Essentials Verdict Infiniti Qx70ultimate Essentials
Infiniti QX30 2.2d Infiniti QX70 Ultimate FIRST DRIVE Upscale trim can’t disguise that big SUV is way off the pace Infiniti QX70 3.0D Ultimate
THE QX30 is the best car Infiniti makes – but that’s not something we’d shout awfully loud about. As a distinctive and premium crossover, the QX30 will certainly generate the interest Infiniti has long been searching for, yet the lofty price will be a sticking point for many. While it’s comfortable, well kitted out and better to drive than the Mercedes GLA, the QX30 falls down on practicality, and the lack of powertrain options could also deter buyers. AT the top end of Infiniti’s SUV range sits the QX70 – and it has some standout features. The paint finish is superb, its windscreen wipers are eerily silent and you’re guaranteed exclusivity, because an Infiniti – any Infiniti for that matter – is a rare sight on UK roads.
But sadly that’s where the good news ends. The QX70 is a car that’s way past its sell-by date, and not one that can be improved with the sprinkle of glitter this Ultimate spec brings. You’ll pay £52,810 plus another £760 for the lovely Graphite Shadow metallic paint of our test car.
There’s nothing else on the options list – but you’ll be searching pointlessly for things like DAB radio and a panoramic sunroof on the otherwise fulsome kit count. This is far from the cutting edge of tech, and it’s not surprising when you realise the car was first seen eight years ago.
Under the long and shapely bonnet is a 3.0-litre V6 diesel with not much to shout about. Shout it will, however, as it continues to rumble away whatever speed you’re doing. It develops 235bhp and 550Nm of torque, but that’s way down on the Jaguar F-pace’s 296bhp and 700Nm output.
Fuel economy isn’t bad, though, and we were only a few miles per gallon away from the claimed 32.8mpg – but if economy is what you’re after, then you won’t be thinking about the big V6 in the first place.
Plus, there’s nothing sporty about this sport utility vehicle. The steering is too heavy, and while body control is good, the throttle response is tardy and the ride is quite frankly awful – you name it, every SUV on the market is more comfortable.
Inside, some nice purple stitching lifts the darkness – not helped by the shallow windows – but the quality isn’t much better than on a top-spec Nissan Qashqai. Space in the back and the boot is surprisingly poor given the size of the car, too. The luggage area only serves up 410 litres of space; the Jag offers a huge 650 litres by comparison. Amazingly, the two are almost identically priced at just over £52,000, despite the F-pace looking and feeling twice the price.
The QX30 shows brighter times are ahead for Infiniti. But with rivals like the Jaguar and Volvo XC90 offering so much more talent for less cash, even in Ultimate guise the QX70 is impossible to recommend.
“The QX70 is past its sell-by date, and can’t be improved with the sparkle that Ultimate spec brings” Newcars