Infiniti redesigned the QX60 for the 2022 model year hoping to expand its audience with upgraded specs and new features. The move has worked to an extent, with Infiniti sales increasing considerably in 2023. But for all the positive momentum, the QX60 is still far away from the No. 1 SUV in its class, the Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class, which remains the sales leader even after a slight downturn from last year. 

Infiniti sales improved in 2023, but still not close to the Mercedes GLE-Class

GoodCarBadCar posted the sales figures for every model sold in the U.S. this year. 2023 isn’t over yet, but the forecast for the QX60 is a bright one. 

In the second quarter of 2023, Infiniti sold 7,730 models of their SUV, more than double the number of units the Japanese company sold in the same amount of time in 2022 (3,245 units). The yearlong stats also make for good reading for Infiniti. The QX60’s total sales last year amounted to 16,574 vehicles. Through 2023 so far, the automaker has already sold 14,868 units. 

This upswing is really impressive for Infiniti and a sign of better things to come for the QX60 – but the SUV is still playing catch up with the leader in its class, the Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class. 13,771 units of the GLE were sold in the second quarter of 2023. 

But a deeper look into the Infiniti sales numbers suggests that the luxury SUV is selling slower than it did previously. In last year’s second quarter, Mercedes sold 16,459 units of the GLE, about 16% more than it performed this year. 57,933 models were sold in the entirety of 2022, a number the GLE will likely fall short of considering the SUV has sold 29,681 units so far in 2023. 

2023 Infinity QX60 specs

Experts prefer higher-level trims, but even the basic Pure model of the QX60 offers a decent package for an MSRP of $49,200. 

According to Infiniti, the SUV comes with standard front-wheel drive and a 3.5-liter V6 engine that produces 295 horsepower and 270 lb-ft of torque. The interior includes three rows of seats and has 14.5 cubic feet of space. On the technology front, the QX60 is equipped with a 12.3-inch center display with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto integration (Apple CarPlay works wirelessly and through a cable, but Android Auto is USB-only) and connected to a 17-speaker Bose audio system. 

Other amenities for the Pure trim include a panoramic moonroof, a power liftgate, LED headlights, a heated steering wheel, climate control, and rear parking sensors. 

The QX60 earned a Top Safety Pick+ award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety thanks to features such as blind-spot warning, lane departure warning, rear cross-traffic warning, forward collision mitigation, and automatic rear braking. This might explain why Infiniti sales for this model are trending upward. 

How is the 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class better? 

The Mercedes-Benz GLE has been a top-tier luxury SUV for decades, and it remains in that position even if Mercedes didn’t make any major changes to the 2023 model. 

The base GLE 350’s turbocharged four-cylinder engine actually puts out less power than the QX60 (255 hp to 295 hp), but higher trims contain engines with up to 603 hp. The GLE only has five seats to the QX60’s seven, but it does have more than double the amount of cargo space (33.4 cubic feet) and plenty of details that give the interior more of a premium feel. 

The GLE 350 comes standard with power-adjustable heated front seats covered in synthetic leather, a sunroof, and ambient interior lighting. The 12.3-inch touchscreen is linked to Mercedes’ MBUX infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. It also has a digital instrument panel, an integrated navigation system, and offers wireless smartphone charging. Upper trims add things like all-wheel drive, a Burmester surround sound system, and and 115-volt power outlet. The GLE’s safety features earned the SUV a Top Safety Award from the IIHS and a five-star rating from the NHTSA. 

Mercedes-Benz’s option has a higher price range ($62,650 to $69,500) than the QX60, but it deserves its reputation as the best luxury SUV. Infiniti sales for the QX60 still have a long way to go to catch up.