This week I had the pleasure of driving the 2026 Infiniti QX60 Autograph, which is the top-of-the-line flagship trim for Infiniti. The “Autograph” badge means that there are added exclusive luxury materials and advanced technology included, compared to the lower models.
This is immediately and visibly noticeable with the seats. The QX60 is equipped with quilted semi-aniline leather upholstery for both the first and second-row chairs. The SUV seats six in total, each passenger with their own seat. “Aniline leather” is “premium, high-grade full-grain leather dyed exclusively with soluble dyes without any artificial pigmented topcoat” (as per Wikipedia). This makes it the most natural and softest leather available.
You do feel this, especially coupled with the ability to custom adjust the comfort, the dimpled vents for fast heating and cooling, and how it is stitched up aesthetically like a racing chair that includes metallic gold pipping.
Given all the bells and whistles I expected the Autograph to have massaging seats, but apparently didn’t look for the option hard enough to realize that, that was indeed the case. Only when writing this, did I realize that there is a massage option, and that it is pretty easy to locate. There is a button right on the plastic base of the chair, located closest to the door, by the driver’s left knee. Its icon is of a seat with a squiggle coming out of it. I only found this on my last hours with the Infiniti, thinking it was ridiculous to have to search for the massaging feature via the touch screen infotainment system.
This too I learned the hard way, and it wasn’t an obvious path. Settings > All settings > Vehicle > Seat > Massage settings. And even there, there isn’t a button to start the massaging process. Although you can activate it by toggling through the massage options: relaxing, refreshing, or lumbar. All of which only directly affect the lower back of the seat. Toggling through them and making sure that the intensify was at highest point, so I could actually feel it, was how I activated this.
I was further impressed by the seat with its built in speakers. One on either sides of the head rest for both the driver and first row passenger. They were by Klipsch, and this was my first time seeing the name and getting to try out their technology. Despite the note of them being “reference premiere” on the frame of the speaker, they are mid tier; known for a bright, forward, and highly dynamic sound. “Their signature horn tweeters deliver sharp detail and high sensitivity, meaning they get very loud with very little amplifier power.” (As per a quick google search). To be honest I didn’t notice the difference or any audio coming from my head rest. Except when making a call with my Apple CarPlay synced up, then the audio played came from those speakers. Maybe this was another setting issue that I didn’t bother to look into again.
I did take advantage of this larger SUV by driving my friends up to Britannia Village for a day trip. They were both impressed and comfortable to be able to sit and relax in such a spacious vehicle. It was three of us, and this is one of the few times the backseat was actually used. Thankfully the second row is as comfortable as the first, just minus the massage option, cooling seats, and they have to manually adjust its placement. But they do have their own climate control and centre console with bins and cup holder.
The interior felt luxurious with dark wood grain simulated panels. Coupled with the above mentioned supple leather and its quilted stitching. Plus the vehicle’s overall clean palate of gradient greys.
I did like how the wheel was smaller for an easier grip, and that the wireless charging pad was quick charging. Everything else was as expected with Drive modes like sport, auto, Eco, snow and tow. In order to activate any of them, it was easy enough to push to start the vehicle, then look below it to toggle the mode with a flick of a switch.
I was not a fan of the clunky gear shift. It was short and stout, and the length of my entire palm. Shaped like a brick and cumbersome to either drag back or push forward. Given all the other new age, high tech button-ery, I would have envisioned this as a push button option as well. That would have made it more synonymous with the rest of the controls.
Especially the control panel that was a glossy plastic and felt like a touch screen. You had to watch out for the pushback to ensure that your choice was operational.
As for the way it drove, there was a bit of oversteering to watch out for, and the need to compensate given how much rev you get by simply stepping on the gas. My passengers commented that the 2026 Infiniti QX60 Autograph was surprisingly comfortable on the winding Sea to Sky Highway. They stated that they did not feel or hear much of what was happening outside of the car. I replied that, that was also in part to my driving.
Overall, a great people and cargo hauler. Not surprisingly heavier on the gas, but that is the price you pay for over 600 km in the tank. It cost us $75 at the prices these days to fill half of it.
