Shopping the INFINITI QX60 vs Acura MDX means choosing between two very different takes on the three-row luxury SUV. Drivers from Plymouth, Kingston, and Hanover, MA come to 24 INFINITI of Plymouth asking the same thing: which one handles Route 3 traffic, hockey gear, and February nor'easters better? Here's the honest breakdown, with numbers straight from both manufacturers.
| Spec | INFINITI QX60 | Acura MDX |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 2.0L VC-Turbo® I4 with 268 HP and 286 lb-ft of torque | 3.5L V6 with 290 HP and 267 lb-ft of torque |
| Drivetrain | FWD standard on LUXE; Intelligent All-Wheel Drive available (standard on LUXE AWD, SPORT, and AUTOGRAPH) | FWD standard; SH-AWD available (standard with A-Spec, Advance, and Type S) |
| Max Towing | Up to 6,000 lbs. | 3,500 lbs. FWD / 5,000 lbs. SH-AWD® |
| MPG Combined (EPA-estimated) | 24 MPG* | Up to 22 MPG (FWD) |
| Max Seating | Up to 7 | 7 |
| Third-Row Legroom | 28.0 in. | 29.1 in. |
| Cargo Behind Third Row | 14.5 cu. ft. | 16.3 cu. ft. |
The INFINITI QX60 2.0L VC-Turbo® engine delivers 286 lb-ft at 4,400 rpm, just ahead of the MDX's 267 lb-ft at 4,700 rpm from its 3.5L V6 and offers a performance upgrade in the Type S.
Towing is where the INFINITI QX60 comes into its own. It pulls up to 6,000 lbs. when properly equipped, with Tow Mode adjusting drive settings and Trailer Sway Control responding to changing conditions. The MDX tows 5,000 lbs. with SH-AWD® and 3,500 lbs. in front-wheel drive. Launching a boat at Plymouth Harbor? Advantage QX60.
The INFINITI QX60 pairs its engine with a nine-speed automatic and five drive modes, plus available Intelligent All-Wheel Drive for Hanover's back roads after a coastal storm.
The INFINITI QX60 wins here. INFINITI rates it up to 24 MPG combined (EPA-estimated), versus 22 MPG for the front-drive MDX, 21 MPG with SH-AWD®, and 19 MPG for the MDX Type S.
Trim to trim, that's 24 MPG combined for the INFINITI QX60 with Intelligent All-Wheel Drive against 21 MPG for the MDX SH-AWD. Across a year of Kingston-to-Boston commuting on Route 3, the gap lands on your card statement. Both ask for premium: INFINITI requires premium unleaded for peak efficiency, and Acura recommends 91 octane. Actual mileage will vary with driving habits, conditions, and vehicle maintenance.
The MDX has the roomier third row and more cargo space behind it: 29.1 inches of third-row legroom and 16.3 cu. ft. of cargo, versus 28.0 inches and 14.5 cu. ft. in the QX60
Both seat up to seven. The MDX lists 38.5 inches of second-row legroom and 139.1 cu. ft. of EPA passenger volume, plus One-Touch Smart Slide walk-in access to the third row. The QX60 offers 37.7 inches in the second row with a reclining, folding 60/40 third-row bench. For a full carload heading to Duxbury Beach, the MDX holds the measurable edge.
The INFINITI QX60 SPORT and AUTOGRAPH trade the bench for heated second-row captain's chairs with a removable center console. Capacity drops to six, and third-row access gets easier for kids climbing in with hockey bags.
The INFINITI QX60 leans comfort, the Acura MDX leans sport. The INFINITI QX60 makes a heated steering wheel and power panoramic moonroof standard on every trim; the MDX reserves its heated wheel for the Advance Package.
The INFINITI QX60 offers TailorFit® seating, climate-controlled front seats, and quilted semi-aniline leather with massaging front seats on AUTOGRAPH. A rear climate control panel plus roof-mounted second- and third-row vents keep the way-back livable on a July run to the coast. Tri-zone automatic temperature control is standard.
The MDX counters with 16-way power front seats and a 9-way massage function, both part of the Advance Package. Its panoramic moonroof, heated front seats, and tri-zone climate control are standard, and authentic open-pore wood trim arrives with Advance.
Both use a 12.3-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™, but they run different operating systems.
The MDX ships with Google built-in and Amazon Alexa Built-in as standard, alongside a 12.3-inch HD Precision Cockpit™ digital instrument cluster. The INFINITI QX60 uses INFINITI InTouch® with integrated navigation, voice recognition, over-the-air updates, and a 12.3-inch reconfigurable display. Both include a wireless charging pad and mobile hotspot capability.
Here's how the rest of the tech stacks up:
| Feature | INFINITI QX60 | Acura MDX |
|---|---|---|
| Audio | Klipsch® premium audio across the lineup, topping out with a Reference Premiere 20-speaker system on AUTOGRAPH | 11-speaker Acura Premium standard, Bang & Olufsen® 19 speakers with the Technology Package, 31 speakers on Type S Advance |
| Cameras | 3D Around View® Monitor with fixed views and Moving Object Detection standard on every trim, which pays off in tight Plymouth waterfront parking | Multi-View Rear Camera standard; Surround-View Camera System requires the Advance Package |
| Charging and Power | Up to six USB ports plus a household 120V outlet on SPORT and AUTOGRAPH | USB-A and USB-C across all three rows with Advance |
Both arrive well equipped, and the INFINITI QX60 makes a 360-degree camera and hands-on highway assist standard where the MDX packages them separately.
The QX60 includes Predictive Forward Collision Warning with Forward Emergency Braking, Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection, Blind Spot Intervention™, Lane Departure Prevention, Rear Automatic Braking, and ProPILOT Assist as standard equipment. That pedestrian detection earns its keep at Silver Lake Regional school drop-off and around downtown Plymouth crosswalks in summer.
AcuraWatch™ is standard on every MDX, covering Collision Mitigation Braking System™ with pedestrian detection, Lane Keeping Assist, Road Departure Mitigation, Adaptive Cruise Control with Low-Speed Follow, Traffic Jam Assist, Blind Spot Information, and Rear Cross Traffic Monitor. The Surround-View Camera and 10.5-inch head-up display require the Advance Package.
Yes. The INFINITI QX60 seats up to seven, offers flexible second-row configurations, and makes a 360-degree camera and pedestrian detection standard. It also earned Best Luxury Midsize SUV recognition in the 2026 Parents' Best Family Cars Awards.*
Intelligent All-Wheel Drive is available on the QX60, not standard, and LUXE FWD is front-wheel drive. AWD is the configuration most Plymouth and Hanover drivers choose for winter traction on Route 3 and Route 139.
The Acura MDX, by measurement: 29.1 inches of third-row legroom versus 28.0 inches in the QX60, plus 16.3 cubic feet of cargo behind row three against 14.5. The QX60 answers with heated second-row captain's chairs.
The INFINITI QX60 vs Acura MDX decision comes down to how you actually drive around the South Shore. The INFINITI QX60 makes sense for you if you launch a boat at the Plymouth Harbor ramp or tow a trailer over the Sagamore Bridge. It also suits the Kingston-to-Boston Route 3 commuter watching fuel costs at 24 MPG combined (EPA-estimated), and anyone squeezing into a spot near Water Street who wants a 360-degree camera standard on every trim.
Drivers across Plymouth, Kingston, and Hanover, MA can compare both models and get behind the wheel of the INFINITI QX60 at 24 INFINITI of Plymouth. Contact our team to schedule a test drive!
*The INFINITI QX60 vs Acura MDX decision comes down to priorities. The INFINITI QX60 delivers better fuel economy, 1,000 lbs. more towing capacity, and more standard camera and comfort equipment across the lineup.
The MDX brings more horsepower, a roomier third row, and more cargo room behind it. Drivers across Plymouth, Kingston, and Hanover, MA can compare both back-to-back at 24 INFINITI of Plymouth. Schedule a test drive and bring the car seats.
**Source: INFINITI News
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