We have all felt that pang of boredom while staring at a sea of identical, boxy SUVs in the grocery store parking lot. You want the utility of a high-riding vehicle, but you secretly miss the days when driving felt like an event rather than a chore. It is a common struggle: choosing between a practical family hauler that feels like a rolling lounge and a sports sedan that can’t fit a single suitcase. With the debut of the 2027 Infiniti QX65 First Drive: It Wants to Be Sporty, Infiniti is attempting to bridge that gap by lopping off the roof of the QX60 and injecting some much-needed adrenaline into their lineup.
The Silhouette of Ambition: Design and Curb Appeal
When you first walk up to the QX65, the visual drama is undeniable. It is essentially the more athletic, “coupe-styled” sibling to the QX60, sporting a dramatically raked roofline that mimics the fastback look of the iconic FX series from decades ago. This isn’t just a minor nip and tuck; the rear end has been completely reimagined to give it a squat, muscular stance that looks ready to pounce. If you are someone who values aesthetic presence over total cubic footage, this design is aimed squarely at your heart.
However, we must talk about the “aesthetic arbitrage” happening here. By choosing the coupe silhouette, you are making a conscious trade-off. You lose that cavernous third row found in the QX60, but you gain a profile that actually stands out in a crowded valet line. It’s the automotive equivalent of a tailored suit—it might restrict your movement slightly, but the way you feel while wearing it is worth the squeeze.
From an expert’s perspective, this move is Infiniti’s way of reclaiming its “cool factor” in the premium segment. For years, the brand drifted toward conservative luxury, but the QX65 signals a return to its roots of bold, slightly polarizing design. We see this in the intricate “origami” grille and the signature “digital piano key” lighting. It is a vehicle designed for the driver who wants to be noticed before they even put the car in gear.
Mechanical Heart: Does the Performance Match the Look?
Underneath the hood of the 2027 Infiniti QX65 First Drive: It Wants to Be Sporty, you’ll find a familiar friend: the 3.5-liter V6 paired with a ZF-sourced 9-speed automatic transmission. While some purists were hoping for a return of the twin-turbocharged “Red Sport” engines, this V6 remains a masterclass in linear power delivery. It produces nearly 300 horsepower, which is plenty for merging onto the highway with confidence, though it lacks the “neck-snapping” urgency of some German competitors.
What makes it feel “sporty” isn’t necessarily the raw speed, but the way Infiniti has recalibrated the suspension. The dampers are significantly stiffer than those on the QX60, reducing body roll during spirited cornering. When we took a series of tight S-curves during our initial test, the QX65 stayed remarkably flat. It doesn’t defy the laws of physics—it is still a heavy luxury crossover—but it definitely feels more “light on its feet” than its boxier siblings.
The real star of the show is the revised steering rack. Infiniti has dialed out some of the “numbness” that plagued previous models, giving you a better sense of what the front tires are doing. If you are the type of driver who takes the long way home just to hit a few extra curves, you will appreciate the added weight in the steering wheel. It creates a sense of engagement that is often missing from the modern, over-boosted luxury SUV experience.
The Cabin Experience: Digital Luxury Meets Tactile Craftsmanship
Step inside, and you are immediately greeted by a cockpit that feels like a high-end boutique. Infiniti’s “Zero Gravity” seats remain the gold standard for long-distance comfort, redistributing your weight to minimize fatigue during those three-hour commutes. In the QX65, these seats are often draped in semi-aniline leather with intricate quilting that looks like it belongs in a vehicle twice the price. We love the juxtaposition of high-tech screens and old-world materials like open-pore wood and brushed aluminum.
The technology suite has finally caught up to the competition. A massive, dual-screen setup dominates the dashboard, offering lightning-fast response times and wireless integration for both major smartphone platforms. Unlike some rivals that bury every function in a sub-menu, Infiniti has kept physical knobs for the most important controls. This is a massive win for usability. You can adjust the volume or temperature without taking your eyes off the road—a simple luxury that we often take for granted.
A hypothetical personal example: Imagine you’re running late for a gala, navigating through city traffic while trying to use voice commands to find the venue. In many luxury cars, the tech gets in the way. In the QX65, the head-up display and intuitive interface work with you, not against you. It’s an ergonomic triumph that makes the “sporty” ambition of the car feel refined rather than frantic. You are in a focused environment that prioritizes your needs as a driver.
The Practicality Paradox: Space vs. Style
We have to address the elephant in the room: cargo capacity. Because of that beautiful, sloping roofline, you lose a significant amount of vertical storage space compared to the QX60. If you are a frequent buyer of large, flat-pack furniture, this might not be the vehicle for you. However, for the target demographic—empty nesters or young professionals—the trunk space is more than adequate for a few sets of golf clubs or a week’s worth of luggage.
The rear seat experience is surprisingly decent for adults. Infiniti’s engineers “carved out” the headliner to ensure that six-footers won’t be rubbing their scalps against the fabric. You do lose the third row entirely, but this allows for an incredible amount of second-row legroom. It transforms the back seat into a VIP lounge. We recommend looking for models equipped with the panoramic sunroof, as it helps alleviate the slightly “cooped up” feeling that can sometimes plague fastback SUVs.
Actionable advice for potential buyers: Before you sign the lease, bring your largest suitcase to the dealership. Test the “lift-over” height of the rear hatch. The QX65 sits a bit high, and the narrower opening caused by the sporty rear end can make loading heavy items a bit of a workout. If it fits your lifestyle, the style penalty is negligible, but it is better to know your limits before you’re in the Costco parking lot trying to fit a jumbo-sized box of paper towels.
Market Position: Is the QX65 a Better Value Than the Germans?
In the world of coupe-SUVs, the BMW X6 and Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe are the heavy hitters. However, those vehicles often come with six-figure price tags once you start adding the “must-have” features. The 2027 Infiniti QX65 First Drive: It Wants to Be Sporty positions itself as a high-value alternative. You get about 95% of the prestige and performance for about 70% of the cost. For many buyers, that is a math equation that makes a lot of sense.
Infiniti also has an edge when it comes to long-term maintenance. The naturally aspirated V6 is a proven workhorse with fewer complex turbocharging components to fail down the road. If you plan on keeping your vehicle past the four-year lease mark, the Infiniti is likely the safer bet for your bank account. We’ve seen many owners of European luxury cars get “repair-bill shock” the moment the warranty expires; that is much less common with the Infiniti powertrain.
The bottom line is that the QX65 doesn’t need to be the fastest car on the road to be a success. It just needs to be the most interesting. By offering a “sporty” alternative to the sea of boring SUVs, Infiniti is giving you permission to enjoy your commute again. It’s a vehicle that prioritizes how you feel behind the wheel, and in today’s world of autonomous-leaning cars, that is a refreshing change of pace.
Closing Thoughts: A New Direction for Infiniti
The 2027 Infiniti QX65 First Drive: It Wants to Be Sporty isn’t a radical reinvention of the automobile, but it is a highly polished, stylish evolution of a winning formula. It offers just enough performance to justify its looks without sacrificing the legendary comfort that has defined the brand for decades. If you are ready to ditch the “mom-mobile” image but aren’t quite ready to give up the SUV lifestyle, this might be your perfect match.
What do you value more in an SUV: the ability to carry eight people, or the ability to turn heads at a stoplight? The QX65 makes a strong case for the latter. We invite you to head to your local showroom and see if that “sporty” ambition resonates with your driving style.
Want to see how the QX65 stacks up against the competition? [Click here to read our full luxury SUV shootout] and find your next dream car!
FAQ
How much will the 2027 Infiniti QX65 cost?
While official pricing hasn’t been finalized, industry insiders expect the QX65 to start in the mid-$50,000 range, with fully loaded “Autograph” trims pushing toward the $70,000 mark. This places it significantly below its European rivals.
Does the QX65 have a third row?
No. To achieve that sporty, coupe-like roofline, Infiniti has removed the third row entirely. This vehicle is strictly a five-passenger luxury crossover, prioritizing second-row comfort and exterior style over maximum passenger capacity.
Is the QX65 more powerful than the QX60?
The engine is largely the same 3.5-liter V6, but the QX65 features unique tuning for the transmission and suspension to provide a more engaging and responsive driving experience. It “feels” faster even if the raw numbers are similar.
When will the QX65 be available at dealerships?
The 2027 Infiniti QX65 is expected to hit showroom floors in late 2026 or early 2027. We recommend contacting your local dealer now to get on the “first-look” list, as initial inventory is expected to be limited
