2027 Infiniti QX65 First Drive: FXing the Problems

What Car Shoppers Need to Know

• The 2027 Infiniti QX65 coupe SUV has less room, fewer seats and more style than the boxier QX60, but its differences go beyond skin-deep.
• A complete retune of the turbocharged powertrain and nine-speed automatic transmission genuinely create a more engaging driving experience, but it’s not quite a modern FX45.
• At a starting price of $55,535 (including $1,545 destination fee), it will be the entry-level Infiniti in the current showroom — for now.

When we got our first in-the-metal look at the new 2027 Infiniti QX65 coupeified SUV at the 2026 New York International Auto Show, our trio of editors attending the show universally named the QX65 to the “Losers” list in our Winners and Losers roundup. We cited the silliness of the body style, touch-panel controls for most everything and the big worry that despite promises of sporty driving experiences inspired by the old beloved FX from two decades ago, it would come saddled with the QX60’s lackluster powertrain. I myself was one of those worriers, as I have not been a fan of Infiniti’s turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and nine-speed automatic combination, finding the last QX60 I drove to be laggy, slow to respond, and awkwardly tuned.

Related: Up Close With the 2027 Infiniti QX65: Less Convenient, But It Looks Good

Apparently, I wasn’t the only one who thought so: Infiniti senior management felt the same way and ordered a complete retune of the powertrain when the company transformed the QX60 three-row SUV into the QX65 two-row you see here. The result is truly transformative, creating a stylish new mid-size SUV-coupe-thing that still has headroom and cargo room but expresses a much greater eagerness (and ability) to run.

What’s Changed Between the QX60 and QX65?

The 2027 QX65 is the brand building on a trend of offering a regular high-riding SUV and chopping the roof down to something swoopy, eliminating the third row (if it had one), culling the cargo space and then charging people more money for the privilege of something that might sort of look sportier but really isn’t. All of the luxury automakers are doing it, just about — BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Porsche, you name it. Sales numbers aren’t big for such vehicles, but as style statements, people who love them, love them. Infiniti is fleshing out its shrinking lineup with one, basing all of its mechanicals, running gear and interior bits from the three-row QX60. The QX65 does get some refreshed styling front and rear, and we have to say, it actually does look good — not ill-proportioned, not top-heavy or given a bulldog stance. It just presents a swoopier roofline with a dramatic arc dipping to the rear. Visually, the big changes between the 60 and 65 make the coupe look more appealing.

Under the hood, mechanically, nothing is different — but that doesn’t mean it works the same. When the QX65 was announced, Infiniti bosses ordered a rapid retune of the powertrain to make it perform as sporty as it looks, according to brand spokespeople. That meant a complete retune of the engine controls, transmission controls, inputs like throttle position, shift schedules — all of the electronic parameters and systems that affect how modern engines and transmissions work. Whereas the QX60 is kind of poky and slow to react, even frustrating in certain conditions, the QX65 is nothing like that.

The variable-compression turbocharged 2.0-liter engine still makes 268 horsepower and 286 pounds-feet of torque, and it still routes it all through a standard nine-speed transmission to all four wheels. But with the changes to the software tuning, it responds with much more immediacy to a stab of the go-pedal. You have to be a bit light on your right foot in stop-and-go traffic around town, but out in suburban conditions, the QX65 lights up with enthusiastic grunt. Acceleration feels swifter, and the transmission downshifts on deceleration to keep the engine in its torque zone and better prepare for powering out of a corner. There’s no hesitation or lag. It’s not the super-quick gear change you’d expect from a dual-clutch automatic and still retains a modicum of smoothness (it’s a luxury vehicle, not a sports car), but the improvement to the drivability of the QX65 versus the QX60 is remarkable.

It does come with some additional piped-in music however, in the form of what Infiniti feels is the simulated sound of a V-6 engine. Now, Infiniti has in the past made some truly epic V-6 engines and made them sound fantastic, but what’s been replicated rather loudly in the cabin here sounds more like Eartha Kitt as Catwoman pretending to be a V-6 engine — it has a trilling, raspy note that just sounds off. It makes me giggle more than it makes me excited to hear it. The big 21-inch wheels and tires of my top Autograph trim test model sent up some road noise into the cabin, but their size doesn’t impact ride quality much, which is nicely damped and smooth.

As for how the rest of the QX65 performs, well, it’s much the same as the QX60. It’s a big, heavy mid-size SUV, so while it’s eager to run, it’s less eager to change direction. Body control is well done, neither tippy nor soft, but it pushes into understeer when driven with alacrity and the brakes don’t provide much confidence in the pedal feel, with uneven stopping power when pushed. Steering feel is decent for a big luxury SUV — not overly communicative, but not numb and video-game-like as we’ve seen in vehicles like the Lincoln Nautilus. In essence, it feels like Infiniti took the QX60 and gave it a Red Bull.

But How Does It Work as an SUV?

The problem with coupe crossovers is that chopping the top often leads to compromises that turn an otherwise lovely SUV (like, say, a BMW X5) into a cringeworthy successor (like a BMW X6). That really hasn’t happened with the QX65, however. Yes, the roofline is lower, but the backseat still has plenty of headroom even with the moonroof eating into it. The cargo area is enormous, if not overly tall, able to fit tons of suitcases in back even without dropping the backseats. Legroom is plentiful in the second row, and the seat slides fore and aft despite there being no reason to given there’s no third row in back with passengers that might need more legroom.

Upfront, it’s the same environment as the QX60, for better or worse. It’s attractive, familiar and very well assembled from top-quality materials. We’re not thrilled with the haptic touch panel that controls everything underneath the big multimedia screen, but at least it’s bright and easy to use. We still prefer the buttons that are in the related Nissan Pathfinder, however, which are easier to use when driving down the road as they don’t require you to take your eyes off where you’re going. But the quilted leather, beautiful trim, excellent visibility and plentiful room all around make it a great place to spend some road-trip time.

More From Cars.com:

• Thinly Veiled Infiniti QX65 Monograph Concept Previews Upcoming SUV Coupe
• 2026 Infiniti QX60 Quick Spin: Incrementally Improving
• How Do Car Seats Fit in a 2025 Infiniti QX60?
• Nissan, Infiniti Outline Plans for New Models, Tech Updates Through 2027
• Add Cars.com as a Preferred Source on Google

Is It the Spiritual Successor to the FX?

That might be pushing it. The FX was a rear-wheel-drive coupe crossover based on the Nissan FM platform that spawned a multitude of fantastic vehicles, including the G35, M45, Nissan 350Z and more. It’s remembered fondly by people who enjoyed it, but it was somewhat ahead of its time. The styling of the QX65 may try to harken back to those days, but it can’t hold up to the performance chops of the old FX — and that’s OK, as consumer preferences have largely changed. Front- and all-wheel drive is the more common norm, given how modern drivers use their vehicles.

The starting price for a new ‘27 QX65 will be $55,535 (all prices include a $1,545 destination fee) for a Luxe base trim. A mid-grade Sport model will be available with blacked-out trim for $57,235, and the top model is the Autograph starting at $64,135. That prices it pretty much where the majority of its competition sits, as well. With its combination of attention-grabbing styling, competitive pricing and improved performance, the QX65 should be a success for Infiniti and draw attention to the brand’s efforts at rebuilding its showroom. It’s a step in the right direction, at least.

Related Video:

Cars.com’s Editorial department is your source for automotive news and reviews. In line with Cars.com’s long-standing ethics policy, editors and reviewers don’t accept gifts or free trips from automakers. The Editorial department is independent of Cars.com’s advertising, sales and sponsored content departments.