2018 Infiniti Q60 AWD Review By John Heilig

THE AUTO PAGE
By John Heilig
Senior Editor and Bureau Chief
Mid-Atlantic Bureau

REVIEWED MODEL: 2018 Infiniti Q60 AWD
ENGINE: 3.0-liter twin turbo V6
TRANSMISSION: 7-speed automatic
HORSEPOWER/TORQUE: 400 hp @ 6,400 rpm/350 lb.-ft. @ 1,600-2,500 rpm
WHEELBASE: 112.2 in.
LENGTH X WIDTH X HEIGHT: 184.4 x 72.8 x 54.9 in.
TIRES: P225/35R20
CARGO CAPACITY: 8.7 cu. ft.
ECONOMY: 19 mpg city/26 mpg highway/20.4 mpg test
FUEL TANK: 20.0 gal.
CURB WEIGHT: 4,024 lbs. #/HP: 10.06
TOWING CAPACITY: Not recommended
COMPETITIVE CLASS: Lexus RC, Audi A5, Mercedes-Benz GLS
STICKER: $65,705 (includes $905 destination, $10,800 options)
BOTTOM LINE: The Infiniti Q60 sport coupe is a bit of an anomaly within the Infiniti range in that it has only two doors. But other than that, it is a well-designed powerful vehicle that can get you there and back quickly.

My wife often reminds me that two-door couples are not the most practical vehicles around, forgetting that her first car was, indeed, a two-door. Of course, it was also a 1960 Oldsmobile 88 and was as big as a small house.

Nevertheless, modern coupes and sedans-that-look-like-coupes are among the best-looking vehicles on the road. Exterior styling is usually exquisite simply because designers have more fun with coupes than with four-doors. The Infiniti Q60 is no exception.

Externally, the Q60 features clean lines throughout with enough accent folds and creases to create interest. It didn’t hurt that our tester was the Red Sport version which, as you may have guessed, was red (Dynamic Sunston according to the Infiniti style book). The Q60 is lower and wider than the previous version that results in a lower center of gravity that aids handling.

Interior styling is clean with a simple dash. Where is the centrally mounted analog clock? The infotainment screen consists of a map/navigation screen on top, with the entertainment portion on the bottom half. The information side of the bottom screen consists of apps plus audio information.

The suspension is firm, and at times it’s too firm resulting in a hard ride. A hard ride is a boon to handling, but on the Q60 it isn’t harsh or uncomfortable. Low profile P225/35R20 tires are great for performance, but not for comfort.

The 3.0-liter twin turbo V6 offers quiet power. Floor the accelerator and you get a slight roar to accompany the kick in the pants. Acceleration is very good.

On the center console is a drive mode switch that switches among personal, sport+, sport, standard, eco and snow. With all-wheel drive, you have a bunch of practical options.

Front seats are comfortable with good side support in the kidney area. Inside the console are two USB outlets, and AUX, the map sD slot, 12-volt power and small storage. The center console/arm rest is well located.

All controls are within easy reach of the driver. The wheel is busy, but I”m certain that an owner will be able to find all the switches without looking after a little experience. Interior styling has “carbon fiber” trim around the console and center stack, doors and on a small rear spoiler. It’s a nice touch.

Access to the rear seats is difficult, even though the front seats fold easily. The front shoulder belt and retainer get in the way. You can fold the retainer out of the way, but after the rear pass gets seat themselves you have to fold it back again. Folding the rear seats to increase cargo capacity is accomplished through pulls in the small trunk. That is good, because it would be nearly impossible to fold them otherwise. Rear seats offer minimal leg room, but with good side support.

Between the front seats is a pair of cupholders. The door pockets are smallish and may hold water bottles, but we didn’t check. In addition there’s a cubby at the base of the center stack with a 12-volt outlet. This cubby isn’t overly convenient because of the shifter, but it was probably an ash tray/lighter in another iteration.

As I said earlier, there’s no central analog clock. Finding the digital clocks is challenging for the novice. There are two, one at the top left of the info panel and one at the top right of the map screen.

The Q60 evoked many compliments during our test run. It is a car that looks great with performance that matches the beauty. It suffers from the problems of most coupes, but these can be overlooked with the fun of driving it.