The QX70 is the new name for the old FX. You’ll most likely recognize the car on sight before remembering its new name, a product of the seemingly haphazard renaming of Infiniti’s entire product lineup last year. In spite of the name change, the QX70 doesn’t lack any of the preexisting attitude. It offers aggressive styling that stands out in the lineup. Its predecessor’s design has held up to the test of time, but will this newly minted QX70 still able to take on its competitors?

At a first glance, you can tell the QX70 isn’t going to be your normal family crossover. Our test car was equipped with the optional Sport Package, which changes the look of the vehicle dramatically. The package adds a dark-finish front grille and black wheels to the low, curvy lines of the QX70. The black 21-inch wheels don’t go unnoticed. On the Graphite Shadow exterior it looks great, but they’d really make a statement against white. In traffic, it has a “get out of my way” stance.

Whereas the outside still appears modern, the interior dates this Infiniti. It’s due for a redesign. It’s not so much the design, but the materials that show their age. The purple contrast stitching against the black interior is a unique accent that stands out without being over the top. The seating is comfortable and supportive, but the placement of the side mirror controls is a major annoyance. They’re located below and to the left of the steering wheel; adjusting the mirrors becomes a chore since alternate between bending to reach the controls and sitting up to see if you’ve got them set properly. The infotainment system works, but looks and acts older than a 2015 model should. Headroom for rear passengers is a bit limited due to the swooping roofline. Surprisingly though, there’s plenty of cargo space with 24.8 cubic feet. This exceeds much of Infiniti’s German competition like the BMW X3 (19.4 cubic feet) and the Porsche Macan (17.7 cubic).

You cannot go wrong with the 3.7-liter V6 in the QX70 – mainly because it’s the same engine found in the Nissan 370Z. Unfortunately, the 5.0-liter V8 has been discontinued. But the V6 packs plenty of power with 325 hp and 267 lb-ft of torque. Fuel economy is on par with its competitors, offering 16 mpg city and 22 mpg highway. The 21-inch wheels may be sexy but they noticeably decrease ride quality. The crossover was rather stiff and fumbled around bumpy city streets as if Infiniti was trying too hard to capture the sports car feel. Competitors like Porsche get away with this by offering optional adjustable dampers to dial in the stiffness when you want it.

If you’re that person who wants an intimidating, performance-oriented crossover, the QX70 is one to put on your list. It’s not a slam dunk, however, due to its dated interior. More times than not, most consumers want the look and not the feel of sporty crossover. The QX70 delivers on both accounts, which is not necessarily a bad thing. But longer car rides on rough roads can leave you feeling quite fatigued. Everyone wants something a little different when it comes to their vehicle. Although Infiniti hasn’t redesigned the QX70 for several years, it still trumps its competitors in many ways.

-Danielle Assenheimer

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Photos courtesy Infiniti: