Infiniti Q60 – distinguished style

THE numbers may not be the biggest ones around, but slowly and surely Infiniti is starting to make serious inroads into the UK market.

There are still plenty of motorists out there who believe that Infiniti is actually a model of car rather than a brand in its own right.

But the luxury division of Nissan, in much the way Lexus is to Toyota, is moving steadily forward – to the point that it continued its trend of being the fastest growing automotive brand in the UK during the middle of this year with a 156% increase in registrations.

Of course being able to call upon top class products is key to the momentum and the latest wave of Infinitis are exactly that.

Leading the way in the style stakes is the new Q60, one of the coolest looking cars around and one that carries with it a definite air of distinction.

Let’s just give that observation a bit of perspective. During the course of a seven-day test drive I was tailgated by several drivers who got too close in trying to see the badge and approached by two others who thought the Infiniti was a Maserati.

Quite some endorsement for a sports coupe that comes with a choice of 2.0 or 3.0-litre petrol engines, a seven-speed automatic transmission and, on the more powerful variants, all-wheel drive.

And if there’s a suspicion that the Q60 may be case of style over substance, well that’s definitely not the case.

Yes, those lines are sweeping, there are sculpted sides, wide wheel arches, a long bonnet, 19-inch alloys and crescent-cut rear pillars, but the smart design doesn’t stop there.

Inside, the cabin feels upmarket, the higher spec models offering comfortable and adjustable leather seats plus plenty of stowage and an electric sunroof, though the latter is an £880 option.

The Q60 is strictly a four-seater though and while the two individual back seats are large and comfortable, they angle back slightly – impairing visibility out of the small rear side windows. Taller adults could also find headroom a problem.

Driving the 2.0-litre model in top grade Premium Tech trim is rewarding and relaxing in equal measure and the experience can be altered via a push on a rocker switch which adjusts the drive settings through Personal, Sport, Standard and Snow modes.

The Q60 includes Infiniti’s ‘steer by wire’ system which does away with mechanically linked parts, instead communicating electronically via an electronic unit which relays steering input from the driver to the wheels

Information and your own driving reports are accessed on the car’s touchscreen, from which we discovered our average of 33.0 miles per gallon was marginally poorer than was recorded the previous week.

There is also an Eco Drive report covering the past three months and highlighting our 64/100 performance. Best over this period was 76/100 and poorest 52/100.

This model also includes an easy to use multi-angle front and rear camera, accessed via the touchscreen, and a pin-sharp quality BOSE sound system.

Overall the Q60 is a car of considerable appeal – one that deserves a place among the big players of the sports coupe scene.