Need a family-friendly, luxury-dedicated midsize SUV? Check out the brand new… well, actually the re-labeled… 2014 Infiniti QX60. Introduced last year as the JX35, this 7-passenger sport ute has fallen under the spell of Infiniti’s lately fashionable renaming program that alleges a more distinctive separation of sedan and SUV choices. But in any case, the QX60 offers its old-brand progenitor’s 76.5 cubic feet of cargo area (with both rows of rear seats folded), as well as returning the tepid V6 powerplant with its ho-hum continuously variable transmission (CVT).

Available in a single Base trim (a brand-new-for-2014 QX60 Hybrid edition is separately reviewed) this fancy ute boasts standard front-wheel drive (FWD), but can be delivered with an available all-wheel-drive (AWD) system that allows normal cruising in FWD, while standing by to instantly transfer power from the wheels that slip to the wheels that grip, front and rear, when conditions get dicey. Meantime, all the upper-crust bells and whistles that made the JX35 what it was, a quasi-utilitarian yet plush ute, are present in the re-monikered QX60 version.

Standard appearance bling includes 18-inch alloy wheels, a power sunroof, a rear spoiler, a power rear liftgate and heated power-adjustable mirrors. Inside, look for leather upholstery, heated power-adjustable front seats, reclining and sliding second-row seats and full power accessories. Cruise control and telescoping tilt-wheel steering also remain standard, as do a remote garage door opener, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror and a rear-view camera. Tri-zone climate control once again endows this recently renamed ute, with leather and simulated alloy cabin accents contributing to a feeling of pampered comfort.

The single-CD player returns for 2014 and retains its traditional 6 speakers, satellite radio and USB connection. And again Bluetooth hands-free calling keeps the gang (or at least the driver) in touch with the world.

Options, virtually all in package form, include adaptive cruise control, an Eco mode, remote engine start, a heated steering wheel, upgraded 20-inch wheels, Active Trace Control (for greater alacrity in cornering), a tow hitch and wiring, maple cabin accents, climate controlled front seats and heated outboard rear seats. Rear-seat DVD entertainment is also available in either package form or as a rare standalone option. The Infiniti Connection infotainment system with smartphone apps, meantime, as well as a simulated aerial-view camera, front and rear parking sensors and an in-dash DVD player bolstered by a hard-drive-based navigation system with 8-inch touchscreen are available only in the Premium Plus Package.

Powering the upscale QX60 is the same variable-valve-timed (VVT) 3.5-liter V6 as drove its JX predecessor. Managed by the reviewer-panned CVT, this lazy locomotive puts out 265 hp and 248 lb-ft of torque, which is pretty impressive on paper but, according to a number of reviews, loses much of its appeal in the transposition to the real world. Anyhow, towing is maxed out at 3,500 pounds with the proper equipment, while estimated mileage remains 20 mpg city/26 highway in the FWD trim, and an estimated 19/25 in the available AWD edition.

Safety-wise, look for 4-wheel antilock brakes (ABS), traction and stability control, front side-mounted airbags and 3-row head airbags. Front fog/driving lights are also delivered with every 2014 QX60, as are high-intensity-discharge (HID) headlights, a post-collision safety system and a remote antitheft alarm. Forward collision warning sensors, meanwhile, as well as a lane-departure alert system, are both optional safety items.