Compare the2022 Mercedes GLSVS 2022 Infiniti QX60

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the GLS. But it costs extra on the QX60.

Both the GLS and the QX60 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available lane departure warning systems.

The Mercedes GLS weighs 812 to 1692 pounds more than the Infiniti QX60. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

There are over 89 percent more Mercedes dealers than there are Infiniti dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the GLS’ warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Mercedes vehicles are better in initial quality than Infiniti vehicles. With 15 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Mercedes higher than Infiniti.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Mercedes vehicles are more reliable than Infiniti With 33 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Mercedes higher than Infiniti.

The GLS 450’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 67 more horsepower (362 vs. 295) and 99 lbs.-ft. more torque (369 vs. 270) than the QX60’s 3.5 DOHC V6. The GLS 580’s standard 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid produces 188 more horsepower (483 vs. 295) and 246 lbs.-ft. more torque (516 vs. 270) than the QX60’s 3.5 DOHC V6. The Maybach GLS 600’s standard 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid produces 255 more horsepower (550 vs. 295) and 268 lbs.-ft. more torque (538 vs. 270) than the QX60’s 3.5 DOHC V6.

As tested in Motor Trend the Mercedes GLS is faster than the Infiniti QX60:

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

For better stopping power the GLS’ brake rotors are larger than those on the QX60:

The GLS stops much shorter than the QX60:

For better traction, the GLS has larger standard tires than the QX60 (275/50R20 vs. 255/50R20). The GLS’ optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the QX60 (F:285/40R23 & R:325/35R23 vs. 255/50R20).

The GLS 450’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the QX60’s standard 60 series tires. The GLS’ optional 285/40R23 front and 325/35R23 rear tires have a lower 40 series front and 35 series rear profile than the QX60 Luxe/Sensory/Autograph’s 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the GLS 450 has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the QX60. The GLS’ optional 23-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels on the QX60 Luxe/Sensory/Autograph.

The front and rear suspension of the GLS uses air springs for a smoother, controlled ride than the QX60, which uses only coil springs. Air springs maintain proper ride height and ride more smoothly.

The GLS offers an available adjustable active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. Infiniti doesn’t offer an active suspension on the QX60.

The GLS has a standard driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The QX60’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The GLS has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The GLS’ height leveling suspension allows the driver to raise ride height for better off-road clearance and then lower it again for easier entering and exiting and better on-road handling. The QX60 doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

The GLS’ 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 GLS’ wheelbase is 9.2 inches longer than on the QX60 (123.4 inches vs. 114.2 inches).

The GLS 450 handles at .87 G’s, while the QX60 Sensory AWD pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The GLS 450 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.6 seconds quicker than the QX60 Sensory AWD (26.4 seconds @ .7 average G’s vs. 28 seconds @ .6 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the GLS has a 3.4 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the QX60 (10.1 vs. 6.7 inches), allowing the GLS to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The GLS Off-Road Package’s minimum ground clearance is 4.6 inches higher than on the QX60 (11.3 vs. 6.7 inches).

The GLS has 2.7 inches more rear headroom, 4.2 inches more rear legroom, 3.2 inches more third row headroom and 6.6 inches more third row legroom than the QX60.

The GLS’ cargo area provides more volume than the QX60.

The GLS 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.

Pressing a switch automatically lowers or raises the GLS’ second and third row seats, to make changing between cargo and passengers easier. The QX60 doesn’t offer automatic folding second row seats.

The engine in the GLS 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.

Heated windshield washer fluid is optional on the GLS to defrost the washer nozzles and quickly clear ice and frost from the windshield without scraping. The QX60 doesn’t offer heated windshield washer fluid.

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

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

The GLS has standard heated front and optional heated second and third row seats, which keep the driver and passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Infiniti doesn’t offer heated seats in the third row of the QX60.

The GLS has standard front air-conditioned seats and offers them optionally in the second row. This keeps the passengers comfortable and takes the sting out of hot seats in summer. The QX60 doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats for the second row.

Both the GLS and the QX60 offer available massaging front seats. The GLS also offers optional massaging second row seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging second row seats aren’t available in the QX60.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Mercedes GLS has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console and one for the rear passengers. Only the QX60 Sensory/Autograph offers wireless charging.

The GLS’ Active Parking Assist 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 Mercedes GLS outsold the Infiniti QX60 by over two to one during the 2021 model year.