Ask any technician in our shop what the first question about a used INFINITI QX60 should be, and the answer isn’t the trim or the miles. It’s the year — because the year tells you the transmission. Every first-generation QX60, 2014 through 2020, uses a continuously variable transmission. Every second-generation QX60, 2022 onward, uses a conventional ZF 9-speed automatic. There is nothing in between: INFINITI skipped the 2021 model year entirely and launched the redesign as a 2022.
That single fact drives used pricing, reliability conversations, and which QX60 is right for you. This page is the straight version of it — from a dealership that sells and services both.
The split, in one minute
| 2014–2020 (first gen) | 2022+ (second gen) | |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission | Continuously variable (CVT) | ZF 9-speed automatic |
| Engine | 3.5L V6 — 265 hp, then 295 hp from 2017 | 295-hp 3.5L V6; 2.0L VC-Turbo from 2025 |
| CarPlay | Never offered from the factory | Wireless Apple CarPlay standard |
| Towing | Up to 5,000 lb, properly equipped | Up to 6,000 lb, properly equipped |
| Driving feel | Smooth, seamless, engine drone under hard throttle | Conventional shifts, more responsive |
And 2021? It doesn’t exist. If a listing says “2021 QX60,” something is mislabeled.
What a CVT actually is — and why it got a reputation
A continuously variable transmission has no fixed gears. A steel belt rides between two variable pulleys, letting the engine hold its most efficient speed instead of stepping through ratios. Done right, it’s smooth and efficient — there’s a reason much of the industry uses them.
The first-generation QX60’s reputation problem is real, and we’re not going to pretend otherwise. Owner complaints — low-speed shudder, hesitation under light throttle, and in the worst cases early failures — concentrated in the earliest cars, the 2013–2016 era shared with the related Nissan Pathfinder. Later first-generation cars, particularly after the stronger 295-horsepower direct-injection engine arrived for 2017, generally fared better. But the honest summary is this: on a first-gen QX60, the CVT’s condition is the single biggest variable in the car, and maintenance history is what separates the good ones from the gambles. A CVT that has lived on clean fluid and gentle miles is a different machine from one that was never serviced.
How to test-drive a first-gen QX60 like our technicians do
Cold start it if you can — problems hide in a warmed-up car. Then find a quiet street and hold light, steady throttle between 15 and 25 mph. What you want is seamless, even pull. What you don’t want: a vibration or shudder that feels like driving over rumble strips, hesitation before the car responds, or engine RPM flaring up without the speed following. Any of those means walk away or negotiate around a transmission evaluation — not hope.
Every first-gen QX60 we take in gets exactly this evaluation plus a fluid inspection and a service-history pull before it earns a spot on our lot. The ones that don’t pass don’t make it to you.
2022: the redesign that ended the question
When INFINITI redesigned the QX60 for 2022, the CVT went away entirely. In its place: a ZF-sourced 9-speed automatic — a conventional, widely used gearbox with fixed gears, real shifts, and none of the CVT conversation attached to it. The same redesign brought the current cabin, the 12.3-inch touchscreen with standard wireless Apple CarPlay, and towing capability up to 6,000 pounds on properly equipped models — a 20 percent jump over the first generation.
From 2022 through 2024 the 9-speed paired with the familiar 295-horsepower V6. For 2025, INFINITI swapped in the 2.0-liter VC-Turbo four-cylinder — better fuel economy, more torque — still through the same 9-speed. So on the used market, “2022 or newer” means the transmission question simply isn’t part of your shopping.
So which side of the line should you buy?
It comes down to budget and holding period, honestly assessed:
Buy a 2022-or-newer if you plan to keep the car deep into six-figure mileage, tow near the limit, or simply don’t want to think about transmission history. You’re paying more, and part of what you’re paying for is the 9-speed and the modern cabin.
Buy a late first-gen (2017–2020) if value is the priority. These are the most car for the least money in the QX60 world — 295 horsepower, real luxury equipment, family-hauler space — at prices the second generation won’t reach for years. The condition of the specific car matters more than the model year, which is exactly why we inspect and publish the history on every one we sell. Just know going in: no factory CarPlay on any first-gen, though aftermarket retrofits exist.
Approach the earliest cars (2014–2016) with eyes open. They’re the budget door into a three-row luxury SUV, and a well-maintained one can be a genuinely smart buy — but this is the era where inspection isn’t optional. If you’re shopping one privately, use the test-drive method above and put a pre-purchase inspection in the deal.
Want the full picture across every year and trim? Start with our complete used QX60 buyer’s guide, which covers pricing bands, trims, and what INFINITI Certified Pre-Owned adds.
CVT questions we hear every week
How long does a QX60 CVT last?
There’s no honest single number — maintenance is the swing factor. Well-maintained examples run deep into six-figure mileage; neglected ones can fail far earlier. Regular CVT fluid service and how the car was driven matter more than the odometer reading. That’s why we treat service history as the most important document on a first-gen QX60.
Does INFINITI Certified Pre-Owned cover the CVT?
Yes. The CPO limited warranty covers the transmission along with the engine and drivetrain — up to 6 years with unlimited mileage on vehicles over 15,000 miles, with a $0 deductible. On a first-generation QX60, that coverage is arguably the strongest argument for buying certified.
Can the CVT be replaced with a regular automatic?
Not practically. The first-gen QX60 was engineered around the CVT, so the realistic paths are repair, rebuild, or replacement with another CVT. If you want conventional gears in a QX60, the answer is a 2022-or-newer car, not a conversion.
RBM INFINITI · Roswell, GA
Shop both sides of the line, inspected either way
Every used QX60 on our lot — CVT or 9-speed — passed the same evaluation before it went up for sale. See what’s in stock right now.
View used QX60 inventory Call (678) 823-7518