2022 Infiniti Q60

When competing in the two-door sports coupe segment, as the Infiniti Q60 does, design is essential. What good is a 2-door coupe if it doesn't have an eye-catching exterior that compels you to shoot one last glance at it before you walk away? However, design alone is not enough. The second ingredient in the two-door sports coupe recipe book is a powerful engine, and the third is a responsive chassis that can cash the checks the body keeps on writing.

Infiniti gets two of the three main ingredients right. The Q60 has striking good looks and a twin-turbocharged V6, good for 300 horsepower or 400 hp, depending on which trim level you go for. Sadly, while it may be one of the better-looking coupes out there, it doesn't offer an engaging driving experience. But does that make it redundant in a segment that includes the all-new BMW 4 Series, Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe, and the Audi A5?

There are essentially three trim levels, all of which can be had with Infiniti's Intelligent all-wheel drive for an additional $2,000. Pricing stays unchanged for 2022. The cheapest Q60 is the Pure, with an MSRP of $41,750. The mid-spec Luxe carries a price of $50,300, while the Red Sport 400 starts at $58,200. The base price of the Infiniti Q60 does not include the company's $1,025 handling fee.

This is the trickiest part to get right. Customers want an engaging experience and a suspension tune that won't result in backache after a 200-mile trip. Finding this balance is easily one of the most challenging jobs in the auto-manufacturing industry. The Mercedes-AMG C43 Coupe is on the firm side, but it feels more composed when you drive it enthusiastically. Infiniti went in the other direction. It's one of the most comfortable cars in the segment. The Q60 doesn't jar, jump, hop, or skip over bumps. It glides, offering a supple ride most of the time.

The downside of this is a car that doesn't respond well to dynamic driving. In general, it is a stable car and provides suitable levels of grip, but there isn't an enormous amount of fun to be had. The steering is devoid of any feedback, so you never know exactly what the front end is doing. Infiniti offers a system called Direct Adaptive Steering as part of the Proactive Package, but it just makes the driving experience worse. This system provides steering input according to the speed, but the feedback you receive in return is inconsistent at best. Once again, you'll find more in common with a grand tourer than a sports car with the Q60.

As mentioned earlier, this segment is all about balance - taking certain things away to provide something else. Take two doors away, but in return, you get a striking exterior aesthetic. Firm up the suspension and increase the turn-in, but lose some ride comfort.

The Infiniti Q60 isn't balanced at all. It has a powerful twin-turbo engine, but the gearbox and chassis don't do it justice. More than anything, it feels as if Infiniti's engineers set out to build a grand tourer rather than a sporty, engaging machine. We know some folks like that sort of thing, but its main rivals strike a better balance. The 4 Series, C-Class Coupe, and A5 Coupe all offer a refined yet engaging experience. Infiniti may be on par with its Japanese rivals, but it pales in comparison to the Europeans

It is a beautiful car, and you do get many standard features, but there are too many negative attributes dragging it down.

Since the Q60 is more of a tourer than a performance machine, the best bet is the mid-spec Luxe. Its list of standard features already includes leather upholstery, the 13-speaker Bose surround-sound system, and advanced driver-assistance systems. It seems to be the preferred model on Infiniti's side as well, as it received the most significant makeover last year, including even more luxury and safety features. The kind of person who buys a car like this is likely a relaxed, laid-back individual, so 300 hp should be more than enough. Get the AWD system if you live in a cold state, but otherwise, it's fine sending the power to the rear wheels only.

The Q50 is essentially the sedan the Q60 is based on. Most of its Infiniti's rivals do the same thing. The changes made to give the car a sportier coupe styling include deleting the two rear doors, adding a sportier suspension setup, throwing in some more standard features, and, in some cases, upping the power outputs. Infiniti only seems to have the skin-deep changes while retaining the comfort and handling characteristics of the sedan. This begs the question, is it worth paying the extra money just for the styling?

The Q50 seats five people more comfortably, and it has a usable 13.5 cubes of cargo capacity. It has the same 300 hp engine, same gearbox, and same annoying interior. However, with the base Pure trim dropped for 2022, its Luxe trim starts at an MSRP of $42,100 - a little higher than the base Q60, but better equipped. It represents better value. If the Q60's main draw were a magnificent driving experience, the two-door body would have been a great fit. Since it's all about luxury, it makes more sense to us to get the sedan.

The Infiniti Q60 and Lexus RC are both impressive Japanese competitors to the established German coupes. Oddly, both place more emphasis on comfort than a rewarding driving experience. For similar money as the Q60, Lexus offers either a turbocharged four-cylinder or a naturally aspirated V6. Neither engine is as potent as the twin-turbo V6 in the Q60, though, even though the RC 350's 311 hp beats the 300-hp Q60 on paper.

The Lexus offers a more usable cabin and trunk and also presents buyers with a far higher-quality cabin, which is why we'd go for the RC. Yes, the Q60 has more power, but since neither were really made for the thrill of driving, we'd choose the Lexus for its superior comfort.