Infiniti Q50 2.0T Premium 4Dr Auto Petrol Saloon

Ten Second Review

Infiniti's Q50 continues its difficult task of establishing itself as a contender in the compact executive market. In this revised guise, it gets a smarter look, a classier cabin and semi-autonomous driving tech, building on the sophisticated suspension and steering systems and the potent 3.0-litre V6 twin-turbo engine not long previously added to the line-up. Will it all be enough? If you were thinking of a BMW 3 Series, a Mercedes C-Class or an Audi A4 but wanted something a bit different, then it just might be..

Background

Ask most car buyers what Infiniti is and you'll mainly get quizzical looks and a shrug of the shoulders. Only a minority will know it as Nissan's luxury sub-brand. In effect, Infiniti is to Nissan what Lexus is to Toyota and what Acura is to Honda in the US. So why the need for these somewhat contrived brand-building exercises? Well, it's to set the cars in question apart. And in Infiniti's case, to distance its products from small cheap Nissan models. After all, this company is aiming to go head to head with BMW, so it needs all the perceived image points it can get. Infiniti's been established in the UK since 2008 and hasn't made that much of a splash. This Q50 though, merits serious consideration, in the BMW 3 Series sector, especially in its latest guise where it gets a classier look and feel and even more sophistcated technology. And it isn't long since the brand added in a next-generation Direct Adaptive Steering system, clever Dynamic Digital Suspension and a potent 3.0-litre twin-turbo 400bhp petrol V6 into the line-up too. Infiniti is pulling out all the stops. But will buyers respond?

Driving Experience

Rule one of the compact executive market, in the UK at least, is that you won't succeed without a good diesel engine. Lexus has discovered that with its IS model, that brand trying instead to persuade buyers that a petrol/electric hybrid is a better bet. With this Q50, Infiniti has decided to try and cover both bases, offering potential customers a 168bhp 2.2-litre diesel and a potent 360bhp petrol/electric hybrid. A 208bhp 2.0t petrol turbo is also offered in the range and at the top of the line-up, a flagship 400bhp V6 3.0-litre twin-turbo variant is available, though it'll be a vanishingly rare sight on our roads. The Hybrid and the 3.0-litre V6 variants get 'Direct Adaptive Steering', billed as the world's first digital steering system. It's one of those set-ups that claim to vary steering asistance depending on the type of driving you're doing. These usually have something of an anaethetised feel but Infiniti claims to have created natural feedback here and says that it's fully customisable to the needs of the driver through the car's Drive Mode Selector system. The 3.0-litre V6 variant also gets 'DDS' 'Dynamic Digital Suspension', also adjustable through the Drive Mode settings. 'DDS' monitors body roll, pitch and bounce rate to restrain body motion for a comfortable, confident and insulated ride in all conditions, ensuring that bumps and undulating road conditions are absorbed to maintain flat body pressure.

Design and Build

There should be a well-established template for what makes a compact executive car and as far as dimensions go, that's pretty much the case: BMW's 3 Series is 462cm long, Audi's A4 is 473cm, Mercedes' C-Class is 467cm, Lexus' IS is 466cm and Infiniti's Q50 is 479cm. Beyond mere size, there's a lot of variance though. You'd never mistake the angular IS for the more architectural A4 for example. The Q50 has its own look too, especially in this revised form where the signature double-arch grille has been smartened up and there are changes to both front and rear lamps. 'The 'Sport' and 'Red Sport' models also get a more angular front bumper and wider, lower air intakes. Jump inside and it all looks rather Japanese - but Japanese in a good way. Changes include the addition of leather-like stitched material around the instrument binnacle, plus there's a new steering wheel and a smarter, sportier gear knob. Otherwise, things are much as they were. There's not the doughty austerity of a German car. Instead there's a twin clock binnacle, a steering wheel festooned with minor controls, two big LCD touch screens in the centre console and a wheel controller a la BMW iDrive/Audi MMS/Mercedes COMAND. As you'd expect, it seems immaculately screwed together and there's plenty of kit built into even the entry-level car. Never mind the 168bhp, these buttons aren't going to press themselves.

Market and Model

Prices start at around £30,000 for the diesel version and around £43,500 for the petrol/electric hybrid. Top models like the freshly added 'Red Sport 400' variant are simply rammed with standard equipment but even entry-level 'SE' derivatives get plenty. A sampler? Try 17-inch alloy wheels and run-flat tyres, LED rear lights, scratch-shield paint, chrome-trimmed twin exhaust pipes and halogen daytime running lights. Then there's the six-speaker stereo with Bluetooth streaming, USB/iPod connectivity and voice-operation. Spend a bit more and you can upgrade to a Bose system with DAB radio. Also fitted as standard is a dual-zone adaptive climate control system, plus 60/40 split rear seats with a ski hatch (though not on the Hybrid), a multi-function leather-bound steering wheel and front aluminium door sill protectors are included. Then there's cruise control, a speed limiter, stop start, hill start assist, a rear view camera, rain sensing wipers and keyless entry. Safety systems include vehicle dynamic control, including active trace and traction control, tyre pressure warning and brake assist. Your dealer will also want to tell you about the 'ProPILOT Assist' package, Infiniti's version of the kind of systems that German rivals are offering that virtually do all the driving for you. Infiniti says that it wants to 'empower' drivers, rather than replace them.

Cost of Ownership

The typical three-year cost of running the Infiniti Q50 as a whole is, at present, open to a little speculation especially regarding the issue of residual values. There's no ambiguity over economy and emissions figures though, so let's contextualise these a bit. The Q50 diesel with a manual gearbox will manage 64.2mpg and emit 114g/km compared to the 67.3mpg/111g/km of the BMW 320d, so Infiniti's at least somewhere near the pace here. It's not quite such an impressive story when we look at the Hybrid model. Here you'd expect to see Nissan exercising its expertise in battery power but the 45.6mpg and 144g/km you get here is comprehensively leathered by hybrid kings Lexus who admittedly offer less performance, but if you're more interested in green credentials, the IS300h with its 67.3mpg and 97g/km is hard to touch. Plus there's now plug-in hybrid technology in this segment courtesy of BMW's 330e and the Mercedes C350e.

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Key Standard Features*

• Solid - Black obsidian
• Solid - Pure white
• Remote keyless entry
• Driver's manual adjustable lumbar support
• Solid paint
• Reach + rake adjustable steering column
• Front and rear parking sensors
• Rear view camera
• Electric heated exterior mirrors
• Tyre pressure monitoring system
• Leather - Graphite
• Leather - Stone
• Leather - Wheat
• Gun metal interior trim
• 17" 5 double spoke alloy wheels

Specification

Body Glass
Rain sensor
Front and rear electric windows
UV reducing glass
Electric rear windows
Heated rear windscreen
Electric front windows + drivers one touch
Brakes
ABS+EBD+Brake assist
Hill start assist
TCS
VDC Dynamic Vehicle Control
ESP
ASR traction control
Hill hold control
Communication
Bluetooth telephone connectivity
Voice control system
Driver Aids
Speed limiter
Drive Mode Selector
Driver Convenience
Push button starter
Active noise cancellation
Driver Information
5" TFT driver information centre
Trip computer
Rev counter
Low fuel level warning light
Door/boot open warning light
Exterior temperature gauge
InTouch system with dual touch screen
Driving Mirrors
Auto dimming rear view mirror
Electric adjustable door mirrors
Entertainment
USB/iPod connection
Radio/single CD player
Auxiliary input socket
Bluetooth audio streaming
6 speakers
Fingertip controls for audio system
Exterior Body Features
Aluminium front door sills
Twin exhaust tailpipe
Body colour exterior mirrors
Chrome tailpipe finisher
Body colour bumpers
Body coloured side sills
Body colour door handles with chrome trim
Exterior Lights
LED fog lights
LED indicators in door mirrors
Follow me home headlights
Automatic headlights
LED rear lamps
LED daytime running lights
Auto headlight levelling
LED headlights
Heating/Cooling/Ventilation
Auto air recirculation
Dual zone electronic climate control
Rear air con vents
Pollen filter
Interior Features
Ski hatch
12v power point in centre console
Multi function for steering wheel
Rear centre armrest with cupholders
Front armrest with storage box
Leather steering wheel
Leather upholstery
Leather gear lever
Rear centre armrest with cupholder
Centre console with armrest
Leather gear knob
Front door pockets with bottle holders
Boot lashing points
Interior Lights
Footwell illumination
Illuminated boot
Interior courtesy light
Driver/passenger reading lights
Safety
Front and rear curtain airbags
Warning triangle and first aid kit
Driver and passenger airbags
3x3 point rear seatbelts
Front side airbags
Height adjustable front seatbelts
Passenger airbag deactivation system
Front and rear outer seat belt pre-tensioners
Front and rear seatbelt reminder
Seats
Heated front seats
60/40 split folding rear seat
Isofix attachments on rear seats
Front headrests
Rear headrests
Height adjustable front seats
Front seat back map pockets
3 height adjustable rear headrests
Height adjustable front headrests
Security
Immobiliser
Remote central locking
Deadlocks
CAT 1 alarm
Vanity Mirrors
Sunvisors with illuminated vanity mirrors

Options

Packs
Welcome pack - Q50	£1,200.00
Visibility pack - Q50	£1,040.00
Paint - Metallic
Metallic - Hagane blue	£660.00
Metallic - Chestnut bronze	£660.00
Metallic - Liquid Platinum	£660.00
Metallic - Moonlight White	£660.00
Metallic - Graphite shadow	£660.00
Metallic - Midnight black	£660.00
Metallic - Dynamic Sunstone Red	£660.00
Metallic - Iridium Blue	£660.00
Paint - Solid
Solid - Black obsidian	Standard
Solid - Pure white	Standard
Security
Remote keyless entry	Standard
Seats
Driver's manual adjustable lumbar support	Standard
Exterior Body Features
Special Metallic paint	£1,090.00
Metallic paint	£660.00
Electric glass sunroof	£880.00
Solid paint	Standard
Special paint	£1,090.00
Interior Features
Kacchu Aluminium interior trim	£240.00
Reach + rake adjustable steering column	Standard
Driver Information
Navigation System + DAB	£1,960.00
Driver Aids
Front and rear parking sensors	Standard
Rear view camera	Standard
Driving Mirrors
Electric heated exterior mirrors	Standard
Paint - Special
Special metallic - Dynamic sunstone red	£1,090.00
Safety
Tyre pressure monitoring system	Standard
Trim - Leather
Leather - Graphite	Standard
Leather - Stone	Standard
Leather - Wheat	Standard
Embellishment Trims
Maple wood trim	£320.00
Gun metal interior trim	Standard
Wheels - Alloy
18" 7 double spoke alloy wheels	£800.00
17" 5 double spoke alloy wheels	Standard

Performance

Performance
0 to 60 mph (secs)
0 to 62 mph (secs)	7.2
Engine Power - BHP	211
Engine Power - KW	155
Engine Power - PS
Engine Power - RPM	5500
Engine Torque - LBS.FT	258
Engine Torque - NM	350
Engine Torque - RPM	1250
Top Speed	152