The Infiniti QX60 has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags help prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The XC90 doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.
The QX60 Autograph has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The XC90 doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.
With its standard Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection, the Infiniti QX60 is better at preventing collisions with pedestrians than the Volvo XC90, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:
|
|
QX60 |
XC90 |
| Overall Evaluation |
GOOD |
ACCEPTABLE |
|
|
Crossing Child - DAY |
|
| 25 MPH |
AVOIDED |
-14 MPH |
|
|
Crossing Adult - NIGHT |
|
| 12 MPH Brights |
AVOIDED |
-4 MPH |
| 12 MPH Low beams |
AVOIDED |
-11 MPH |
| 25 MPH Brights |
AVOIDED |
AVOIDED |
| 25 MPH Low beams |
AVOIDED |
-24 MPH |
|
|
Parallel Adult - NIGHT |
|
| 25 MPH Brights |
AVOIDED |
-21 MPH |
| 25 MPH Low beams |
AVOIDED |
AVOIDED |
| 37 MPH Brights |
AVOIDED |
AVOIDED |
| 37 MPH Low beams |
AVOIDED |
-9 MPH |
| Warning Issued-Low beams |
1.5 sec |
.5 sec |
In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Infiniti QX60 achieved a “Acceptable” rating - the second highest possible - for its performance in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, demonstrating its excellent capabilities in preventing collisions. The Volvo XC90 has not been tested.
Both the QX60 and the XC90 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available all wheel drive, around view monitors and driver alert monitors.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH, results indicate that the Infiniti QX60 is safer than the Volvo XC90:
|
|
QX60 |
XC90 |
|
|
Front Seat |
|
| STARS |
5 Stars |
5 Stars |
| Abdominal Force |
138 lbs. |
153 lbs. |
| Hip Force |
244 lbs. |
255 lbs. |
|
|
Rear Seat |
|
| STARS |
5 Stars |
5 Stars |
| HIC |
88 |
94 |
| Spine Acceleration |
33 G’s |
40 G’s |
| Hip Force |
461 lbs. |
608 lbs. |
New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.
Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Infiniti QX60 is safer than the XC90:
|
|
QX60 |
XC90 |
| Overall Evaluation |
GOOD |
GOOD |
|
|
Driver Injury Measures |
|
| Head/Neck |
GOOD |
GOOD |
| Neck Compression |
22 lbs. |
45 lbs. |
| Torso |
GOOD |
ACCEPTABLE |
| Shoulder Deflection |
.63 in |
.91 in |
| Shoulder Force |
156 lbs. |
245 lbs. |
| Torso Max Deflection |
.94 in |
1.42 in |
| Torso Deflection Rate |
5 MPH |
7 MPH |
| Head Protection |
GOOD |
GOOD |
|
|
Passenger Injury Measures |
|
| Head/Neck |
GOOD |
GOOD |
| Head Injury Criterion |
65 |
124 |
| Torso |
GOOD |
ACCEPTABLE |
| Shoulder Deflection |
.55 in |
1.38 in |
| Shoulder Force |
178 lbs. |
290 lbs. |
| Torso Max Deflection |
.75 in |
1.42 in |
| Torso Deflection Rate |
4 MPH |
8 MPH |
| Pelvis |
GOOD |
ACCEPTABLE |
| Pelvis Force |
580 lbs. |
915 lbs. |
| Head Protection |
GOOD |
GOOD |
The Infiniti QX60 has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2026 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test, and an “Acceptable” score in the revised vehicle-to-vehicle crash prevention test. The XC90 is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2026.

