2014 Infiniti Q60 coupe AWD
Now that we are living in the “Age of Q” it is time to come to grips with not only Infiniti’s new nomenclature but also how its latest stack up to their talented predecessors.
Q60 designates the company’s coupe, until last year known as the G37. The sedan that used to go by that label is now the Q50; this naming strategy better aligns Infiniti with the German brands, and disengages the models from their engines’ sizes. It was essential go in this direction from a marketing and sales perspective, and to prevent consumers from assuming that forthcoming models—say a Q50 with a 2-liter turbo—sat lower in the hierarchy than they really did.
The Q60 under test is also a last chance to experience and contrast the outgoing steering, infotainment and other systems that have undergone replacement in the newest model. First off, the Infiniti coupe still looks terrific, with shapely, taught surfaces, a lean and hungry look and properly sized wheels to give it the required, sporty stance. While the new Q50 sedan is itself a looker, it is very impressive how well the two-door’s appearance has held up.
Inside the Q60 also remains competitive in many areas as well. Material quality is first rate and the seats that come as part of the Sports package combine proper support, adjustment and comfort. Likewise the driving position and steering wheel, still a joy to hold. Back seat room is compromised by the sleek roofline however, and the Infiniti’s trunk cramped compared to the competition.
The Q60’s last generation infotainment interface is simple to fathom and accessible via twist knob, touch screen or (for some functions at least) steering wheel toggles. It is also fast in response. But its screen is small and it still won’t do simple things like show tracks from a music playlists after they start playing. In this area, the company’s new software is ahead.
Where the Q60 retains a huge lead is in its steering feel, response and linearity. A conventional—now old fashioned, really—hydraulically assisted rack means there is actual road feel filtering through, and a proper and consistent increase in resistance as you load up the Infiniti’s chassis, especially its front tires. In contrast the Q50 now has an (optional) drive-by-wire system that changes weighting and load at odd times and, in trying to anticipate a driver’s intentions, make the car less predictable. The coupe’s chassis is superb: balanced and fairly neutral, easy to read and flat in roll, dive and pitch. Its brakes are also excellent in road use. Where the game needs to move on is in isolation from road noise, which is poor, and ride quality, which is on the rigid side of firm over broken or beaten up roads.
Both sedan and coupe are propelled by versions of the corporate, VQ-series 3.7-liter V6 linked to a 7-speed automatic; in the Q60 the outputs are 330hp and 270lb-ft of torque. Infiniti has done a commendable job of making this powertrain more refined over the years; while its top-end is still sometimes harsh, it is worlds better than when this combo debuted. The tranny’s software has been improved too, and no longer does it throw odd shifts at inopportune times. Even better, in manual mode the gorgeous metal shift paddles actually control the transmission’s shifts, unlike what happens in many Audis or BMWs, where the computers override the driver at times.
Is all this enough to insure the Q60 remains competitive? People who are more concerned with looks and a refined ride will be happier with the German players. But for those who value purity of response in a sports coupe, the Infiniti is now the one. Where once the BMW was the epitome of this genre, its move to more Grand Touring-like aspirations in the 428i and 435i iterations mean that the Q60 now offers better steering and a more biddable chassis balance; the Audi and Mercedes were already in the GT realm. Combined with the superior reliability of Infinitis over the longer term and this coupe’s value-conscious pricing—over $10,000 less than the others with similar equipment—it comes out as a conspicuous bargain.
EPA ratings: 18/25mpg; 20mpg combined
Price as tested: $52,055
Here is what Infiniti has to say about it.
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