2019 Infiniti Q70

The Q70 first made an appearance in 2011 under a different name and has received only marginal upgrades over the course of the last few years. In this latest year model, the luxury midsize sedan comes up against powerhouse names such as the BMW 5 Series and Audi A6, and with its aging design and outdated technology, doesn't fare well. Two base trims are available, with the main differences being a 3.7-liter V6 engine developing 330 horsepower or a 5.6-liter V8 engine plating up 420 hp, mated to rear-wheel drive as standard with a seven-speed automatic gearbox and available AWD. Although offering a spacious cabin and a relatively comfortable driving experience, the Q70 lacks standard features and driver aids and requires additional packages to be equipped to measure up to main competitors. Can this aging sedan really rival Germany's best, eight years into its current lifespan?

At the point of entry into the range, the Q70 has an MSRP of $50,400 for the 3.7 Luxe in rear-wheel drive configuration. As the cheapest available model, the 3.7 can be equipped with the ProACTIVE package at an additional cost of $3,300, as well as the Premium Select package, which has the same pricing per bundle. To make the most of the Sport package, a sum of $4,900 must be added onto your invoice price. On the other end of the spectrum, the 5.6 Luxe is priced at $63,450, which is significantly more expensive than the base model and still requires additional packages to maximize driver aids at the very least. This pushes up the total cost in excess of $65,000. Added to this is the option of upgrading to all-wheel drive, which will cost upwards of $2,000. Prices are exclusive of tax, registration, licensing, and a destination charge of $995.

The Q70 range boasts excellent handling on the standard wheelbase, with a firm-yet-nimble experience on the road. Despite being fairly sizeable, the Q70 shrinks around the driver, feeling agile on tight, twisting roads. Good grip and excellent cornering add to the feeling of driving a real sports sedan, aided by the hearty thrum of a big burly V8 under the hood on the 5.6 Luxe derivative. The suspension is adequate and provides ample support, but some bigger bumps in the road do tend to filter through to the cabin a little coarsely, while some jiggling and bounce can be experienced with more aggressive driving. This can be smoothed out somewhat by equipping the Sport package for sport-tuned suspension and upgraded brakes.

With the further addition of the Premium package, a four-piston front and two-piston rear brake calibration is offered which provides an even better braking experience. The pedal offers up a firm feel and good feedback, with stopping power more than ample enough for the hefty sedan.

With precise steering that feels feather-light in tighter spaces and at slower speeds, yet offers a weighted and sure sensation at highway speeds, the Q70 fares better than rivals in terms of communication and how the steering gives the driver confidence to exploit the chassis.

The basic design of the Q70 has been adequate for the last few years but is now urgently in need of a redesign. Newer rivals make use of lightweight construction and newer engine technologies to improve overall driveability and reduce fuel consumption. While the Q70's engines are characterful and the V8 delivers generous dollops of power, neither is particularly frugal, and the sluggish gearbox and additional weight of an old chassis robs the Q70 of performance.

The inability of the vehicle to configure to smartphones is a huge drawback, as is the aging and clumsy infotainment system. Despite featuring a roomy cabin, comfortable seating and enthusiastic engine options, the onboard technology and the limited number of standard features is a little disappointing. This makes adding on one of the packages (most essentially the ProACTIVE package for all the safety aids) a necessity, and as such the price increases substantially. While the Q70 provides a comfortable drive with a powerful engine, it simply does not stand out in this segment, with competitors offering much more for similar pricing structures. Although the various plus points cannot be negated, the Q70 presents as an average car in its class.

While the idea of the powerful V8 is generally appealing, the substantial cost of the top-end model with only a powertrain as the main difference, seems quite nonsensical. The additional $13,000 for a bigger engine seems almost ludicrous and puts the final price well over $67,000 when adding on the much-needed ProACTIVE bundle. The base model 3.7 Luxe equipped with the ProACTIVE package is a sensible buy that remains at a class average of around $55,000, with a sufficient V6 engine, comfortable ride and full-house of safety features. Unless the driver is specifically seeking out a powerhouse engine, the 3.7 Luxe is the better value-for-money option.

The BMW 5 series features near the top of the class for midsize luxury sedans, and as a German powerhouse has quite a long lead over the Q70. Besides its obvious status, the BMW has more powerful and efficient engine options that produce much better gas mileage estimates than what the Q70 is capable of. Although the BMW is admittedly higher in price, to bring the Q70 up to the level of the BMW in terms of onboard safety features, at least one package needs to be added on which evens out the price differences. In general, the BMW handles like a true sports car, with superior suspension and cornering abilities, as well as a much more refined driving experience. The cabin, although similar in size and dimension is filled with high-end materials and a more user-friendly layout than in the Q70. Thus, despite the higher price, the BMW is the better option between the two.

Another familiar name in this segment, the Audi A6 has a smaller cabin than the Q70, although not by much. The opulence and attention to detail in the finishing of the Audi, however, far exceeds the interior of the Q70. Although the Q70 has a premium sound system on-board as standard (and can be further upgraded), the general cutting-edge technology of the Audi in terms of driver aids, infotainment and smartphone integration by far outweighs what the Q70 is equipped with. The Audi also has a much more agile driving experience, with smoother gear changes and better handling than the Q70, thanks to its standard quattro all-wheel drive system. Once the base Q70 is equipped with the ProACTIVE package (necessary to adequately compare to rivals, as the standard Q70 is simply poor in driver aids without it), it is within the same price range as the Audi. With the superior safety ratings and all-around better drive, the Audi is the winner in this comparison.