It’s the one that’s a coupe.
That’s just a quick clarification, as it’s likely Infiniti’s Q-based naming system might have you scratching your head a bit. Like BMW and Mercedes-Benz, Infiniti is another brand that wants you to identify with the big badge, not the alphanumerics.
Whatever the marketing eggheads might want, things boil down rather simply. With the G37 coupe a long-gone fond memory, the Q60 is here to provide a dash of two-door style for fans of Nissan’s luxury wing.
On the surface, things look pretty good. Let’s have a quick flick through the spec sheet: the top-line Q60 comes with a 400 horsepower twin-turbo V-6 (a dash of GT-R light? Sounds promising), all-wheel drive as standard, and a whole laundry list of luxury and safety features. There are hardly any options, so picking a model is relatively straightforward.
It all sounds – and looks – like a slick new entry to the luxury coupe segment. However, as with the name, there’s a lot of careful market positioning going on here. Sure, the Infiniti Q60 might seem perfectly crafted for brochures, but how does it do as a car?
Design
As mentioned previously, this is one good-looking machine. The front grille, while large, is dialled back from the overaggressive scowl of a Lexus product, and the muscular swelling of the wheel arches seems to hint at the power under the hood.
Regrettably, there are fender vents and side badging, but if you want to do battle with the German brands, you end up wearing similar clothes. The detail to the rear window is also a little self-conscious, as if penned by somebody who wanted to emphasize that this definitely isn’t a BMW Hofmeister kink.
But overall, the Q60 has a great deal of cohesion to its design, and looks sharp from pretty much any angle. The 19-inch alloys that come as standard aren’t overly large by luxury car metrics, and look just right.
It’s a well-executed exterior effort, one that splits the difference between the too-plain Germans and the relatively over-styled Lexus. If the first rule of coupe design is that it has to look good, then job done.
Environment
How you feel about the Q60’s interior efforts will really depend on how much you like carbon fibre. As opposed to the exterior, which looks expensive, the Q60’s purple-tinged carbon fibre accenting is a bit showy.
However, the cabin is certainly much airier than some of the more spartan-looking German offerings. Further, while the twin screen controls for navigation and infotainment look a little dated, they’re at least backed up by redundant buttons for most features.
It’s a curious mix. Because it’s based on the Q50 sedan, the Q60 is a couple of years behind when compared to the cutting edge interiors debuting today. On the other hand, its tablet-style touchscreen is far easier to use than the silly mouse controller inside a Lexus, and the more time you spend with it, the quicker you can find your way around the menus.
Seating position is higher than some in the segment, but the seats are very comfortable. Visibility is good, and even rear-seat passengers get a decent view. The overall feel is more grand tourer than sports coupe, but that’s appropriate, considering how the Q60 drives.
Performance
Equipped with a twin-turbo 3.0-litre V-6 engine making 400 h.p. and 350 foot-pounds of torque, the Q60 looks like the dream car for everyone who grew up slinging Nissan Skyline GT-Rs around virtual racetracks. Maybe the GT-R Nismo is too expensive or impractical for regular life, but a Godzilla-like alternative to BMW? Sounds monstrous.
However, the Q60 isn’t really anything like the GT-R, despite coming with standard all-wheel drive and a very clever damping system. Instead, it is rather soft, rather heavy (some 1,750 kilograms), and comes with a relatively numbed-down steering wheel.
Instead of being a track weapon in a business suit, the Q60 Red Sport represents something entirely different. The old G37 coupe was sort of like a Nissan 370Z that had been to finishing school, but this machine is more like a very well-bred, technology crammed muscle car. It’s not so much like a Skyline GT-R as it is like the old Toyota Supra Twin-Turbo.
Straightline speed is in V-8 Mustang territory, except without the yee-haw drama. Thanks to the all-wheel drive, the Q60 simply scoots forward with plenty of induction noise and relatively little growl from the exhaust. The torque is immediately available and the twin-turbo V-6 outmuscles everything else in this class.
Sure, if you want to step up to a BMW M4, or the mighty Mercedes-AMG C63S, it’s possible to get more brawn. But those are both rear-drive only, and far more expensive. For a little more than $60,000, the Q60 represents genuine all-weather unflappability.
What it doesn’t quite do is set your pants on fire. While the Q60 would be a great way to nip off to wine country for the weekend, it’s not the kind of car that’ll make you get up early to seek out some hidden backroad. Grip is there in abundance, but the steering feel doesn’t provide much in the way of feedback. There are, of course, plenty of driving modes to dial up the stiffness of the suspension and aggressiveness of the seven-speed automatic, but the Q60 never feels light on its feet, nor nimble.
What it does offer is a less buttoned-down experience than some of its rivals. The turbocharged thrust is genuinely exhilarating, and the Q60 is quicker than it needs to be in almost all situations. It’s also relatively effortless to drive. As a sports coupe, it’s not quite there. As a turbocharged grand tourer, the performance chops match the exterior.
Features
As mentioned, Infiniti offers a streamlined model lineup that sees the Q60 400 equipped with everything you could wish for. Luxury appointments extend to the 13-speaker Bose audio, rain sensing wipers, and standard navigation. Driver aids include forward collision warning, Infiniti’s excellent Around View Monitor, and available adaptive cruise control.
Fuel economy will really depend on how much you dip into the Q60’s boosty engine. Official figures are 12.5 (litres/100 kilometres) in the city and 9.2 on the highway. Mixed-mileage results were solidly in the 13 l/100 km range.
Green light
Great styling; class-leading power; comfortable ride.
Stop sign
Cabin and infotainment are a little dated; not a corner-carver.
The checkered flag
A great grand tourer, no matter how Infiniti wants to badge it.
Competitor
BMW 440i xDrive: Somewhat astoundingly, BMW will still sell you a manual version of their stalwart mid-sized coupe. That alone might be worth the price of admission for some enthusiasts ($57,050), but be aware that the BMW’s slightly lower starting price doesn’t include a lot of options. The real price tag is likely to be much higher than the Q60’s.
However, the 4-Series is a bit more of an all-rounder than the Q60. Less a muscle car and more a backroad companion, you still have to get the options right to get something resembling a true ultimate driving machine.
