Comfort and luxury are plentiful in an old favorite

Mark Glover’s AutoGlo car reviews can be seen here and in the Cruisin’ News, "Oregon, Nevada and California's classic auto news & marketplace."

Sacramento, California -- I've always had a soft spot in my heart for luxury-laden Infiniti sport-utility vehicles.  They were some of the first vehicles I reviewed when I was evaluating autos as a newspaper columnist.

Other folks have more practical reasons for liking Infiniti's SUVs: You get a lot of luxury for less money than you'd pay for another brand.

The recently tested 2024 Infiniti QX60 Autograph AWD was a case in point.  It was wearing a sticker of $69,240, but it was dressed up to the tune of about $80,000 to $85,000 by my reckoning.

The monster-size list of standard features included a power panoramic moonroof, second row heated captain's chairs, a kickin' Bose 17-speaker audio system, intelligent cruise control and much, much more. Options on my ride included a $795 lighting package (with "welcome" tones and an illuminated cargo area).

Rarely have three rows of seating felt so comfortable on the fly. Soft, yet just firm enough and with plenty of legroom, passengers were treated a velvet-smooth ride, even at 70 miles per hour.

The 3.5-liter V-6 engine rated at 295 horsepower is a willing power plant, but even at near-full song, very little noise reaches the interior cabin.  For a three-row vehicle, the tester was remarkably agile with a tight turning radius.

Fuel mileage is so-so at 20 miles per gallon in the city and 25 mpg on the highway.

Crash test ratings are superior, including a max five-star overall rating in federal government tests.

With classy exterior styling, the tester looked at home in country club parking lots, and it drew admiring stares parked at the local grocery store.

I thoroughly enjoyed the ride. And the memories.