Compare the2023 Infiniti QX50VS 2023 Volvo XC60

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the QX50 are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The XC60 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Infiniti QX50 has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The XC60 doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

Both the QX50 and the XC60 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, 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 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 Infiniti QX50 is safer than the Volvo XC60:

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

The QX50 comes with a full 4-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The XC60’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 10,000 miles sooner.

Infiniti’s powertrain warranty covers the QX50 2 years and 20,000 miles longer than Volvo covers the XC60. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the XC60 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Infiniti vehicles are better in initial quality than Volvo vehicles. With 52 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Infiniti higher than Volvo.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Infiniti vehicles are more reliable than Volvo With 28 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Infiniti higher than Volvo.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Infiniti vehicles are more reliable than Volvo vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Infiniti 7 places higher in reliability than Volvo.

The QX50’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 21 more horsepower (268 vs. 247) and 22 lbs.-ft. more torque (280 vs. 258) than the XC60 B5’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the Infiniti QX50 is faster than the Volvo XC60:

On the EPA test cycle the QX50 AWD gets better fuel mileage than the XC60 B6 running its gasoline engine (22 city/28 hwy vs. 21 city/27 hwy).

The QX50 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 XC60 doesn’t offer a CVT.

The QX50 stops much shorter than the XC60:

The QX50’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the XC60’s standard 60 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the QX50 has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the XC60.

The QX50 has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The XC60 doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires standard on the QX50 can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The XC60 doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

The front and rear suspension of the QX50 uses coil springs for better ride, handling and control than the XC60, which uses transverse leafs springs in the rear. Coil springs compress more progressively and offer more suspension travel for a smoother ride with less bottoming out.

The QX50 AWD handles at .84 G’s, while the XC60 Recharge Core pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The QX50 AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the XC60 B5 Core AWD (26.7 seconds @ .66 average G’s vs. 27.3 seconds @ .62 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the QX50’s turning circle is 1 foot tighter than the XC60’s (36.4 feet vs. 37.4 feet).

For greater off-road capability the QX50 has a greater minimum ground clearance than the XC60 w/Air Suspension (8.6 vs. 8.3 inches), allowing the QX50 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The QX50’s minimum ground clearance is .1 inch higher than on the XC60 (8.6 vs. 8.5 inches).

The QX50 uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The XC60 doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The QX50 has 3 inches more front headroom, 1.1 inches more rear headroom, .7 inches more rear legroom and .8 inches more rear shoulder room than the XC60.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the QX50’s rear seats recline. The XC60’s rear seats don’t recline.

The front step up height for the QX50 is 1.8 inches lower than the XC60 (17.2” vs. 19”). The QX50’s rear step up height is 1.8 inches lower than the XC60’s (17.7” vs. 19.5”).

The QX50 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the XC60 with its rear seat up (31.4 vs. 24.4 cubic feet). The QX50 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the XC60 with its rear seat folded (65.1 vs. 63.3 cubic feet).

The QX50’s cargo area is larger than the XC60’s in every dimension:

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the QX50’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The XC60 doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Infiniti service is better than Volvo. J.D. Power ranks Infiniti 9th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With an 8% lower rating, Volvo is ranked 12th.

The QX50 Luxe/Sport/Sensory/Autograph’s standard Entry/Exit Assist raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The XC60 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the QX50 has standard extendable sun visors. The XC60 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the QX50 to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The XC60 doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Infiniti QX50 has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) for the front seat. Wireless charging costs extra on the XC60.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the QX50 is less expensive to operate than the XC60 because it costs $318 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the QX50 than the XC60, including $120 less for front brake pads, $50 less for a starter, $148 less for fuel injection and $371 less for a fuel pump.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Infiniti QX50, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Volvo XC60 isn't recommended.