It
has moved its headquarters to Hong Kong, renamed its lineup, and lost two key
executives recently. So it should come as no surprise that Infiniti is
undergoing a transition, just like the 2015 Infiniti Q70L we just had
in for a few days.
You
might remember the Q70 in its former life as the M35/45, which was rebadged for
the 2014 model year. For 2015 the Q70L joins the model range,
featuring a much longer wheelbase to accommodate a dramatically more spacious
rear seat.
If
you need rear seat room to go with your sport-leaning luxury sedan, the Q70L is
happy to oblige. It’s downright cavernous. (They’ll especially love this car in
China, where they’d probably welcome even a long-wheelbase Fiat 500.) Rear-seat
L-type passengers have an additional 5.6 inches of rear legroom, thanks to an
extra 5.9 inches of wheelbase over the base Q70.
This
particular 2015 Q70L came with all-wheel drive and Infiniti’s stout (though
aging), naturally aspirated 3.7-liter V-6 with 330 horsepower. Matched with a
seven-speed automatic, the V-6 handles hard acceleration and around-town
situations with equal aplomb. While the Q70’s optional 5.6-liter V-8 offers
more punch, we found very little to complain about with the six. That said,
we’re expecting to see a new powertrain family from Infiniti soon that will
take advantage of advances in engine technology to increase efficiency without
sacrificing power.
At
freeway speeds, the 2015 Infiniti Q70L hums along without much fuss, and its
cabin proves well-isolated from the incessant buzz of L.A.’s clogged streets
and freeways. The Q70L model feels like a bigger car given its stretched
wheelbase, but it doesn’t really drive like one. You can really hustle this
Q-ship. We easily whip-sawed it into and out of lanes and took on sweepers and
other bends in the daily commute, and with AWD, the car is more neutral in its
demeanor. There is a Sport mode available that tightens things up a bit and
makes the car slightly more aggressive thanks to shift points at higher rpm,
but it doesn’t dramatically change the Q70’s character. We could do without
features such as the Eco Pedal, which makes the gas pedal feel as though a foam
brick was shoved behind it.
Outside,
the Q70 has also received a nip and tuck to get it more in line with its smaller Q50 stablemate, and
the optional 20-inch footwear enhances the car’s presence. We’d argue that this
car is more attractive than before, more like the new Infiniti in shape and
mission as it transitions into the future. Inside, the cabin is now familiar
Infiniti fare, with a large infotainment screen sitting above a center stack
still dominated by a circular dial and button arrangement. There’s an analog
clock and other upscale-look touches, including silver-powdered white ash trim
on this particular car that looks fittingly upscale.
But
in the instrument panel, the Q has an old-school digital readout in the center,
part of a mixed bag of options and displays. We’re still big fans of Infiniti’s
pioneering Around View Monitor that now comes with a feature that detects
moving objects. XM NavTraffic and NavWeather (we love them) are standard on the
Q, and the optional technology package comes with all manner of Infiniti’s
top-tier safety nannies, including predictive forward-collision warning and
backup-collision intervention, which are among the best in the business.
There
are a lot of things to like about the 2015 Infiniti Q70L, but given the
hyper-crowded field of contenders in its class, many of which are cars that
don’t have transitional issues, it will be hard for this car to stand out in
the marketplace for now.
2015 Infiniti Q70L 3.7 AWD Specifications
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On Sale:
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Now
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Price:
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$54,405/$62,755 (base/as tested)
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Engine:
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3.7 DOHC 24-valve V-6/330 hp @
7,000 rpm, 270 lb-ft @ 5,200 rpm
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Transmission:
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7-speed automatic
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Layout:
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4-door, 5-passenger, front-engine,
AWD sedan
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EPA Mileage:
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18/24 mpg city/hwy
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L x W x H:
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202.0 x 72.6 x 59.6 in
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Wheelbase:
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120.1 in
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Weight:
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4,156 lb
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Source by AutomobileMag
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