INFINITI QX70 AWD MASQUERADES AS SPORT UTILITY
Infiniti’s SUV-hatchback-sports car embraces its multiple personalities
To make sense of the 2016 Infiniti QX70 AWD Sport, it helps to think of it as a very large hatchback. It sounds weird, yes, but in a way, the QX70 is like a Volkswagen Golf that’s consumed too much protein powder.
Poof! Suddenly, the QX70 is not some long-shot competitor to a quattro Audi or BMW X4, but a beefy ball of wonder with broad shoulders and a beer swiller’s personality. And it’s got all-wheel drive to boot. Not many hatchbacks can boast that. Infiniti marketing interns might choke trying to slogan a “plus-sized” hatchback, but that’s essentially what we’ve got.
And therein lies the quandary of the QX70. It really is a sporty SUV, compromised only by its proportions. While it stands a little taller than most cars, it isn’t high enough to deliver any real off-road chops. It’s not that voluminous inside; the rear upper half loses cargo space by angling downward by design. The interior, while comfortable, is barely commodious enough to carry home the kids plus the stuffed Komodo dragon they won at the spring fair. It’s a shapely SUV trying to squeeze into a market of square holes.
Thus, the QX70 occupies a small niche in whatever category it ultimately belongs. Which is unfortunate because Infiniti’s wild child is not only seriously fetching (looking a lot like a catfish), it’s delightfully fun to drive. The long hood arching over the fenders makes pointing the QX70 especially easy. The 21-inch wheels look the absolute boss. It feels light and spunky; winding roads reward with thrills and confidence. Driving this thing is a pleasure. Those who have bought them love them — passionately.
Stiffly suspended, the QX70 exhibits negligible body roll, hunkering down in tight corners as though it were qualifying for Dakar; and, gosh, what a rally car it might make. Such firmness under foot can indeed register the odd “ouch” over the famously heaved and broken strips of asphalt that Ontario calls roads, but the handling trade-off and generous feedback are worth it. Likewise, the feedback found in the steering is good.
Less stellar — though still laudable — is Infiniti’s 3.7-litre V6. Its 325 horsepower will carry the heavy, 2,087-kilogram QX70 S to 100 km/h in about 6.5 seconds. While few will argue that’s slow, the acceleration doesn’t compare to the rush from the 5.0-L V8 in the former FX50, which delivered such impressive mid-range pull it became one of our favourite cars to drive. Erasing two pistons also resulted in a loss of smoothness, the former V8 feeling almost regal, the current VQ37 engine unable to match the serenity of BMW’s in-line six.
Of course, when the yardstick is fuel consumption, a V6 is better off than a V8, but in grins-permile it’s considerably less entertaining. Yes, the engine remains willing. But at full throttle and high rpm, the cadence crumples before the full rpm crescendo. A supercharger would no doubt help, however much it might penalize fuel consumption, which averaged 12.5 L/100 km over the week of our test and dipped into the 11s on the highway. Some forced induction might boost the exhaust note, too, which never quite rang with the right cadence or enough rasp.
Cabin noise is noticeable, too; the unibody and lack of insulation unable to quell the roar from the road. On the other hand, the seven-speed transmission shifted deliberately and with considerable poise. Paddle shifters made manual mode fun. The AWD system, which normally powers the rear wheels, can divert up to 50 per cent to the front wheels in times of need, which should make it more than worthy for tackling a Canadian winter.
The interior pleases as well. Little changed from the last major update in 2009, the layout gives each front seat occupant his or her own private compartment, the curvy upper dash successfully defining the quilted-leather space for each occupant. Crisp and brightly lit instruments in purple and white join some delightfully old-school switchgear that climbs vertically up the centre stack, culminating in a high-mount infotainment screen controlled via a large dial. BMW and Mercedes might be using clearer, sharper and more colourful LCD screens, but the seveninch Infiniti system is blessedly simple to navigate.
This simplicity, coupled with the uniqueness of its design — this comfort in its own skin — is what makes the QX70 so fanatically popular with those who own them. Yes, it’s an SUV, even though it acts like a sports car. Perhaps its personality disorder could be cured by designating it an AWD hatchback.