The Auto Channel
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
Official Website of the New Car Buyer

2014 Infiniti Q60 Rocky Mountain Review By Dan Poler +VIDEO


PHOTO

Q60 stacks up very nicely to newer offerings from Audi (S5) and BMW (335i xDrive) and definitely deserves consideration particularly as it prices thousands less than competition.



By Dan Poler
Bureau Chief
Rocky Mountain Bureau
The Auto Channel


The Q60 is a new model for Infiniti for the 2014 model year - new in name only, that is. It’s in fact an updated name for the G37 coupe which has been around in its current form since 2008. As one can never have enough confusion when it comes to vehicle model designations, Infiniti has gone through and renamed all of their models to begin with a “Q” and end with a number, and the Q60 reflects this updated pattern.

While the coupe’s sedan sibling, the Q50, is all new for 2014, configurations and options carry over unchanged for the coupe, with the shiny new “Q60” marque on the trunk lid being the only significant update. But that’s OK - despite being somewhat long in its years, the Q60 continues to represent itself as a competent and fun entry in the luxury sport coupe segment, and has been updated over the years with high-tech features like adaptive cruise control to stay current.

On the outside, the Q60’s visage has held up well - it still looks and feels contemporary. Low and aggressive, our tester came with the Sport Package which includes an exclusive front fascia which compliments the overall look of the vehicle. That Sport Package includes a number of other features beyond just the cosmetic, such as sport brakes and suspension as well as a limited-slip differential - but no horsepower increase.




In fact, most of the options offered by Infiniti by the Q60 are grouped into several packages - Sport, Premium, Technology, and so forth. Although intended to provide convenience to the consumer (and certainly as well it provides fewer permutations to build for Nissan), it does mean that prices increase quickly as packages are added. Most options are not orderable as a single option but rather require adding a package.

Inside the Q60, space is at a bit of a premium, being a coupe - grown-ups will not be comfortable in the back for very long - but driver and front passenger are well-supported in leather-trimmed sport seats. The driver’s seat in particular feels endlessly adjustable, with not just the typical forward-back-up-down-tilt controls but controls for side bolstering support and even a manually-adjustable thigh support, a nice touch. Steering wheel adjustment is fairly unique - power, but the entire instrument panel tilts with the steering wheel. If you can’t get the angle right for yourself between the steering wheel and the cluster, the only option may be to adjust the seat height. Indeed, we experienced some obscured controls on the instrument cluster as a consequence of this.

Other controls are nicely laid out. Owing to perhaps a bit of an older design, most controls are still physical, with lots of buttons. This is a good thing - no need to scroll through menus on the touchscreen to adjust the climate control, for example. Controls, however, for music and navigation do require interaction with the screen-based system, using a mix of touchscreen and physical controls, which does rapidly become confusing.

Press the start button to fire up the engine, and a pleasing growl comes out of the exhaust. We couldn’t help but spend most of our time with the Q60 in Drive Sport (DS) mode on the transmission - we’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again, here - Nissan’s 3.7 liter V6 is just fun to work with. Mated to the 7-speed automatic as here, which snaps off shifts quickly and effortlessly, the vehicle feels quite comfortable moving through its range of speeds. Only as we approach high RPM’s did we notice the engine want to become a bit raucous and tinny. True, handling isn’t quite German-sharp, but the difference isn’t huge, and the Q60 is plenty fun to throw around corners and up winding mountain back roads.

When combined with the ATTESA E-TS all-wheel drive system which is generally rear-biased but capable of directing power front or rear as needed, the Q60 feels perfectly planted. Never once did the vehicle slip or hesitate despite the variety of conditions we through at it, including mud, gravel, and pavement. In fact, the only limitation to the Q60 in a Rocky Mountain Winter will be its ground clearance. In our driving the Q60 we were able to achieve 24 mpg combined fuel economy against an EPA city / highway estimate of 18 / 25, a respectable return.

Although on it’s seventh year, the Q60 hardly feels dated. In fact, we think it stacks up very nicely to newer offerings from Audi (S5) and BMW (335i xDrive) and definitely deserves consideration particularly as it prices thousands less than these models. We expect to see this G37-part-2 offering continue in the 2015 model year.




Specifications

2014 Infiniti Q60
Base Price: $42,050.00
Price as Tested: $52,055.00
Engine Type: DOHC 24-valve VVEL V6
Engine Size: 3.7 liters
Horsepower: 330 @ 7,000 rpm
Torque (ft-lbs): 270 @ 5,200 rpm
Transmission: 7-speed automatic with Drive Sport (DS) mode
Wheelbase / Length (in): 112.2 / 183.1
Curb Weight: 3,633
Pounds per HP: 11.0
Fuel Capacity (gal): 20.0
Fuel Requirement: Premium unleaded
Brakes: Ventilated disc
Suspension, front/rear: Double wishbone / Multi-link
Drivetrain: ATTESA E-TS All-Wheel Drive System with Snow Mode
EPA Fuel Economy - MPG
city / highway / observed: 18 / 25 / 24
Base Trim Price: $42,050.00

Options and Charges

Technology Package: $1,250.00 (Intelligent cruise control, advanced climate control system, rain-sensing front windshield wipers, front pre-crash seatbelts, brake assist with preview braking)

Premium Package: $3,250.00 (Power sliding/tinted glass moonroof, rear sonar system, Infiniti Studio on Wheels premium audio system by Bose with Driver’s Audio Stage, memory system for driver’s seat, steering wheel, and mirrors, driver’s seat power lumbar support, power tilt/telescopic steering wheel)

Sport Package: $1,950.00 (19-inch aluminum alloy wheels with all season tires, sport-tuned suspension, limited-slip differential, sport brakes with 4-piston front and 2-piston rear calipers, sport front fascia, solid magnesium paddle shifters, 12-way driver and 8-way front passenger seats with manual thigh extender, aluminum pedals and footrest)

Navigation Package: $1,850.00 (Infiniti hard drive navigation system with NavTraffic and NavWeather, Zagat Survey Restaurant Guide, DVD-Video playback, and Infiniti Voice Recognition)

High-gloss maple interior accents: $600.00

Trunk mat, trunk net, and first aid kit: $200.00

Delivery: $905.00

Price as tested: $52,055.00