2016 Infiniti Q50 – Test Drive, Review, Ratings, Spec

2016 Infiniti Q50 2.0T and 3.0 Twin Turbo – Luxury and Power Drive

One could only dream to test drive sports cars all day as a journalist. While my dream hasn’t exactly been a reality, the Infiniti Q50 did certainly relieve a few itches off my back for a quick road thriller.

Power was a bit toned down on my 2.0T tester, but the upper 3.0T and Red Sport model ups the game with a twin turbo V6 producing 400 hp respectively. Having driven both, the 3.0T Red sport certainly encourages one to work hard to shell out an extra $12k to opt into what the big leagues of extravagant horsepower and shear driving enthusaism.

Majestic Looks

I wouldn’t be surprised if a picture of Aladdin’s magic carpet was pinned to the wall in the Q50’s design studio for inspiration. At least, its wavy lines from front to back reminded me of it. On that note, its form meets good function as well. The front hood is downward sloped and has bulged contours lined up with the front wheels, giving the driver excellent view of the road and where to aim for the apex.

LED and fog lights are deeply engraved into its skin while its signature Infiniti front grille is bubbled outwards to create attention at the stop light.

Visual details of the 3.0T Red sport distinguishes itself with an added red “3.0T” badge on the front and rear side of the vehicle as well as its chrome exhaust tips.  Other than that, the design and styling remains intact with its sibling models.

Lavish Interior

No disappointment here. Seating arrangement is tight to comply with its sports-inspired attitude, but is forgiven with well cushioned and soft leather seating material. Rear seating offers sufficient legroom that probably won’t be complained by too many. For the more versatile users, 60/40 split rear seats can be configured as an available option in the premium trim package.

The capacitive touchscreen is not new, and its first iteration a couple years back was a bit disappointing. But this year’s version seemed to have ironed out quite a few of the bugs.  User experience is significantly better with improved response time and more intuitive menus. Voice navigation was still something I deferred to my phone instead after a couple failed attempts and loss of patience in punching in the address. But give it enough patience will reward you with working turn-by-turn navigation.

Driving position feels authoritative with its small diameter steering wheel and tight grip. Its downward sloped front hood and bulged contours lined with the front wheel gives excellent road visibility and driving confidence.

Road Aggression

Certainly the category to be enjoyed most during my time with the Q50. Though the 2.0T didn’t quite have the grunt and power at will to satisfy my driving desires given the shallow 208 horsepower and turbo lag, but the handling and raw grunt of the exhaust tone did well to compromise.

Steering deserves an A grade. It feels light, but very smooth and precise around corners. Suspensions do a great job keeping the car very stable and capable around curves with minimal body roll. And while not physically being so, the Q50 feels like it’s got a low center of gravity to keep all 4 wheels tightly planted to the ground in all driving conditions.

Regular driving routine feels good as well with good comfort and decent sound insulation from road noise. But the tire camber settings does create tire roll noise leaked into the cabin space.

In terms of the 3.0T feels like it’s got a streamless amount of power and never seems to die out.  While conventional turbos dictate lag, the output of the 3.0T V6 actually feels very linear throughout its power range.  Torque starts to numb out at the sub 6000 RPM.

Steering on the 3.0T also feels very light, nimble and controllable despite its big horsepower rating.  Seating position offers a good visual overview of the front hood to the driver, which is something I liked a lot.

Overall Impressions

Sweet looks, quality, and driving enthusiasm is all enjoyed with EPA fuel ratings of 10.6/8.4L/100 Km at a price tag of $39,900 for the 2.0T. Throw in another 6 grand gets you into the big leagues with the twin turbo V6 producing 300 horsepower with a more advanced 7 speed automatic transmission. Another 9 grand ($54,600) brings you into penthouse amenities with a 400hp tuned twin turbo V6 with a fast ratio steering system, 4 piston disc brakes, bigger spoiler, and paddle shifters. Having said that, it may, or may not be too much power to handle, especially considering the turbo lag that will be susceptible.

I’m not quite the young stud I used to be who wouldn’t care about a trashed up cabin space, lousy looks and a bumpy ride. So long as it had the fun factor and driving spirit, that was all it took to bring out a smile in me. But old age has caught on, and other things are of and higher priority – that includes driving comfort, good looks and quality. The Q50 meets that expectation and even offers a good balance out of all three elements.

Specifications

• Vehicle : 2016 Infiniti Q50
• Model : Infinit Q50 2.0T
• Vehicle Type : Mid-size Sedan
• Seating Capacity : 2+3
• Engine : 2.0L Turbocharged Engine / 3.0T Twin Turbo
• Transmission :  7-Speed Automatic
• Price: 2.0T – $45,900 | 3.0T – 58, 685

Pros

• Luxury craftmenship inside out
• Good balance between comfort and performance.
• Quiet and elegant cabin space

Cons

• Kia Cadenza offers V6 for the same price tag with equal levels of quality.