The 2027 Infiniti QX65.
Courtesy of: Infiniti
Japanese brand Infiniti on Thursday unveiled a new mid-size luxury SUV, called the QX65, as it attempts to make a comeback in the United States.
The vehicle will be equipped with a 268 horsepower VC-Turbo engine with 286 foot-pounds of torque, as well as two 12.3-inch screens.
The QX65 “accelerates INFINITI into its next era,” Eric Ledieu, vice president of Infiniti Americas, said in a press release.
Infiniti, Nissan’s premium brand, sold a record 153,000 vehicles in 2017 in the United States, one of the world’s most important auto markets. Last year, it sold only a third of them, according to the company.
The 2027 Infiniti QX65.
Courtesy of: Infiniti
After 2017’s record high, sales declined almost every year, according to a report from Haig Partners, a company that facilitates deals with dealers. Infiniti sales fell 9% in 2025 compared to the previous year.
“Now down 65.6 percent from its peak, and with only two nameplates in dealerships, INFINITI finds itself in a difficult position,” the report said.
Compare that with Lexus, the luxury brand of Nissan’s Japanese rival Toyota, which saw sales climb 7.1% in 2025, following an already record year in 2024, according to Haig Partners. Even Acura grew slightly over the same period, at just under 1%.
Infinity has been in a “product lull” for some time, Stephanie Brinley said senior automotive analyst at S&P Global Mobility.
“They have of course changed several times over the last few years,” she said. “And Nissan, the parent company, has had a lot to do. Even though the intention to support Infiniti is there, it has faltered a bit.”
Currently, Infiniti offers two 2026 models in the United States. The QX65 will make a third, and it will be a mid-size SUV — hitting one of the largest segments in the United States. With a starting price of $53,990, it’s cheaper than the manufacturer’s suggested retail price of an average luxury midsize vehicle of about $77,000, according to Cox Automotive.
The brand touted its American ambitions with the vehicle launch, choosing New York’s Grand Central Terminal to unveil the QX65 and, as it has in the past, tapping NFL stars Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman as event hosts.
Brinley also said the QX65 draws inspiration from Infiniti’s former FX sport utility vehicle line, which debuted in the United States in the early 2000s.
“[Those vehicles] were great,” she said. “They were super stylish, performance-oriented, and always really cool and really dynamic.”
Infiniti said it plans to launch one vehicle per year for the next five years, as opposed to a more aggressive cadence.
“I hope they can turn this into a turnaround,” Brinley said. But it will take time. »
The QX65 is expected to be manufactured in Smyrna, Tennessee, and vehicles will arrive at retailers in early summer.