To Infiniti and..?
Despite building some incredibly compelling cars and SUVs over the years, Infiniti has always struggled to set the sales numbers of other luxury marques. In 2014 they moved 117,330 vehicles, representing a 1 percent increase in a market that did substantially better than that overall. A wave of new products, including the entry-level Q30 car, sleek QX30 crossover and a sexy new twin-turbo coupe previewed by the Q60 Concept at the Detroit auto show in January will certainly help. In the meanwhile Infiniti must rely on a roster that includes some aging—but excellent—SUVs like the QX70 and QX80, a few sedans, a coupe and its second best seller, the QX60 crossover. Let’s see how the some of that current lineup stacks up.
QX60
Infiniti is quite good at spotting—and filling—automotive “white spaces” between established offerings. This seven passenger crossover is one such: a premium vehicle that undercuts the price of really high-end rides like the Audi Q7 yet has more panache than something along the lines of a loaded Ford Explorer. The QX60 looks every inch the Infiniti on the outside, all swooping lines and twisting brightwork. Only the largest of the available wheel/tire combos bring out its forms properly, but the same could be said for many Euro competitors. Inside most all of the materials are of high quality, something Infiniti excels at. But there are some questionable color combinations which wont hold up to family use well and too many silver painted plastic accents here. Chrome or satin-finished metal-look trim would help, as wood darker hued carpets. Seating is comfortable (even in the third row) and the QX60 is roomier than most in the class. The carry-over infotainment system is dated and not up to the level of the rest of the cockpit though.
Dynamically, Infiniti is shooting for a more mainstream compromise of ride quality and handling than in some of their sportier vehicles (such as the QX70) and while the softer suspension certainly takes the edge off rough roads, there is none of the pizzazz a premium buyer might expect in steering response or the way the QX60 goes around a corner. Perhaps Infiniti should tear down a Mazda CX-9 to see how this should be done. More problematic is the use of a continuously variable transmission. The otherwise great 285hp VQ-series 3.5-liter V6 is neutered by this heinous device, with lackluster throttle response, mediocre acceleration (0-60 in 7.8 seconds) and none of the verve normally associated with this motor, no matter which mode you put it in. There’s no benefit in fuel economy, either, which is merely competitive with others in the segment at 18-19mpg in mixed use, and a ways off the EPA ratings.
The CVT shouldn’t be enough to keep people away; in normal use it isn’t too obvious and the other great QX60 attributes, such as size, quietness and quality come to the fore. Infiniti still has breathing room too, with Audi driving the Q7 upmarket, Lexus, Jeep and BMW at least a year away from releasing competitors, and the Acura MDX being a tighter fit for family use.
QX70
Another early entry into a new class of vehicle—in this case the performance SUV—was Infiniti’s QX70 (originally called the FX35), which has aged quite gracefully. It still looks the bomb, especially with the test vehicle’s Sport Package and its “murdered out” trim and 21-inch wheels. It’s kind of astonishing that this radical ride has had such wide acceptance in the market over the years, and this Infiniti still has tremendous presence. The cockpit that graces the QX70 is enticing as well, being full of incredibly nice materials, bold violet stitching, a fluidic and pleasing architecture and four great seats—there’s even a decent amount of useable cargo room, despite the chopped and channeled roofline. Yes—the infotainment system is old and missing desirable features, but everything else is so nice this is easier to forgive.
The QX70 represents—in a good way—Infiniti’s focus on creating vehicles that please the driver above all else. The ride is certainly stiff, bordering on choppy even, but there is just enough compliance to make it tolerable. And the way it steers and straitens a set of corners is still amazing for something so big and tall. It is closest in feel to the first generation BMW X5 (subsequent versions of which have become more and more luxury-oriented). It too uses a version of the VQ-series V6 engine found in many Nissans and Infinitis, here displacing 3.7-liters and with outputs of 325hp and 267lb-ft of torque. Allied to a conventional, 7-speed automatic, it is a much nicer source of motivation than that in the QX60. Yes, it returns 1-2mpg less, but is so much more responsive and engaging, with a particularly pleasing exhaust burble, that this is easily forgiven. 0-60mph takes 6.1 seconds, which is slightly off the pace of such competitors as the supercharged BMW X3/4 six cylinder and Audi Q5 V6, but still quick enough for most.
In an ideal world, the compelling attributes of both QXs, 60 and 70, would be combined into the perfect vehicles: sporty yet comfortable, practical yet fun, efficient yet fast. It is obvious Infiniti is headed in this direction (the market demands it) and there is little doubt they will get there. In the meanwhile both of these machines represent great ways to have a premium ownership experience without the frailties oft associated with cars from the Continent or the ennui of most Asian competitors.
EPA ratings
QX60: 16/22mpg; 18mpg combined
QX70: 19/26mpg; 22mpg combined
Price as tested
QX60: $59,535
QX70: $56,090
Here is what Infiniti has to say about the QX60 and QX70.
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