Let me describe the parking lot at your local grocery store. White SUV. Gray SUV. Silver SUV. Another white SUV. A black one for variety. Row after row of anonymous, inoffensive, interchangeable blobs, each one engineered to offend no one and excite no one. We have collectively decided that the family SUV should be visual wallpaper, and it makes me a little sad every time I look at a crossover lineup.
So when Infiniti, a brand that has been so quiet lately I genuinely forgot it existed, pulled the sheet off the 2027 QX65, I actually sat up. Because this thing is gorgeous. Not “nice for an Infiniti” gorgeous. Genuinely, stop and stare, take a second look in the reflection of a store window gorgeous.
This is the spiritual heir to the legendary FX, the original “Bionic Cheetah” that basically invented the stylish performance crossover two decades ago. And the QX65 honors that legacy by being the rarest thing in the segment: a luxury SUV with actual soul in its sheetmetal. One outlet called it a much needed and stylish addition that looks great inside and out and stands out as a sleeker option. Let me make the case for why you should stop buying boring and start buying beautiful.
That Grille Was Inspired by a Storm
Let’s start with the face, because it is unlike anything else on the road. Most SUV grilles are a static mesh rectangle. Yawn. The QX65 did something genuinely artistic.
The Bamboo Forest grille features a layered, 3D texture inspired by a bamboo forest agitated by a storm, rather than the flat mesh everyone else uses. Pair that with the brand’s signature lighting and you get a front end with real drama. The bold three dimensional grille is paired with the signature Infiniti digital piano key headlamps, while the full width LED tail lamp takes inspiration from the vertical fins of an aircraft for an unmistakable signature look.
This is design with intent, with a story, with craft. It is the opposite of the focus grouped blandness that dominates the class, and I am here for every storm tossed bamboo stalk of it.
The Paint Has Actual Gold in It
I need to talk about the color, because this is the detail that made me laugh out loud with delight. The headline paint is not just red. It is red with treasure mixed in.
The standout Sunfire Red paint sparkles with real gold coated glass flecks, applied through a complex three layer coating process so the finish shimmers with depth and brilliance. Real gold. In the paint. And if red is not your thing, Infiniti actually gives you interesting choices for once. Deep Emerald and Grand Blue are also eye catching for those tired of seeing white, gray, and silver luxury SUVs at every intersection.
Thank you, Infiniti. Thank you for remembering that color exists. In a world of fifty shades of beige, offering a shimmering gold flecked red is an act of rebellion I fully support.
The Cabin Is a Work of Art Too
The eye candy does not stop at the doors. Step inside the top trim and it is genuinely special, full of thoughtful Japanese craftsmanship.
The Autograph grade features semi aniline leather seats with an asymmetrical diagonal quilting pattern inspired by the layered folds of a kimono, plus open pore wood toned accents, a quilted dashboard, and massaging front seats. Even the details have soul. The seat quilting is patterned after the traditional kimono, and the rear wiper is camouflaged under the center high mounted taillight for a cleaner look.
You can set the mood, too. Available ambient lighting offers 64 colors including four curated themes inspired by Japanese seasons. This is a cabin designed to make you feel something every time you climb in, which is exactly what luxury is supposed to do and so rarely does anymore.
The Sound System Is Bonkers
For the audiophiles, the QX65 brings serious hardware. The Sport has a 16 speaker Klipsch system with 600 watts and an 8 inch subwoofer, while the Autograph steps up to a 20 speaker Klipsch Reference Premiere system with 1,200 watts, plus Individual Audio that uses headrest speakers to target music or phone calls to specific occupants. Headrest speakers that beam your call to just your ears while your passenger listens to music? That is a genuinely cool party trick, and it pairs nicely with the standard dual 12.3 inch Google built in displays.
Read: Is the 2026 Honda Pilot Still the King of 3-Row SUVs?
How It Stacks Up
Here is where the QX65 lands among the stylish luxury crossovers.
| Model | Power | Standout Trait | Starting Price |
| 2027 Infiniti QX65 | 268 hp | Showstopping design, value | About $53,990 |
| BMW X6 | More powerful | German performance, pricey options | Higher |
| Audi Q8 | More powerful | Clinical tech-forward cabin | Higher |
| Lexus RX | 275 hp | Reliability, refinement | Comparable |
| Genesis GV80 | 300 hp | Plush luxury value | Comparable |
The value angle is real. Many European rivals charge extra for features the QX65 includes as standard, and Infiniti positions it as a premium experience at a price that undercuts European alternatives. Standard all wheel drive, a panoramic roof, and the Google suite come baked in. You are getting genuine style and generous kit for less than the Germans will quote you.
Let Me Be Honest: It’s Eye Candy First
Now, I promised you my real opinion, and here is the part you need to hear before you fall in love. The QX65 is named in this article as pure eye candy, and that framing is doing some honest work. It is a stunner to look at. It is not a powerhouse to drive.
Under that gorgeous skin, it is essentially a two row, fastback version of the QX60, sharing its modest powertrain. It uses a 2.0 liter turbocharged four cylinder producing 268 horsepower and 286 pound feet, which delivers smooth power but is not as powerful as many rival luxury SUVs. The competition has more muscle. The Lexus RX makes 275 hp and 317 lb-ft, and the Genesis GV80’s inline four has 300 hp and 311 lb-ft.
So set your expectations. Infiniti tuned it to feel eager. The VC-Turbo, the world’s first production variable compression engine, is paired with a 9 speed automatic and a sportier, more aggressive shift schedule that makes it feel more eager to accelerate. But this is a four cylinder doing luxury crossover duty, not a tire shredder. It looks far faster than it is.
Here is my read, though. That is completely fine, as long as you know what you are buying. Most luxury SUV owners are not drag racing. They are commuting, school running, and being seen. The QX65 does the practical stuff well, with a roomy, flexible cabin. The second row slides, reclines, and folds, and it swallowed four golf bags with the liftgate still closing, making it a solid choice for multiday road trips. You are buying art that happens to be a competent daily driver. If you wanted a rocket, you were always shopping elsewhere.
Verdict: Buy It Because It’s Beautiful, and Own That
So where do I land on the 2027 Infiniti QX65? Genuinely smitten, with my eyes wide open.
Is it the most powerful SUV in its class? No. Is it the sportiest to drive? Also no. It is a reskinned QX60 with a modest four cylinder, and pretending otherwise would be dishonest. But here is the thing. Not every car has to be a track weapon. Some cars exist to be beautiful, to make you smile in the driveway, to stand out in a sea of soul crushing sameness. And on that mission, the QX65 absolutely delivers.
In a segment drowning in anonymous gray blobs, Infiniti built something with genuine artistry, a storm sculpted grille, gold flecked paint, kimono quilted leather, piano key lights, and a cabin that feels handcrafted rather than mass produced. It undercuts the German coupe SUVs on price while loading up on standard kit. And it announces that Infiniti, after years of being forgettable, has finally remembered how to make your heart beat a little faster.
My advice? Get the Autograph if you want the full kimono quilted, massaging, gold flecked, Klipsch soundtracked experience, or the blacked out Sport if you want attitude on a slightly tighter budget. Either way, buy it for the way it looks and the way it makes you feel, not for the spec sheet. Own that choice proudly.
Because life is too short to drive invisible. Stop buying boring SUVs. The QX65 is pure eye candy, and your daily commute deserves a little beauty. Go feast your eyes, then go feast everyone else’s.
