While long in the tooth, Infiniti's flagship is still competitive and among our top-rated luxury sedans, with agile handling, punchy powertrain and roomy, well finished interior. SHortcomings include ride comfort and noise isolation that fall short of its peers. Given that discounts are widely available, the Q70 is a worthy alternative even if it flies under the radar.
The base Q70 gets a 330-hp 3.7-liter V6 matched to a seven-speed automatic. This combination is very quick and also returns 21 mpg overall. But the engine can sound a bit raspy when revved high. Both rear- and all-wheel drive are available. On the opposite end of the spectrum, the Q70 can also be equipped with a potent 420-hp 5.6-liter V8.
The extended wheelbase "L" versions add an extra six inches of legroom and provides an enormous rear-seat room.
Handling is quite athletic, with communicative steering. The ride is firm and absorbs bumps well, but trails the competition in terms of plushness. The Q70 is behind the competition in terms of cabin quietness. Braking performance is top-notch.
Inside, you'll find a high quality interior, dominated by a 7.0-inch color monitor and Infiniti's trademark analog clock. But we still found the overall cabin ambience is somewhat austere. Seating is comfortable and the backseat is roomy even in the standard length. Controls are daunting at first, but with experience comes familiarity.
A wide variety of electronic safety technologies is available (but not standard), including lane departure warning, blind spot warning, rear cross traffic warning, and forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking.
Standard LED headlights and elegant exterior styling help the Q70's status as a luxury competitor. And although it's beginning to show its age, the Q70 is still deserves your consideration, especially since it typically commands lower prices than the competition.