Test drive Infiniti QX60 Hybrid 2020: TOP-5 questions and answers

 Test drive Infiniti QX60 Hybrid 2020: TOP-5 questions and answers

 In the past, I liked the Infiniti QX60 crossover: design, comfort, engine. The hybrid version should add another plus - economy. We study in detail the power unit of the Infiniti QX60 Hybrid and other changes to the 2020 model year car. And all in order to find answers to the TOP-5 most important questions about the new product.

 Already from the name it is clear that this is a hybrid. But which one?

 A very original hybrid, which even got its own brand name - Infiniti Direct Response Hybrid. Under the hood of the Infiniti QX60 Hybrid crossover, it was possible to pack a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder gasoline engine, a compact electric motor, an “automatic” in the form of an XTRONIC CVT variator. Plus we add a traction battery in the trunk and four-wheel drive with a traditional propeller shaft (unlike a number of other hybrids, where the rear wheels are driven by an electric motor). Now let's take a look at each item separately.

 First, the basic QR25DER gasoline engine excels by using a mechanically driven compressor rather than a turbine (turbocharger) as is often the case today. The disadvantage of this solution is that useful energy from the engine is spent on the rotation of the compressor. But the plus - in the absence of "turbo lag" at low speeds, since the rotation of the compressor does not depend on the flow of exhaust gases, as it happens in the turbine. Secondly, the electric motor is built directly into the JATCO JF018E (CVT8) variator - i.e. this is a ready-made solution from JATCO. The variator itself is "chain": two pairs of cones "driven / driven" are connected not by a belt, but by a stronger chain. In addition, friction discs are provided that allow you to open / close the petrol engine and transmission. Thirdly, the battery of the hybrid system, albeit small (only 0.63 kWh), is tightly packed in the back of the body, under the third row of seats: the spaciousness of the passenger compartment and the volume of the trunk are not affected.

 The external version of the Infiniti QX60 Hybrid does not differ from the usual Infiniti QX60 crossover: a soft and good-natured appearance, where attention is drawn to details - waves on the sidewalls, a beautiful curvature of the rear roof pillar, luxurious 2-color wheels. The hybrid version is recognizable only by the characteristic inscriptions "Hybrid", and even a little less ground clearance - 178 mm (versus 187 mm for the Infiniti QX60 model with a 3.5 liter engine). Under the hood of the Infiniti QX60 Hybrid is a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder petrol engine with a compressor, an electric motor of the hybrid system, a CVT variator. The traction battery is hidden in the rear of the passenger compartment. Otherwise, the design of the QX60 model is already known: a load-bearing body and a transverse installation of the motor, independent front (MacPherson) and rear (multi-link) suspensions, disc brakes on all wheels (front 320 mm, rear 308 mm).

 The power of the gasoline engine reaches 231 HP, the power of the electric motor is 19 HP. - and this is the case when both figures can be added together: the final output of the hybrid system is 250 hp, torque is 368 Nm. The hybrid version of the Infiniti QX60 is slightly heavier than the usual one with a 3.5-liter engine - at least 2 105 kg versus 2082 kg. However, the difference of 20-30 kg has almost no effect on acceleration, when there are 250 "horses" under the hood ...