By Ewan Kennedy
INFINITI, the upmarket Japanese car maker operated by Nissan, is pushing hard at the moment with new models in several segments, particularly in the small hatchback and SUV arenas.
Now, the Infiniti Q70 is joining the sales push, with major changes for the 2017 season.
It has refreshed styling front and rear as well as in the cabin as well as improved NVH (noise, vibration and harshness) features that add to the upmarket feel.
The Infiniti Q70 S Premium grade we have just tested also has suspension changes which not only make it smoother and quieter but also add to the sporty feeling.
From the start the large Infiniti sedans have had sporty styling of the type favoured by British Jaguar saloons.
This latest model continues to be low slung and attractive, with large guards, particularly at the rear that give it the sort of look that it’s ready to leap at the road.
For 2017 the double-arch grille has a more three-dimensional look with what the designers call a ‘waved-mesh finish’, made to stand out even more by having chrome surround. The front bumper has been redone, with integrated foglights.
The bootlid has been flattened and the rear bumper slimmed down to make the rear of the Q70 look wider and lower.
Our S Premium model had its rear bumper finished in high-gloss black paint.
Large 20-inch alloy wheels in a double-spoke design certainly add to the sporty look.
Inside, the big Infiniti continues to have a high-quality look with wood accents and leather trim. The front seats are heated and have 10-way power adjustment, including two-way lumbar support.
Infiniti Q70 is powered by a 3.7-litre V6 petrol engine producing 235 kW at 7000 rpm, and 360 Nm of torque, the latter not peaking until a very high 5200 rpm. However there’s solid torque from relatively low revs.
Power goes to the rear wheels through a seven-speed automatic transmission with manual overrides. Solid magnesium paddle shifters are a feature of the Q70 S Premium.
The Infiniti Drive Mode Selector provides four modes – Standard, Eco, Sport or Snow.
In Sport the Infiniti has measured the 0-100km/h time a 6.2 seconds so this big sports sedan is no slouch.
There’s also a Q70 hybrid model that’s even quicker than the pure petrol version we tested, running a 5.3 second time to 100 km/h.
An 8.0-inch high-resolution touchscreen and Infiniti Controller give access to multiple functions, including satellite navigation.
Our Q70 S Premium had a Bose Premium Sound System with Bose Studio Surround sound system with digital 5.1-channel decoding and 16 speakers. Two of the speakers are mounted in the shoulders of each front seat.
An Enhanced Intelligent Key system remembers last used audio, navigation and climate control settings for each key
The latest Infiniti Safety Shield system as fitted to the Q70 S Premium has Forward Emergency Braking, Lane Departure Warning (LDW) and Lane Departure Prevention (LDP). Predictive Forward Collision Warning (PFCW) system and Back-up Collision Intervention (BCI) are fitted as part of the self-parking system.
The front seats are large and comfortable and the aforementioned multiple adjustments make for secure travel.
The rear seat is good for legroom and can carry three adults without too much trouble. Two, with a child is a better way of doing it, though.
The Q70 S Premium has the Active Noise Control feature, which monitors cabin noise levels and generates ‘cancelling waves’ to make travel almost eerily quiet on smooth roads.
Despite the large tyres comfort was generally very good, though some rough surfaces did challenge the suspension due to the low profile tyres.
Road grip is high and the steering responds nicely to driver input, as well as giving good feedback.
Engine performance is fast and responsive thanks to the use of a large capacity V6 without a turbocharger.
The transmission is generally in the right gear at the right time and we seldom found any need to override it using the manual modes. We preferred the added urge of Sport mode and kept the auto there most of the time.
Fuel usage was relatively high by today’s standards, running at about seven to nine litres per 100 kilometres on country drives and motorways.
Around town this went up to the low teens if pushed hard, but spent most of the time in the 11 to 12 litre range.
Looking for something out of the ordinary in the luxury car field? Then the Infiniti Q70 certainly deserves a place on the shopping list. Its combination of quality build, quiet running and a sporty sedan looks and feel works nicely.
Model range
Q70 GT 3.7-litre petrol four-door sedan: $68,900 (automatic)
Q70 S Premium 3.7-litre petrol four-door sedan: $78,900 (automatic)
Q70 Hybrid GT Premium 3.5-litre petrol/electric hybrid four-door sedan: $82,900
