Compare the2023 Ford ExplorerVS 2023 Infiniti QX60

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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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 QX60 have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Explorer offers optional Cross Traffic Braking (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The QX60’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert doesn’t automatically brake.

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, front and rear 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, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Ford Explorer is safer than the Infiniti QX60:

	Explorer	QX60
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	125	150
Neck Injury Risk	26.3%	31%
Neck Stress	167 lbs.	348 lbs.
Neck Compression	26 lbs.	53 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
Chest Compression	.4 inches	.6 inches
Neck Injury Risk	29.2%	45.1%
Neck Stress	187 lbs.	216 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Ford Explorer is safer than the Infiniti QX60:

	Explorer	QX60
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	65	84
Chest Movement	.9 inches	.9 inches
Hip Force	224 lbs.	244 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	86	88
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	12 inches	14 inches

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Ford Explorer is safer than the QX60:

	Explorer	QX60
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Structure	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	86	125
Neck Tension	223 lbs.	268 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	GOOD
Shoulder Force	134 lbs.	156 lbs.
Torso Deflection Rate	5 MPH	5 MPH
Pelvis	ACCEPTABLE	MARGINAL
Pelvis Force	982 lbs.	1160 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Neck Compression	22 lbs.	67 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	GOOD
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

Warranty

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.

Reliability

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’ 2022 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 above average in initial quality. With 37 more problems per 100 vehicles, Infiniti is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 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 above average in long-term dependability. With 4 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Infiniti is rated below average.

Engine

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’s optional 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:

	Explorer	QX60
Zero to 60 MPH	6.2 sec	7.3 sec
Quarter Mile	14.8 sec	15.7 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	90 MPH	87.9 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

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

			MPG
Explorer
	RWD	3.3 V6 Hybrid	27 city/28 hwy
		Platinum 3.3 V6 Hybrid	25 city/26 hwy
		2.3 turbo 4-cyl.	21 city/28 hwy
	AWD	3.3 V6 Hybrid	23 city/26 hwy
		2.3 turbo 4-cyl.	20 city/27 hwy
		Platinum 3.3 V6 Hybrid	23 city/24 hwy
QX60
	FWD	3.5 DOHC V6	21 city/26 hwy
	AWD	3.5 DOHC V6	20 city/25 hwy

The Explorer can travel with zero emissions on a full charge for 3 miles. The QX60 can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

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.

The Explorer V6 Turbo’s standard fuel tank has 1.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the QX60 (20.2 vs. 18.5 gallons).

The Explorer Hybrid has a standard locking fuel door with a power remote release convenient to the driver. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the QX60. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

Transmission

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.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Explorer ST	QX60
Front Rotors	14.3 inches	13.8 inches
Rear Rotors	13.8 inches	13 inches

The Explorer stops much shorter than the QX60:

	Explorer	QX60
70 to 0 MPH	161 feet	171 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	113 feet	128 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	139 feet	150 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

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.

Suspension and Handling

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 .86 G’s, while the QX60 Autograph AWD pulls only .85 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver 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).

Chassis

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.

As tested by Car and Driver while cruising at 70 MPH, the interior of the Explorer XLT 4WD is quieter than the QX60 Autograph AWD (66 vs. 67 dB).

Passenger Space

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.

Cargo Capacity

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

	Explorer	QX60
Behind Third Seat	18.2 cubic feet	14.5 cubic feet
Third Seat Folded	47.9 cubic feet	41.6 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	87.8 cubic feet	75.4 cubic feet

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.

Servicing Ease

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.

Ergonomics

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.

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

The Explorer ST/Platinum’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.

Economic Advantages

The Explorer will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Explorer will retain 48.3% to 55.09% of its original price after five years, while the QX60 only retains 43.55% to 44.5%.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Ford Explorer will be $10221 to $16336 less than for the Infiniti QX60.

Recommendations

The Ford Explorer outsold the Infiniti QX60 by almost 13 to one during 2022.