The QX60 wasn’t always called the QX60 because it started as the JX35 before the brand reworked its naming scheme. By the end of the first generation’s production, it offered Infiniti’s latest safety, styling, and driver-assist technology. An initial sales surge and strong market reaction led to aggressive year-over-year updates in the mid-2010s, creating several milestone model years. As Infiniti worked to keep the QX60 competitive against the Audi Q7, Acura MDX, and Volvo XC90, shoppers benefited from a constantly expanding array of technology.

The first generation of this popular luxury SUV is no longer new, but the used market offers a wide selection of well-equipped units at reasonable prices. Below, we’ll guide you through the major QX60 updates to help you find the best model year, along with a few key considerations.

We’re specifically looking back at the final years of the first Infiniti QX60 (2019 and 2020), sourcing technical data from the manufacturer and using market pricing from Autotempest.com.

The Life and Times Of The Infiniti QX60

The Infiniti QX60 is a popular luxury three-row SUV that first debuted for the 2013 model year wearing the JX35 badge. A year later, as Infiniti transitioned to a new alphanumeric naming convention, creating QX60 nameplate. Built on Nissan Pathfinder underpinnings, it quickly garnered a reputation for its comfortable ride, plush interior, and a strong emphasis on family-friendly features, as well as a continuously evolving safety story. The QX60 had a few signature tricks, including the ability to provide easy access to the third row, even with a child seat installed.

The QX60 concluded its initial run after 2020, paving the way for an all-new, fully redesigned second-generation QX60, which arrived in 2022. Along the way, a few milestone model years are worth understanding as you research. The outgoing first-generation QX60 remains a compelling option on the second-hand market, often available at highly reasonable prices.

Key Specs, Features, and Model Years of the Infiniti QX60

The 2016 model year was a big one for the QX60. For 2015, sales of this model were up by a third in the USA, making the QX60 the second-best-selling Infiniti at the time (right behind the Q50 sedan). To help maintain the momentum, a mid-cycle update for 2016 updated the QX60’s bumpers and lights, added new steering and suspension hardware and calibrations for a more engaging and comfortable drive, and applied acoustic glass to the front windows to reduce noise. More advanced safety equipment became standard across various trim levels as well.

For 2017, a new 3.5-liter V6 engine gets over 50% new parts and components, including direct fuel injection. The result is 30 more horsepower and 22 more lb-ft of torque, with no penalty to fuel consumption. A CVT remains the sole transmission option, more on that later. Elsewhere in 2017, the QX60’s equipment packages were updated and enhanced, with a Motion-Activated Liftgate, High Beam Assist, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror added to the Deluxe Technology Package. The rear seat theater package received upgraded screens and headphones, and all models now feature an 8-inch color display, up from the outgoing 7-inch screen.

For the 2018 model year, an innovative Rear Door Alert system was added to the safety equipment list. This clever feature helps remind drivers to check the rear seats before exiting the vehicle, especially if the rear doors were opened before leaving but not reopened after parking.

Then in 2019, Infiniti made Blind Spot Warning, Forward Emergency Braking with pedestrian detection, and predictive Forward Collision Warning (which could detect emergency braking two cars ahead) standard across all grades. The 2019 model year also saw the introduction of a revised trim grade structure, now offering four models: Pure, Pure AWD, Luxe, and Luxe AWD. A new Limited package features unique interior and exterior treatments. The ProASSIST package, if equipped on the model you’re considering, adds Lane Departure Prevention, Lane Departure Warning, Blind Spot Intervention, and High Beam Assist.

The 2020 QX60 was a carryover model, exactly the same as the 2019. All said, choosing a 2019 or 2020 model will get you into the very best technology and safety equipment the QX60 has to offer.

Designers used a flat platform floor to enhance both the QX50’s stance and interior flexibility. Second row seating can be adjusted forward and backward by 5.5 inches, allowing legroom and cargo space to be adjusted on the fly between the first and second seating rows. Wide door openings and the ability of the second-row seats to slide 5.5 inches forward make for easy entry to the third-row seats, too. Here’s one of the QX60’s best party tricks: the multi-mode second-row seat has a unique movement function that lets it slide forward out of the way, even with a child seat installed, ensuring passengers can easily access the third row of the QX60 even if a child seat is installed in the second row. Additionally, both rear seating rows are split folding and able to recline for added comfort and flexibility.

What You’ll Pay Today (And What About That CVT)

In 2019, the QX60’s pricing ranged between $44,000 and $48,000. In 2020, the top-line Signature-edition model with all the bells and whistles pushed the upper end of the price range just past $52,000. Today, setting a budget of $30,000 will put you in a 2019 or 2020 model with a sub-25,000-mile odometer reading, according to data from Autotempest.com. The high-end Signature Edition models also fall into this price range, commonly with a slightly higher asking price and slightly higher mileage, all else being equal. If you’re okay with 30,000 or 40,000 miles on the odometer, you can find a 2019 or 2020 QX60 for as little as $20,000, making it one of the safest and most spacious luxury SUVs at the price point.

Just watch that transmission. Today, the latest versions of the Pathfinder and QX60 use a conventional automatic after Nissan switched away from the Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) that had helped define its brand-wide push towards fuel efficiency for years. The trouble is, the Nissan/Infiniti CVT has also earned a poor reputation along the way, prompting lawsuits from owners who claim systematic trouble. The Infiniti QX60 was named in one such class-action lawsuit, though only 2015 to 2018 model year vehicles were listed.

So, is the transmission in the QX60 you’re considering a ticking time bomb? Probably not, but shoppers should understand that it comes from a gene pool of vehicles affected by CVT trouble and act accordingly.

Shoppers may choose to protect themselves with an extended warranty package, or consider banking that money in the event of transmission trouble down the line. Remember, people don’t go on the internet to report that their cars performed flawlessly, so assume every complaint you read on the internet is also matched by an even higher number of drivers who haven’t experienced trouble. The internet is full of evidence that the QX60’s transmission is a potential trouble area, as well as evidence that some owners drive for years with no issue at all.

Some owners have had success by changing their transmission fluid more frequently than recommended in the owner’s manual, perhaps every year or every 30,000 miles. Ensure this work is only performed in a dealer setting, as special equipment, electronics, and fluids are required to do the job properly. Be cautious of models with transmissions that have been previously serviced in a DIY setting. Avoiding a model that’s ever been used for towing is probably a good idea, too.

Sources: Infiniti, Autotempest, NHTSA