2022 INFINITI QX60 vs 2021 Honda CR-V

The 2021 Honda CR-V, while functional, did not stand out in terms of exterior design. It shared a similar look with many other compact crossovers, with few distinguishing features apart from its grille and some chromed plastic accents. The colour palette was limited, with a predominance of neutral tones, making it challenging to find more vibrant options like Radiant Red. Inside, the CR-V offered a modern look with angular seat designs and a choice of materials that improved with higher trims. However, competitors like the Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson offered more distinctive styling, especially in mid-tier trims.

In contrast, the 2022 INFINITI QX60 underwent a complete redesign, resulting in a striking and elegant exterior. The new front featured a prominent grille, slim LED headlights, and oversized air intakes, giving it a concept-car appearance. The side profile was marked by a long hood and a steeply raked windshield, while the roof appeared to float due to blacked-out pillars. The Autograph trim level added a contrasting black roof, enhancing this effect. The interior was spacious and luxurious, with quilted leather upholstery and a well-placed 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment display. The QX60's craftsmanship and build quality were evident, offering a premium feel throughout.

The 2021 Honda CR-V was not designed for high-performance thrills but rather for smooth and steady driving. It featured a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 190 horsepower, with acceleration to 100 km/h in about 8 seconds. All trims shared the same continuously variable transmission (CVT), which provided a consistent driving experience but lacked engagement compared to competitors with conventional automatic transmissions. The CR-V offered front-wheel drive as standard, with all-wheel drive available on higher trims. Its suspension setup, with MacPherson struts in the front and a multi-link rear, delivered decent handling and ride quality.

The 2022 INFINITI QX60, on the other hand, benefited from a nine-speed automatic transmission, replacing the previous CVT. This change significantly improved the driving experience, offering clean and crisp shifts. The QX60 was powered by a 3.5-litre V6 engine, delivering 295 horsepower and 270 lb-ft of torque. Fuel consumption was rated at 11.9 L/100 km in the city and 9.5 on the highway. The suspension, featuring MacPherson struts in the front and an independent multilink setup in the rear, provided a smooth and serene ride. While not designed for aggressive cornering, the QX60 excelled in comfort, especially for passengers in the second and third rows.

The 2021 Honda CR-V prioritized functionality, offering ample interior space for five passengers and their gear. It boasted over 100 litres more interior volume than the Toyota RAV4 and provided 1,065 litres of cargo space with the rear seats folded. Depending on the trim, the CR-V featured different tailgate options, from manual to hands-free power operation. Roof rails were standard on most trims, enhancing its practicality for carrying additional cargo.

The 2022 INFINITI QX60, with its three-row configuration, catered to passengers with storage, charging ports, and comfort throughout the cabin. The centre console offered convenient storage options, and the second-row seats could slide to share space between rows. The Autograph trim featured captain's chairs with a removable centre console. The QX60 provided 411 litres of luggage space behind the third row, expanding to 1,178 litres with the third row folded, and 2,135 litres with both rows down. It also had a towing capacity of up to 2,721 kilograms with the right equipment.

The 2021 Honda CR-V came standard with a 7-inch high-definition touchscreen infotainment system, offering Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto connectivity. Lower trims had varying speaker setups, while the Touring trim featured a 300-watt system with a subwoofer. Charging ports were available throughout the cabin, with the Touring trim adding a wireless phone charger.

The 2022 INFINITI QX60 impressed with its technology offerings. It featured a 12.3-inch InTouch Interactive infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto. Higher trims included a wireless charging pad and a 10.8-inch head-up display. The QX60 also offered a smart rearview mirror and a 17-speaker Bose Performance series sound system on Sensory and Autograph models. Infiniti InTouch services provided connectivity features via a smartphone app.

The 2021 Honda CR-V excelled in safety, earning a five-star NHTSA overall crash test rating and an IIHS Top Safety Pick award. It featured the Honda Sensing system, which included advanced safety features like forward collision warning, lane departure warning, and adaptive cruise control as standard across all trims. The only feature not standard on the base LX trim was blind spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert.

The 2022 INFINITI QX60 had not yet been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA, but the previous generation received high marks. It came equipped with a comprehensive suite of safety features, including multiple airbags, forward emergency braking, and blind-spot warning. ProPilot Assist was standard on all trims except Pure, and additional features like adaptive cruise control and lane-departure prevention were available.