2019 Infiniti Q60

BEIRUT: Designing cars isn’t easy. With decades of automotive styling behind us and dozens of brands on the market, with each producing numerous models, coming up with a unique design language becomes a challenge. It’s probably why so many cars being sold today resemble other current models, or seem to share certain styling traits. 

Which only makes Infiniti’s achievement all the more astonishing. All the crisp creases, slashes and swoops are characteristics of all of the marque’s latest models, and together conspire to afford Infiniti cars a unique place in car design. What makes it all more impressive is that the brand managed to pull it off at all considering its young age of just a couple of decades.

Over the past few years I have taken a crack at every Infiniti model that is currently offered at the showrooms. All, that is, except for the Q60, the coupe counterpart to the stylish and popular Q50 sedan. Somehow, although I’ve had my eye on this svelte two-door for a while, there always seemed to be another car I was asked to try out, and this one kept slipping through the cracks.

This past weekend I managed to remedy that oversight, and discovered that I had been missing out on a great experience.

In case you’re wondering, the Q60 is aimed at the same market segment as cars such as the BMW 4-Series, the Audi A5 and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe. But it comes with a major visual difference: Whereas its German rivals tend to be more reserved in their styling, the Q60 is all about drama – it’s like a rolling rock concert.

From a styling perspective, this could very well be Infiniti’s most cohesive design so far, and it wears all the brand’s trademark design flourishes with complete grace. Even Infiniti’s signature S shaped rear pillar looks more stunning on the Q60, which manages to look flashy and elegant at the same, not an easy feat to accomplish.

Move to the inside, and it’s also instantly recognizable as an Infiniti, what with its twin cockpit layout, fluid contours and very techy center stack, complete with two digital displays.

The luxuriousness of that cabin is to the standards of the upper trim models in Infiniti’s entire range of cars, especially the way it envelops you in complete comfort, pampers you to the eyeballs, and causes more than a few heads to turn while you do it.

The level of comfort is ridiculous, especially in the front, where the seats are so spacious and accommodating that you might as well be sitting in your living room. The materials have been carefully selected, with premium leather covering anything that matters. You also get eight-way power on th0se seats, so yes, total comfort. The glasshouse, meanwhile, is very generous, affording excellent visibility and conveying a sense of space.

Get this car with the interior in off-white, and that sense of space multiplies greatly. What made it more surreal was the fact that I was driving a deep metallic blue model complete with the off-white interior I adored, a simply sumptuous combination that accentuates what this car is all about: excess.

And all that isn’t in any way flimsy or cheaply built. On the contrary, the Q60, like all Infinitis, boasts exceptional build quality and attention to detail. The finish is perfect, the materials are premium, and everything feels solid, very German-like.

Unfortunately, more often than not, those privileges come with a hefty price tag. Not so with the Infiniti Q60, because what they’re asking for it is absurd. You can literally get behind the wheel of this top-trim, fully loaded car starting at less than $50,000 and that includes VAT.

Now that you know that it’s a quality build with an affordable price tag, let’s talk about what really matters, because in the end you could get that luxury from the leather armchair in your house if you weren’t going anywhere.

Let’s just say that if you need a smooth-as-silk highway cruiser, you’ve come to the right place. This car was built for long pleasurable journeys. You can expect to come out of those seats relaxed after hours of driving. And the excellent infotainment system with Bose Performance sound and 13 speakers will keep you entertained for the duration of the trip.

The car is silent as a ghost, and devours the asphalt with nary a vibration – we’re literally talking about a cruise ship here. In city driving, it’s the perfect mode of transport, and traffic jams will feel like opportunities to luxuriate in that lush cabin while all around you other drivers go out of their minds.

The 2.0-liter turbo, churning out 208 ponies, is plenty for Beirut – the Mercedes-sourced engine affords the Q60 nimble performance, crossing the 100kph mark in just over 7 seconds. Top speed is 233 kph.

Sure, it’s not a track monster, but that’s not what the Q60 is about – this is for those of us who want to get from point A to point B without much urgency, and if you want to enjoy a nice pleasurable drive in the countryside, it fits the bill perfectly. 

The seven-speed transmission shifts gears imperceptibly, and the steering is smooth and quick to respond, adding extra heft as you pick up speed, especially in Sport mode. Handling is adequate, with the car, already low as it is, remaining firmly planted on bends at moderate speeds.

It’s quite the impressive coupe, and safety is paramount, as the Q60 comes loaded with driver and passenger airbags, as well as front side and curtain, anti-lock brakes, brake force distribution, brake assist, traction and stability control, as well as a whole host of other acronyms I can’t even understand.

It really is a complete package, and in my opinion it’s an absolute bargain, residing way above its surprisingly low price tag. Expect people to come up and ask you what it is, and don’t be at all surprised when they’re stunned at how attainable it is.