Compare the2024 Subaru AscentVS 2024 Infiniti QX60

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

Safety

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The Ascent has standard Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats, which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats system allows the backrest to travel backwards to cushion the occupants and the headrests move forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The QX60 doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

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

Both the Ascent and the QX60 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver 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, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems, around view monitors, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

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

	Ascent	QX60
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	21%	31%
Neck Stress	229 lbs.	348 lbs.
Neck Compression	8 lbs.	53 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	210	312
Neck Injury Risk	33%	45.1%
Neck Stress	197 lbs.	216 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	35/30 lbs.	236/309 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 Subaru Ascent is safer than the Infiniti QX60:

	Ascent	QX60
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	37	84
Chest Movement	.5 inches	.9 inches
Abdominal Force	73 lbs.	138 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	81	88
Spine Acceleration	27 G’s	33 G’s
Hip Force	346 lbs.	461 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	149	234

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

The Subaru Ascent has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2024 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned an “Acceptable” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The QX60 is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2024, though it hasn’t yet been rated in the updated moderate overlap frontal test, a requirement for the “Top Safety Pick Plus” award.

Warranty

There are over 3 times as many Subaru dealers as there are Infiniti dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Ascent’s warranty.

Reliability

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Ascent’s reliability 19 points higher than the QX60.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Subaru vehicles are better in initial quality than Infiniti vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Subaru above average in initial quality. With 27 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 Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Infiniti With 2 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Subaru higher than Infiniti.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Infiniti vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Subaru 7 places higher in reliability than Infiniti.

Engine

The Ascent’s 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder produces 7 lbs.-ft. more torque (277 vs. 270) than the QX60’s 3.5 DOHC V6.

As tested in Motor Trend the Subaru Ascent is faster than the Infiniti QX60:

	Ascent	QX60
Zero to 60 MPH	6.9 sec	7.3 sec
Quarter Mile	15.2 sec	15.7 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	90.5 MPH	87.9 MPH

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the Ascent lowers its center of gravity, enhancing handling stability without compromising ground clearance. The QX60 doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Ascent gets better fuel mileage than the QX60 AWD (20 city/26 hwy vs. 20 city/25 hwy).

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Subaru Ascent uses regular unleaded gasoline. The QX60 requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

The Ascent has a standard locking fuel door which locks and unlocks with the power locks. 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

The Ascent 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 QX60 doesn’t offer a CVT.

Brakes and Stopping

The Ascent stops much shorter than the QX60:

	Ascent	QX60
60 to 0 MPH	114 feet	128 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	136 feet	150 feet	Consumer Reports

Suspension and Handling

The Ascent Touring executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the QX60 Sensory AWD (27.2 seconds @ .64 average G’s vs. 28 seconds @ .6 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Ascent’s turning circle is .7 feet tighter than the QX60’s (38 feet vs. 38.7 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Ascent has a 2 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the QX60 (8.7 vs. 6.7 inches), allowing the Ascent to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

As tested by Car and Driver while cruising at 70 MPH, the interior of the Ascent Limited is quieter than the QX60 Autograph AWD (64 vs. 67 dB).

Passenger Space

The Ascent has standard seating for 8 passengers; the QX60 can only carry 7.

The Ascent has 12.6 cubic feet more passenger volume than the QX60 (153.2 vs. 140.6).

The Ascent has .4 inches more front headroom, .1 inches more front legroom, .5 inches more front shoulder room, 2.5 inches more rear headroom, .9 inches more rear legroom, .5 inches more rear hip room, .6 inches more rear shoulder room, .5 inches more third row headroom, 3.7 inches more third row legroom, .7 inches more third row hip room and 1.6 inches more third row shoulder room than the QX60.

Cargo Capacity

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

	Ascent	QX60
Behind Third Seat	17.8 cubic feet	14.5 cubic feet
Third Seat Folded	43.5 cubic feet	41.6 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	75.6 cubic feet	75.4 cubic feet

Servicing Ease

The engine in the Ascent 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 Ascent’s available exterior PIN entry system (not available on Ascent Base). 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 Ascent’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the QX60’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Ascent owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Ascent will cost $1870 to $3570 less than the QX60 over a five-year period.

The Ascent will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Ascent will retain 54.18% to 55.67% of its original price after five years, while the QX60 only retains 47.06% to 47.83%.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Subaru Ascent will be $16808 to $19655 less than for the Infiniti QX60.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Subaru Ascent and the Infiniti QX60, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Subaru Ascent outsold the Infiniti QX60 by over two to one during 2023.