Review Of The Infiniti Q70 Saloon
JTNDY2VudGVyJTNFJTNDaWZyYW1lJTIwd2lkdGglM0QlMjI1NjAlMjIlMjBoZWlnaHQlM0QlMjIzMTUlMjIlMjBzcmMlM0QlMjJodHRwcyUzQSUyRiUyRnd3dy55b3V0dWJlLmNvbSUyRmVtYmVkJTJGSDZfTHc0eVY4Vk0lMjIlMjBmcmFtZWJvcmRlciUzRCUyMjAlMjIlMjBnZXN0dXJlJTNEJTIybWVkaWElMjIlMjBhbGxvdyUzRCUyMmVuY3J5cHRlZC1tZWRpYSUyMiUyMGFsbG93ZnVsbHNjcmVlbiUzRSUzQyUyRmlmcmFtZSUzRSUzQyUyRmNlbnRlciUzRQ==If you fancy something classy but different, the Infiniti Q70 Saloon is an interesting proposition. It’s spacious and comfortable, and stunningly equipped. It’s also handsome and makes for an excellent executive company car.
But as we’ll find out, it’s not the only well-groomed, prestigious alternative to the established exec German saloons. Can it muscle past the classy Lexus and the Volvo in the showroom? OSV takes a closer look at our Infiniti Q70 Saloon review.
On The Road
Like the BMW 5 Series, the Q70 is rear-wheel drive. However, the BMW offers more entertainment on the road – though that’s not altogether surprising. The 5 Series has, after all been untouchable for a long time.
The Q70 is let down by overly vague steering, inconsistent weighting and a slow-shifting manual transmission. There is the option of an automatic gearbox, but it kicks down as soon as it smells throttle.[vc_single_image image=”56206″ img_size=”article-image”]Parking is tricky too, thanks to it needing plenty of turn-age lock to lock. It benefits from a sizeable turning circle, though. It’s surprisingly large for such a big car. Moreover, body roll is controlled well, while the car offers plenty of grip.
The car also comes with Adaptive Cruise Control, which slows and accelerates with smoothness.
The 2.2-litre diesel and the hybrid engine are the quietest on offer. The diesel is refined and smooth, and delivers adequate punch mid-range. It can do 0-62 in 8.9 seconds, which will probably leave most of you hungry for more.
A 3.7-litre petrol engine does 0-62 in just 6.2 seconds, but it’s much more expensive to keep on the road. If you really want the pace of a petrol but want to keep costs down, the hybrid is your best bet. It’s powered by a 3.5-litre engine, and can get you from rest to 62mph in 5.3 seconds. It’s refined, but you will notice its extra weight when you take corners.
Infiniti Q70 Saloon Interior, Design & Build
[vc_single_image image=”56207″ img_size=”article-image”]This is a handsome, bold-looking car that certainly doesn’t look like a left-field choice in a showroom. It can more than hold its own next to its German rivals. In fact, it actually stands out as the best-looking one. As part of its 2015 refresh, Infiniti has added front and rear LED lights, and smartened up the overall design.
The flamboyant exterior is complimented by an equally flamboyant interior. The centre console gets a slick silver trim, as do the door pulls. An analogue clock looks dignified, and ventilated leather seats are a pleasing addition.One criticism we do have is that you can find most of the switchgear in other cars. It takes the exclusive feel down a notch.
Still, few cars can match the Q70 when it comes to comfort and insulation. Thanks to double-glazed windows, few exterior noises creep into the cabin, while soft suspension means the Infiniti soaks up lumps and bumps well.
Getting comfy is easy too, thanks to the copious steering wheel and driver’s seat adjustment.
Interior space is not an issue. You can almost measure the Q70’s interior space in terms of hectares! There is plenty of room upfront and in the back, and four adults will be able to sit in lots of comfort. The car does boast a swooping roofline, but it doesn’t affect the head room. The only issue you might find is that anyone sat in the middle will have to deal with a central transmission tunnel.
The boot is also generous. It’s not quite as big as its main German rivals, but 500-litres should be enough for most buyers. However, if you go for the hybrid model, the boot shrinks to just 350-litres.
The large two-tier centre console and glove box are also spacious.
Equipment & Safety Of The Infiniti Q70 Saloon
Infiniti has lavished a good amount of standard equipment on the Q70. The entry-level model gets a reversing camera, keyless entry, as well as twin-zone climate control.
If you want the range-topping model, you’ll be treated to four-wheel steering, and steering wheel gearshift paddles. You’ll also get sports suspension.
Reliability has always been a strength of Infiniti. Thanks also to their excellent customer service, we anticipate that any issues you have will be solved smoothly and quickly. In terms of standard safety kit, the saloon gets side and passenger airbags. It also gets cruise control, and rear and front parking sensors.
Costs Of The Infiniti Q70 Saloon
Prices for the new car start out from £34,200 and rise to £48,000. For more information on our leasing deals, check out our page here.
In terms of its running costs, it can’t quite compete with its rivals. Although the inefficient 3.0-litre diesel of its predecessor has been replaced by a modern engine, basic economy figures aren’t competitive. Infiniti claims that their new 2.2-litre diesel can return almost 60mpg. The reality, though, it is more likely to be around 44mpg.
Even the hybrid model is expensive to run, returning 45.6mpg at best. It will also cost you £145 per year to tax.
Then there is the 3.7-litre petrol engine, which averages 28mpg economy. The worst bit is that it’s going to cost you £490 a year to tax.
Pros and Cons Of The Infiniti Q70 Saloon
Pros:
Interestingly Styled
Its looks have been tweaked for 2017, and this is now a handsome, bold saloon.
Exclusive
There’s plenty of exclusivity on offer here if that’s your thing. In other words, there is no other car quite like this one at the moment.
Plenty Of Standard Kit
Standard kit is generous and includes reversing camera, keyless entry, and has twin-zone climate control. Tech models also get a 360-degree parking camera.
Cons:
Build Quality Is Average
It all looks smart enough, but build quality is suspect.
Not As Much Fun To Drive As Rivals
You won’t have as much fun as you could in a BMW.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
Infiniti Q70 Saloon vs Lexus GS Saloon vs Volvo S90
Let’s see how the car fares against its rivals in the comparison section of our 2017 Infiniti Q70 Saloon review.
Infiniti Q70 Saloon vs Lexus GS Saloon
The new Lexus GS is the Infiniti’s equal when it comes to being a left-field choice. Big, handsome and spacious, it goes bumper to bumper with the Q70. And with some major overhauls since last time, we have a feeling the GS is going to make this a tough decision for you.
The outgoing GS was always a comfortable, classy car, but it was never much fun. In 2017, it’s much of the same. The suspension has been tweaked to make the GS Saloon a bit more entertaining, but it never feels especially sporty.[vc_empty_space height=”42px”][vc_empty_space height=”42px”][vc_single_image image=”56208″ img_size=”article-image”]Adaptive bumpers have improved ride quality, while a huge 5.0-litre V8 engine ensures this car is fast. Lexus has added lots of goodies to enhance its road presence. These include variable-ratio steering rack, as well as a four-wheel steering rack. 19” alloys further boost its drivability.
The 3.5-litre V6 engine is a more sensible choice financially speaking. It develops 341bhp, and can do 0-62 in a shade less than 6.0 seconds before maxing out at 155mph.
Despite the size of these engines, and the fact there are no diesels, running costs are reasonable. They’re much improved on last time, at least. But although Lexus claim their S 450h model can return 46.3mpg, we reckon it will be difficult to achieve. It costs £145 a year to tax.
The cheapest variant to run is the S 300h, which is good for 64.2mpg. That’s impressive.
Inside, the car is super comfortable. Adaptive suspension cushions you from broken roads, while road and wind noise are largely cancelled out. Even if you opt for the bigger alloys, your enjoyment won’t be ruined. Lexus have come up with a relaxing machine here.
The cabin is actually totally brand new. As a result, there is a lot more interior space than last time. Headroom is excellent, and only exceptionally tall adults will grumble about legroom.
The dashboard has also been cleaned up, and there is now less button clutter. We reckon buyers will appreciate the simple layout, as well as the 12.3” screen. The brands Remote Touch controller is another highlight, although it does take some time to get used to.
The boot has been extended, and now measures 480-litres. That’s a 60% increase (yes, the outgoing models boot was that small). This is down to the fact that Lexus have relocated the batteries.
However, you can’t increase the size of the boot, as the rear seats can’t be folded.
Price:
Infiniti – £34,200 – £48,00
Lexus – £36,100 – £56,000
Infiniti Q70 Saloon vs Volvo S90
[vc_single_image image=”56209″ img_size=”article-image”]How beautiful are Volvo’s these days?! The stunning new Volvo S90 continues to be the brand’s most stylish car – both inside and out. When you add in Volvo’s record for reliability and safety, as well as lots of standard kit, this decision regarding which car to buy just got even harder.
We’d never try to argue that either of these 3 cars has got what it takes to be more fun on the road than the German saloons. The S90 is way off in terms of entertainment. But what it lacks for in fun, it more than makes up for in comfort and refinement.Relaxing progress on a chilled morning is the order of the day here. You can cruise to work, switch on a podcast and take it easy. There’s no excitement, but since when was driving all about excitement? The S90 travels in relaxed style.
A pair of 2.0-litre diesel engines is your only engine choices. Neither will blow your head off, but they’ve got pace. The 187bhp variant, for example, does 0-62 in a cool 8.2 seconds. The 232bhp variant, meanwhile, benefits from PowerPulse tech and four-wheel-drive. It can get you from rest to 62mph in a very tidy 7.3 seconds.
That’s enough to make good progress without ever disturbing your chill.
There are no petrol engines available, which means running costs are low across the board. The 187bhp 8-speed automatic diesel can return 64mpg, and costs £30 a year to tax. While this still isn’t enough to compete with the German’s, these numbers compare very favourably with the Infiniti.
Inside, it’s hard for us to describe how comfortable the seats are. Words just don’t do it justice, but it’s clear that Volvo has invested heavily in this area. And you know the feeling when you return to your own bed after a few nights away? It’s kinda like that.
Build quality is excellent, as is the quality of the materials used. There are neat features, too, including a 9” portrait touchscreen. It looks amazing, and is super easy to operate. The cabin also features a Sensus infotainment system, which takes some time to get used to. Once you’re up and running, it’ll be a breeze.
Space-wise, the S90 does well. The 500-litre boot is on par with the Infiniti’s, while interior storage is fine. This is not quite as functional as Volvo’s used to be, but the glovebox is a good size, and there are plenty of cubbies here and there. The door bins are usable, too.
Rear space is generous, but we recommend adding the optional sunroof so that things don’t get too dark.
Price:
Volvo – £34,000 – £47,600
Verdict Of Our 2017 Infiniti Q70 Saloon Review
Penetrating the large exec market isn’t easy. Not when BMW and Mercedes are around. Infiniti are having a proper go, though, and all credit to them.
They’re not here to make up the numbers, either. With modified looks, bigger engines, and different styling, this is a real challenge. If you want to be different and don’t mind being penalised by worse running costs, the Infiniti Q70 Saloon is worth a test drive at least.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[vc_row content_placement=”middle” css=”.vc_custom_1464089844166{margin-right: 10px !important;margin-bottom: 10px !important;}”][vc_column css=”.vc_custom_1494257310211{margin-right: 10px !important;margin-bottom: 20px !important;border-bottom-width: 10px !important;padding-bottom: 10px !important;}”]
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