Quite a few months ago I was invited to the Galgorm Resort and Spa to drive the full INFINITI range and having reviewed most of the range on the blog to date – there was one model that slipped my scribbles – until now that is.
That model is the incredibly beautiful Q60, INFINITI’s answer to the likes of the Audi A5 Coupe, BMW 4-series or maybe even the Lexus RC range and with pricing starting from £34,300 offers great value, coming loaded from even the base model with tech and spec.
Featuring the hallmark INFINITI sculpting that has come from concept to reality across the full range, the Q60 is available in an array of premium colours with an exceptional paint finish to be expected from this premium brand.
Chrome details feature heavily around the outside of the Q60 and the large mouthed front end sits well between the sleek and stylish LED headlights – the side profile of the Q60 looks great too with the roof line swooping heavily downwards accentuating the two-door coupe appeal.
Around the rear also looks great in my opinion with a dual exit exhaust system, LED lighting that wraps around the tailgate and into the quarter panel matching the style of the front lighting whilst the tailgate is formed in a way that it features a fantastic looking spoiler built into it.
Even from the base model ‘Premium’ you get full leather, 19” alloy wheels, LED auto-levelling headlights, reversing camera, traffic sign recognition key-less entry and brake assist with pedestrian detection with this ‘Premium Tech’ model tested offering sat-nav, active cruise control, 360 degree camera, blind spot warning, back up assist and a BOSE audio system.
A ‘Sport’ model is geared more towards the driver and gives the Q60 direct adaptive steering, paddle shift, sports brakes and ambient lighting inside as well as memory drivers seating – the ‘Sport Tech’ will further add more or less the same features as added to the Premium Tech.
A button disguised within the rear light cluster is a nice touch for opening the tailgate to reveal a decent sized entry into the boot however load space is limited with a relatively small boot – a weeks shopping won’t be an issue however nor a couple of weekend bags but don’t expect golf clubs to fit.
Inside the Q60 is a more than pleasant place to be – I found the seating to be very comfortable with a sports type position hugging you low to the floor of the car and more than enough support was on offer from the full heated leather trim.
As a family car I would say the Q60 isn’t ideal with limited rear leg room – two small children would fit ok but I feel this INFINITI is best suited to the mile munching business type owner who has a more traditional and mundane ‘family car’ at home for the school runs and Saturday sports drop-off.
The type of owner I see is one wanting something different to the norm, not necessarily to stand out from the crowd but maybe just because they are able to think outside of the box a little more than 90% of the population.
Being a Premium Tech that I tested it comes with the fantastic BOSE audio system along with two screens built into the dash sitting one on top of the other – the top screen a matt finished version is solely used for the sat-nav display and being a matt finish doesn’t suffer from sun/light glare which is great.
The bottom screen – a high gloss finished version is the main hub of the infotainment providing apps, audio controls, CD player, aux input, usb input, am/fm radio, DAB radio, Bluetooth and email app all of which can be switched via a drive wheel just behind the gear selector.
With no diesel engine on offer the INFINITI Q60 won’t appeal to the business lease market much but as such it means there are two cracking engines on offer and three spec levels. Q60 – Q60S – Q60’S’ are the three model variants on offer with the first coming in Premium & Premium Tech with both S versions available in Sport and Sport Tech trim.
The lower two models are fitted with a 2.0L turbocharged petrol engine mated to a seven speed twin clutch gearbox – providing 208bhp and 258lb/ft this combination is far from sluggish with a top speed of 146mph and 0-60mph in just 7.1 seconds.
On driving this combo in Premium Tech guise I was highly impressed, it offers just enough power via the rear wheel drive system to cover ground in a suitable manner and the handling of the Q60 is fantastic to say the least, a really precise experience retaining comfort.
For me personally though the model to own is the Q60’S’ – note the red ‘S’ on the badge of this model for this coloured ‘S’ means all-wheel-drive and a rather potent charge-cooled 3.0L twin turbocharged petrol engine producing 399bhp with 350lb/ft and although I have not driven this model as yet – the engine is great.
I experienced said engine in the INFINITI Q50 [read review here] and I can imagine that combined to the chassis of the Q60 as well as the all-wheel-drive system is just something else. I do hope I can bring you a full road test of the Q60S before the year is out!
The Sport and Sport Plus models come with digital suspension, adaptive steering which allows for a faster response and more natural feel as well as drive mode selection as follows; snow – eco – standard – sport – sport plus – personal. These modes change the Q60’s mannerisms greatly enabling maximum enjoy-ability depending on the mood and road combo.
Expect to spend around £38k for a 2.0L model with a good spec whilst the 3.0L will be in excess of £50k with a few options ticked – road tax on the 2.0L comes in at £185/yr with the bigger engine sitting at a sensible £295/yr.
Economy wise and on mixed driving on our roads I would expect mid 30’s mpg for the small engine with mid 20’s mpg being realistic from the big engine – on a long run with the cruise control set to mid 60’s mph expect to add around 4-5 mpg for each engine.
With a very small dealer network across the UK, there is only one dealer in Northern Ireland – Mervyn Stewart Ltd, Boucher Crescent, Belfast and I am sure they will happily assist for anyone interested in owning something a bit different.
Words and Photos: Graham Curry
