Compare the2022 Ford ExplorerVS 2022 Infiniti QX60

The Explorer has standard Post Collision Braking, which automatically apply the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The QX60 doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

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

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Acceptable” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Explorer its highest rating: “Top Pick Plus” for 2021, a rating granted to only 74 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The QX60 has not been tested, yet.

There are almost 15 times as many Ford dealers as there are Infiniti dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Explorer’s warranty.

The Explorer has a standard “limp home system” to keep drivers from being stranded if most or all of the engine’s coolant is lost. The engine will run on only half of its cylinders at a time, reduce its power and light a warning lamp on the dashboard so the driver can get to a service station for repairs. The QX60 doesn’t offer a lost coolant limp home mode, so a coolant leak could strand you or seriously damage the truck’s engine.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Ford vehicles are better in initial quality than Infiniti vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Ford 14th in initial quality. With 8 more problems per 100 vehicles, Infiniti is ranked 21st.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Ford vehicles are more reliable than Infiniti vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Ford 22nd in reliability. With 7 more problems per 100 vehicles, Infiniti is ranked 23rd.

The Explorer’s standard 2.3 turbo 4-cylinder produces 5 more horsepower (300 vs. 295) and 40 lbs.-ft. more torque (310 vs. 270) than the QX60’s 3.5 DOHC V6. The Explorer’s optional 3.3 DOHC V6 hybrid produces 23 more horsepower (318 vs. 295) and 52 lbs.-ft. more torque (322 vs. 270) than the QX60’s 3.5 DOHC V6. The Explorer ST/Platinum/King Ranch/Timberline’s standard 3.0 turbo V6 produces 105 more horsepower (400 vs. 295) and 145 lbs.-ft. more torque (415 vs. 270) than the QX60’s 3.5 DOHC V6.

As tested in Motor Trend the Ford Explorer turbo 4 cyl. is faster than the Infiniti QX60:

On the EPA test cycle the Explorer gets better mileage than the QX60:

Regenerative brakes improve the Explorer Hybrid’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The QX60 doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

Both the Explorer and the QX60 have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stop lights and heavy traffic. All Explorers have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily.

The Explorer has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The QX60 doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

A 10-speed automatic is standard on the Ford Explorer, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a nine-speed automatic is available for the QX60.

For better stopping power the Explorer ST’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the QX60:

The Explorer stops much shorter than the QX60:

For better traction, the Explorer’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the QX60 (275/45R21 vs. 255/50R20).

The Explorer’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the QX60 Luxe/Sensory/Autograph’s 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Explorer offers optional 21-inch wheels. The QX60’s largest wheels are only 20-inches.

Having a flat tire is dangerous, inconvenient and expensive. The self-sealing tires available on the Explorer can automatically seal most punctures up to 3/16 of an inch, effectively preventing most flat tires. The QX60 doesn’t offer self-sealing tires.

The Explorer’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The QX60 doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Explorer’s wheelbase is 4.9 inches longer than on the QX60 (119.1 inches vs. 114.2 inches).

The Explorer’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (50% to 50%) than the QX60’s (55.1% to 44.9%). This gives the Explorer more stable handling and braking.

The Explorer ST 4WD handles at .85 G’s, while the QX60 Sensory AWD pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Explorer ST 4WD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.6 seconds quicker than the QX60 Sensory AWD (26.4 seconds @ .72 average G’s vs. 28 seconds @ .6 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Explorer ST has a 1.2 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the QX60 (7.9 vs. 6.7 inches), allowing the Explorer to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Explorer Timberline’s minimum ground clearance is 2 inches higher than on the QX60 (8.7 vs. 6.7 inches).

The front grille of the Explorer uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The QX60 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Explorer Hybrid uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The QX60 doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Explorer has 12.1 cubic feet more passenger volume than the QX60 (152.7 vs. 140.6).

The Explorer has .9 inches more front legroom, .4 inches more front hip room, 1.2 inches more front shoulder room, 3 inches more rear headroom, 1.3 inches more rear legroom, 2.4 inches more rear hip room, 2.2 inches more rear shoulder room, 3.2 inches more third row headroom and 4.2 inches more third row legroom than the QX60.

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

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

The engine in the Explorer is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the QX60. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because there are no rear spark plugs and the accessory belts are in front.

The power windows standard on both the Explorer and the QX60 have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Explorer is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The QX60 prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Explorer’s available exterior PIN entry system. The QX60 doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its Infiniti Connection can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Explorer to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The QX60 doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The Explorer’s optional Active Park Assist 2.0 can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The QX60 doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

The Ford Explorer outsold the Infiniti QX60 by over 23 to one during the 2021 model year.