Something extraordinary is unfolding
2026 INFINITI QX60 at Hanna INFINITI of Apex
Which INFINITI QX60 Trims Have a V6 Engine, and Do They Use a CVT?
None of the current ones, and no. Every 2026 INFINITI QX60 trim uses a 2.0L VC-Turbo four-cylinder with a 9-speed automatic. The V6 ended after 2024 and the CVT ended after 2021.
Every INFINITI QX60 Powertrain Since 2013
Two changes explain almost every confused answer on this subject. The QX60 dropped its CVT in 2022 and dropped its V6 after 2024, and those are two different dates. Reviews written between them describe a vehicle that no longer exists, which is why the question keeps getting asked.
| Model Years | Generation | Engine | Transmission | V6? | CVT? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 to 2021 | First generation | 3.5L V6 | Xtronic CVT | Yes | Yes |
| 2022 to 2024 | Second generation | 3.5L V6, 295 hp | 9-speed automatic | Yes | No |
| 2025 onward | Second generation, updated | 2.0L VC-Turbo 4-cylinder, 268 hp | 9-speed automatic | No | No |
The shaded middle row is the only window in which a QX60 had a V6 and no CVT. If a six-cylinder without a CVT is specifically what you want, the 2022 to 2024 model years are the ones to shop.
| Trim | Engine | Output | Transmission | Drivetrain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PURE | 2.0L VC-Turbo 4-cylinder | 268 hp, 286 lb-ft | 9-speed automatic | FWD standard, AWD available |
| LUXE | 2.0L VC-Turbo 4-cylinder | 268 hp, 286 lb-ft | 9-speed automatic | FWD standard, AWD available |
| SPORT | 2.0L VC-Turbo 4-cylinder | 268 hp, 286 lb-ft | 9-speed automatic | AWD standard |
| AUTOGRAPH | 2.0L VC-Turbo 4-cylinder | 268 hp, 286 lb-ft | 9-speed automatic | AWD standard |
There is no engine choice to make on a current QX60. Every trim gets the same powertrain, so the trim decision is about seating, audio and driver assistance instead.
Four Cylinders Doing a Six-Cylinder Job
Dropping two cylinders sounds like a downgrade written on paper. On the road it mostly is not, and the reason is worth understanding before you decide a V6 is a requirement.
Torque, not horsepower, is what you feel
The 2.0L VC-Turbo makes 286 lb-ft against the old V6's 270, and it makes it lower in the rev range. Pulling onto US-64 from a standstill, the current car feels no slower. The V6 pulls harder only near the top, which is a place most QX60 owners never visit.
The variable compression trick
Most engines are built around one compression ratio and have to compromise. This one changes its ratio while running, staying high for efficiency at light throttle and dropping when you ask for boost. That is how a four-cylinder covers duty a six used to.
Towing did not change
The 2026 INFINITI QX60 is rated to tow up to 6,000 pounds when properly equipped, the same as the V6 cars. If a boat or a small camper is the reason you were looking for six cylinders, that concern does not apply here.
The 9-speed changes the character
A CVT holds revs while the car catches up, which is what people mean when they say a CVT drones. A conventional 9-speed steps through gears the way you expect. It is the single most noticeable difference between a 2021 QX60 and a 2022 one.
Powertrain data verified September 2026 against INFINITI specification sources. EPA figures for every model year are published at fueleconomy.gov. Shopping the QX60 further? See the QX60 trim comparison, how many the QX60 seats, or which used years are strongest in our best year for a used INFINITI QX60 guide.
QX60 Engine and Transmission Questions
Which INFINITI QX60 trims have a V6 engine?
None of the current ones. Every 2026 INFINITI QX60 trim, PURE, LUXE, SPORT and AUTOGRAPH, uses the 2.0L VC-Turbo four-cylinder producing 268 horsepower. The 3.5L V6 was fitted to every QX60 trim from 2013 through the 2024 model year, so a V6 QX60 means a used one from 2024 or earlier.
Does the INFINITI QX60 use a CVT?
Not since the 2021 model year. The Xtronic CVT was used from 2013 through 2021. The 2022 redesign replaced it with a conventional 9-speed automatic, and every QX60 built since then, including every 2026 model, uses that 9-speed.
So which QX60 model years have a V6 with an automatic instead of a CVT?
The 2022, 2023 and 2024 model years. That three-year window is the only time the 3.5L V6 was paired with the 9-speed automatic. If you specifically want a six-cylinder QX60 without a CVT, that is exactly the range to shop.
How much power does the current four-cylinder make compared with the old V6?
The 2.0L VC-Turbo makes 268 horsepower and 286 lb-ft of torque. The outgoing 3.5L V6 made 295 horsepower and 270 lb-ft. So the four-cylinder gives up horsepower and gains torque, and it produces that torque lower in the rev range, which is the part you actually notice pulling away from a light.
What is a variable compression turbo engine?
It changes its own compression ratio while running. A higher ratio is efficient at light throttle, a lower ratio tolerates boost when you ask for power, and most engines have to pick one. The VC-Turbo moves between them, which is how a four-cylinder covers duty a six-cylinder used to handle.
Does the 2026 QX60 tow less than the old V6 version?
No. The 2026 INFINITI QX60 is rated to tow up to 6,000 pounds when properly equipped, which matches what the V6 models were rated for. Torque matters more than cylinder count for towing, and this engine makes more of it.
I have heard bad things about CVTs. Should that affect what I shop?
It only affects the older cars. Anything from the 2022 model year forward has the 9-speed automatic, so the question does not arise. If you are looking at a first-generation QX60 from 2021 or earlier, ask for the service history and have the transmission inspected before you buy, which is sound advice on any used vehicle of that age.
Can I drive a current QX60 near Apex to feel the difference myself?
Yes, and it is the fastest way to settle this. Take it out on the Triangle Expressway rather than around the block, because the difference between a CVT and a 9-speed automatic shows up on a highway on-ramp, not in a parking lot.
Drive One and Settle It
Ten minutes on the Triangle Expressway answers this better than any spec table, including this one.
Hanna INFINITI of Apex, 1900 Laura Duncan Rd, Apex, NC 27523