright QX60, but this remains a true five-passenger midsize crossover rather than a cramped coupe with rear doors.
Cargo
Cargo capacity is 35.8 cubic feet behind the second row and 67.7 cubic feet with the second row folded. That is one of the benefits of starting with a genuinely midsize footprint rather than simply stretching the styling of a smaller crossover. The cargo floor is wide and useful, and the second-row seatbacks fold to create a large load area.
Standard features
Autograph equipment includes semi-aniline leather seating, massaging and climate-controlled front seats, heated rear seats, a heated leather steering wheel, panoramic moonroof, rain-sensing wipers, power-folding heated outside mirrors, motion-activated power liftgate, remote start, Intelligent Key, dual occupant memory for the driver’s seat and steering column, HomeLink, illuminated interior trim and premium floor mats.
The audio system is a Klipsch Reference Premiere 20-speaker setup, including Individual Audio speakers built into the front headrests. It is one of the more interesting premium-audio installations in this class because it can focus certain audio information around the driver or front passenger rather than simply filling the entire cabin with the same sound.
Safety
The QX65 has a long list of standard driver-assistance and collision-avoidance systems, including Predictive Forward Collision Warning, Forward Emergency Braking with pedestrian detection, Blind Spot Warning, Blind Spot Intervention, Lane Departure Warning, Lane Departure Prevention, Rear Automatic Braking, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, High Beam Assist, Traffic Sign Recognition, front and rear parking sensors and an Around View camera system.
This particular Autograph also has the Technology Package, which adds ProPILOT Assist 2.1, a driver-monitoring system and the enhanced 3D Around View Monitor with Spin Capability. ProPILOT Assist 2.1 can provide hands-off driving assistance on compatible divided highways when its operating requirements are satisfied, but it remains a driver-assistance system and requires the driver to stay attentive.
Options
My QX65 has the $3,700 Technology Package, which includes ProPILOT Assist 2.1, the enhanced 3D Around View Monitor, driver monitoring, tow-hitch hardware and wiring, and Trailer Sway Control. Other added equipment includes illuminated cargo scuff plates, black roof-rail crossbars, a cargo package with reversible cargo-area protector, cargo net, clear rear-bumper protector and medic kit, splash guards, a USB charging cable set and premium paint.
This QX65 Autograph has a base price of $62,590. With options and the $1,545 destination charge, the total MSRP is $71,355.
Verdict
The QX65’s mechanical layout tells you a lot about its personality. With 286 pound-feet of torque, standard all-wheel drive and a 9-speed automatic rather than the old QX55’s CVT, it feels more substantial and conventional in the way it delivers power. This is not a high-performance SUV despite the aggressive body, but the powertrain is well suited to everyday luxury-crossover duty and the conventional automatic is a welcome match for the vehicle.
The independent suspension and 21-inch tires give the Autograph a planted feel, while the cabin’s strongest impression is refinement. The seating position, head-up display, digital cluster and excellent camera coverage make this large two-row crossover easy to place from behind the wheel. The sloping roof and styling are the stars of the show, but Infiniti did not sacrifice the useful cargo room that buyers expect from a midsize SUV.
The result is a distinctive two-row luxury crossover with excellent interior materials, useful cargo room, a long list of technology and one of the better-looking bodies in the segment. Buyers who need a third row should stay with the QX60. Buyers who want the room of a midsize Infiniti but would gladly trade the third row for style should put the QX65 high on the shopping list.
This feels like a premium, luxury SUV, and I’ve not been able to say that with every Infiniti of the past.