2018 Infiniti Q60 3.0T LUXE AWD
Intro
The luxury sports coupes have always appealed to the inner child of me. They are not particularly practical, nor are they designed to be fuel efficient. But boy do they look good. The coupe form factor provides an intimate driving experience with added agility. That is why I was giddy when Infiniti Canada provided me with their 2018 Infiniti Q60 for a test drive.
Exterior
Our tester has a gorgeous Majestic White exterior that costs an additional $750CAD. The front of the car is sporty but composed. Chrome accent trims can be seen around the front grille and below the fog lights. The LED headlights are encircled by two strokes of LED daytime running lights that look like the art of Chinese calligraphy. It is a unique design that definitely stands out.
The side profile of the car is clean and fluid. Deep creases run across the belt line and the lower swage line. Chrome trims tastefully highlight the windows, door handle, and side vent. There is a notch behind the rear window that gives the car a signature Infiniti look. I was not a fan initially, but it grew on me toward the end of the test drive.
The tail of the car is perhaps my favorite. It is elegant but interesting at the same time. The segmented LED taillights are also encircled by Chinese calligraphy looking LED daytime running lights. They dominate the rear of the Q60 and are simply gorgeous to look at. A subtle spoiler and futuristic looking lower grilles add a hint of sportiness to the tail. Finally, the black lower trim highlights the chrome twin exhausts and makes the car looks lighter on its feet.
It is a great looking car from any angle, and certainly makes the decision of purchasing a luxury coupe like the Q60 that much easier.
Interior
The interior of the Q60 feels futuristic and intimate. The cockpit hugs both the driver and the passenger for a personal luxury feel. However, the passenger side can feel a little bit cramped widthwise. One of the first things one would notice entering the driver seat are the two huge displays dominating the center console. The climate control buttons are located besides the lower screen. The shifter position is high relative to the seating position, like that of a sports car.
There is no electronic parking brake. Instead, Infiniti oped for a foot parking brake that is too close to the dead pedal in my opinion. The attention to details is quite impressive. The decorative wood trim around the door handle, the spot light that shines on the charging ports when you open the center console storage lid, and the soft-touch material that is used liberally throughout the cabin all contribute to a premium, luxurious cabin.
The heated front seats are very comfortable with ample lateral supports. The front seat belts automatically tighten once they are buckled in. A small button on the shoulder of the front seat moves its position forward and backward depending on which way the seat back is tilted. This in turns, opens and closes the entrance to the back seats. The back seats are surprisingly comfortable with generous bolster supports. There isn't a whole lot of leg room in the back, but if you are not especially tall, the seating position is tolerable for a short ride.
Infotainment
The infotainment system mainly consists of two large touch displays in the center console. The top 8-inch display is mainly for navigation, and the 7-inch lower display controls the rest of the infotainment functions. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay aren't included, but the Q60 comes with its own InTouch apps that syncs with your phone for email, navigation, even Facebook.
The top display also provides a split screen view when you are parking. One side displays a 360 degree camera view and the other side displays a closed up camera view. The navigation/camera system has its own set of dedicated dials and buttons in the center console. Overall, the graphic interface is responsive and intuitive for the most part. However, some tasks would require you to dig deeper into the menu.
There is also an information display in the center of the instrumental panel. It displays relevant vehicle information like fuel economy rating, trip information, and safety feature settings, etc. The display is controlled via the well laid out switches on the steering wheel.
The 2018 Infiniti Q60 offers limited standard safety features and driver assists:
- Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD)
- Brake Assist (BA)
- Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) with Traction Control System (TCS)
- Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
With the ProAssist Package, you get the following important safety features:
- Around View® Monitor with Moving Object Detection and Front and Rear Sonar Systems
- Backup Collision Intervention® (BCI)
- Blind Spot Warning (BSW)
- Predictive Forward Collision Warning (PFCW)
- Forward Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection
- Direct Adaptive Steering
- High beam assist headlights (high/low automatic change)
- Auto-leveling Adaptive Front Lighting System with auto-leveling headlights
- Front-seat Pre-Crash Seat Belts
- Blind Spot Intervention® (BSI)
- Intelligent Cruise Control with Full Speed Range (ICC)
- Lane Departure Warning (LDW) and Lane Departure Prevention (LDP) Systems
- Distance Control Assist (DCA)
- Eco Pedal
Driving
Our Q60 tester is powered by a 3.0L V6 Twin-Turbo engine that produces 300 HP of power and 295 lb-ft of torque at 1600 rpm. The low end peak torque gives the Q60 a quick acceleration from the stop. 0-100km can be achieved in an impressive 5.8 seconds. It is also good sounding engine, especially when down shifting.
Our Q60 is equipped with direct adaptive steering. It is a drive-by-wire steering system that can adapt to different driving modes. I find the steering to be nimble, accurate, but the steering wheel does not provide a lot of feedback. The chassis is well-balanced, and makes taking the Q60 in bends a joy. It is agile, and composed around corners, but the suspension is more tuned to absorb road bumps than to take hard corners.
There is a dedicated switch in the center console to select different drive modes. In normal mode, the pedal is less sensitive with initial inputs. It helps to control the power of the 300 HP Twin-Turbo engine, and conserves fuel. The car is much more fun to drive in sport mode, where the acceleration is immediate, and the steering feels tighter. Eco mode is simply too muted for any fun. It is best reserved for when you are about to be out of gas.
Our test drive produces a 12.5L/100km fuel economy rating. It is higher than the official city driving rating provided by Infiniti. I have to admit, part of the reason why our Q60 was heavy on gas is because it was just so much fun to be driven hard.
Cargo Space & Storage
The trunk of the Q60 does provide a usable 246L of cargo space. The rear seats can also be folded to accomodate longer objects. However, if practicality is what you are looking for, a coupe would not be your first choice.
Interior storage space for smaller items are limited, but you do get your two cup holders, a center console storage with two USB charging ports, and door side pockets that are on the smaller side. Once again, practicality is not the priority here.
Verdict
No doubt the 2018 Infiniti Q60 is an acquired taste. The coupe form factor means practicality takes a back seat. And being a luxury coupe, the suspension is tuned more toward the comfort side. However, given the good look, the beautiful interior, the great sounding engine, and the attractive pricing, it sure appeals to a large group of its intended audience. And I am one of them.
Test Vehicle
2018 Infiniti Q60 3.0T LUXE AWD
MSRP
$61,290 (with Freight & PDE)
Color
Majestic White
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