GUCCI™ Posted June 29, 2017 Posted June 29, 2017 What Is It: The 2017 Infiniti QX70 luxury midsize crossover, formerly FX, eschews Nissan's continuously variable transmission for a seven-speed automatic, paired with a 325-hp, 3.7-liter V6 Key Competitors: Lexus RX, Cadillac XT5, Audi Q5 Base Price: $48,645 As Tested: $58,480 Highlights: Infiniti’s sporty QX70 "personal crossover" gets an added dose of luxe for 2017 with a new Limited package. Debuting at the New York auto show, Infiniti added open-pore wood trim, LED daytime running lights and graphite- and stone-colored leather seats. There won’t be any drastic changes for the QX70 with the Limited package, just subtle enhancements to justify the extra cost and badging. Opinion: The QX70 crossover, formerly FX, was always a good-looking car, and the new Limited package adds attractive dark wheels and dark accents. Like the Q60, the rear end treatment is sweet. It's good-looking, with a good shape, good wheels -- not much to complain about. The interior has soft leather and cool patterns on the seats, doors and the like. There isn’t as much space as you’d expect, though. I folded the seats flat to transport my gaming rig, which is about 4 feet by 3 feet by 2 feet tall, and I had to lay it on its side. That, my bucket seat and my duffel bag filled up most of the space, and remember, that’s with the seats folded. If you had four people in there, that space shrinks considerably. Nissan/Infiniti radios are always good, possibly second in ease of use, to Kia/Hyundai’s setup. There are knobs for tuning and climate, though a little small, but that’s always a plus. Power feels just right, at 325 hp, for a luxury crossover. I know lots of manufacturers are putting turbo four-cylinders in this category, but most of the time, they feel strained. The seven-speed auto feels a little flimsy, though; I thought it was a CVT for the first few miles. It makes small, hard-to-notice shifts, and sometimes it hunts for gears as you’re putting your foot down. This would not be my first choice for a powertrain. The FX50 used to have the stout 5.0-liter V8, and that car was a rocket; it felt like big-ol’ GT-R. I couldn’t find it on the consumer site, though, so at the moment, this is your only choice. Given its dimensions, the QX70 is sort of a black sheep in a strong category with more traditional utilities like the Lexus RX and Acura RDX, which are both great choices. As for sales, it sits in the middle, also outsold by the new Cadillac XT5 and Mercedes GLE.
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