Compare the2019 Infiniti QX60VS 2018 Audi Q7

For enhanced safety, the front, middle and rear seat shoulder belts of the Infiniti QX60 are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The Audi Q7 doesn’t offer height-adjustable middle or rear seat belts.

Both the QX60 and the Q7 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available all-wheel drive, lane departure warning systems and around view monitors.

A significantly tougher test than their original offset frontal crash test, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH small overlap frontal offset crash tests. In this test, where only 25% of the total width of the vehicle is struck, results indicate that the Infiniti QX60 is safer than the Q7:

The QX60 comes with a full 4-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Q7’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 10,000 miles sooner.

Infiniti’s powertrain warranty covers the QX60 2 years and 20,000 miles longer than Audi covers the Q7. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the Q7 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the QX60 has a 150-amp alternator. The Q7’s standard 120-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the QX60 has a standard 550-amp battery. The Q7’s 380-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2018 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Infiniti vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Infiniti 14th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 13 more problems per 100 vehicles, Audi is ranked 25th, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2018 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Infiniti vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Infiniti fourth in reliability, above the industry average. With 21 more problems per 100 vehicles, Audi is ranked 13th.

The QX60’s 3.5 DOHC V6 produces 43 more horsepower (295 vs. 252) than the Q7 2.0T’s standard 2.0 turbo 4 cyl.

On the EPA test cycle the QX60 AWD gets better fuel mileage than the Q7 2.0T 4 cyl. (19 city/26 hwy vs. 19 city/25 hwy).

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Infiniti QX60 higher (5 out of 10) than the Audi Q7 (3). This means the QX60 produces up to 16.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Q7 every 15,000 miles.

The QX60 has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Q7 doesn’t offer a CVT.

The QX60 stops shorter than the Q7:

The QX60 has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the Q7; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed. Some models of the Q7 don’t even offer run-flats.

For better maneuverability, the QX60’s turning circle is 2 feet tighter than the Q7’s (38.7 feet vs. 40.7 feet).

The Infiniti QX60 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 300 to 550 pounds less than the Audi Q7.

The QX60 has 2.3 inches more front headroom, .5 inches more front legroom, .8 inches more front shoulder room, 2.9 inches more rear legroom, 1.9 inches more rear shoulder room, .6 inches more third row headroom, 1.6 inches more third row legroom and 7.7 inches more third row shoulder room than the Q7.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the QX60’s middle and third row seats recline. The Q7’s third row seats don’t recline.

The QX60’s cargo area provides more volume than the Q7.

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the QX60 easier. The QX60’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 30.6 inches, while the Q7’s liftover is 32.5 inches.

The QX60’s cargo area is larger than the Q7’s in almost every dimension:

The QX60 has a standard third row seat which folds flat into the floor. This completely clears a very large cargo area quickly. The Q7 doesn’t offer seats that fold into the floor.

The QX60’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Q7’s (5000 vs. 4400 pounds).

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Infiniti service is better than Audi. J.D. Power ranks Infiniti first in service department satisfaction. With a 5% lower rating, Audi is ranked third.

The QX60 offers a remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The Q7 doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the QX60 has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the Q7 only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

Consumer Reports rated the QX60’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the Q7’s headlights, which were rated “Good.”

The QX60 offers an optional 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Q7 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The QX60 is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Q7 doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Insurance will cost less for the QX60 owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the QX60 will cost $476 to $2510 less than the Q7 over a five-year period.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the QX60 is less expensive to operate than the Q7 because typical repairs cost much less on the QX60 than the Q7, including $126 less for a water pump, $276 less for a muffler, $95 less for front brake pads, $524 less for a starter, $346 less for fuel injection, $378 less for front struts and $352 less for a timing belt/chain.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Infiniti QX60 will be $5430 to $11048 less than for the Audi Q7.

The Infiniti QX60 outsold the Audi Q7 by 5% during 2017.