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2014 Infiniti Q60: Power, comfort, hefty price

James Raia

The 2014 Infiniti Q60 has a sloping rear window.

Infiniti changed the name of its vehicles throughout the brand last year. The 2014 Infiniti Q60 Coupe Journey is the new name for the 2013 G37 Coupe.

But that’s about all that’s changed in the upscale coupe from a year ago. It’s performance and luxury oriented, but like a lot of sports coupes, space and practicality aren’t strongest attributes.

The Weekly Driver Test Drive

The four-seat 2014 Infiniti Q60 coupe is available in five trims: the Q60 Journey, the base model Q60 AWD, Q60S 6MT and Q60 IPL. There’s also a Q60 convertible.

The 2014 Infiniti Q60 has impressive exterior styling.
The 2014 Infiniti Q60 has impressive exterior styling. Images © James Raia/2014

My weekly driver was the Journey. It’s a powerful machine with a 3.7-liter V6 with 330 horsepower, and it comes standard with a seven-speed automatic transmission and rear-wheel drive.

As a high-end coupe, the Infiniti Q60 has a lengthy list of standard features: 18-inch alloy wheels, automatic xenon headlights, foglights, heated mirrors, keyless ignition/entry, dual-zone automatic climate control, leather upholstery, heated eight-way power front seats, a folding rear seat, cruise control, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, a 7-inch touchscreen display, Bluetooth phone connectivity, a rearview camera and a six-speaker audio system with a six-CD changer, satellite radio, an auxiliary audio input jack and an iPod/USB audio interface.

With its power and sleek styling, the Infiniti Q60 is also an immediately impressive driving machine. It not only powers along a country road or on the freeway with great acceleration and superior handling, it does so while turning heads.

Unlike several friends for whom performance is the overriding factor for car purchases, I’m more conservative. I’ll take comfort and cargo space over 0-60 mph times every time. While coupes are notorious for their lack of interior room, the Infiniti Q60 gets high marks for comfort with its nearly unlimited positioning leather bucket seats. And I admit its performance was satisfying, too. It drives via a simple principle: Step on the gas and off you go, quickly.

The Infiniti Q60 stumbles sharply with an excessive amount of option packages. There are five, Interior Accents, Sport, Navigation, Premium and Technology. The options are all quality, the intuitive navigation system to an impressive Bose sound system to a boatload of sport upgrades. But add them all up, toss in the destination charge and the out-the-door price exceeds $50,000.

Likes:

Aggressive acceleration.

Lots of power.

Sharp, road-hugging cornering.

Handsome interior/exterior lines.

Comfortable front seats.

Analog clock.

First aid kit in trunk. Why doesn’t every car have one?

Dislikes:

Tight rear seats.

Option packages expensive.

Engine growl excessive at high speeds.

Poor rear window vision.

Facts & Figures: 2014 Infiniti Q60

Acceleration: 0-60 mph, 5.7 seconds.
Airbags: (7).
Fuel economy: 19 mpg (city), 27 mpg (highway), 22 mpg (combined) seven-speed automatic transmission.
Horsepower: 330.
Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price: $40,400.00
Manufacturer’s Web site: www.infinitiusa.com.
Price As Tested: $50,405.00
Warranty: Bumper to bumper, 4 years/60,000 miles; Powertrain, 6 years/70,000 miles; Corrosion, 7 years/unlimited miles; Roadside Assistance, 4 years/unlimited miles.

What Others Say:

“In addition to the Q60’s large appetite for fuel, rear-seat legroom and headroom are noticeably tighter than most 2-door rivals.” — Kelley Blue Book.

“Around turns, the Q60 coupe is impressively balanced and offers plenty of grip. The steering can feel unnecessarily heavy, though, especially with the quicker ratio that comes as part of the Sport option package (standard on the Q60S). The Q60’s ride quality is pretty smooth, though, even on substandard pavement.” — Edmunds.com.

“The 2014 Infiniti Q60 delivers solid handling and performance, while coddling passengers in a premium interior. The infotainment interface is easy to use, and the upgraded Bose audio system produces very good sound.” — CNET.com.

The Weekly Driver’s Final Words:

“The Infiniti Q60 is a luxury coupe with superior performance and handling and it’s made from top-flight material and is among the most handsome coupe’s on the road. But the sub par rear vision and frequent trips to the gas station take are deal-busters.”

Article Last Updated: April 22, 2014.

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