Test Drive: Infiniti Q70L
Compared to some of its rivals, the Q70L doesn’t have a prominent front end. Instead, the mesh and chrome grille is classy and tasteful, just like the old- school analog clock on the dash.
Infiniti’s flagship Q70L sedan, with its distinctively curvaceous exterior design, looks nothing like its competitors.
Oh, others have their signature looks. The Lexus GS has its audacious spindle grille. The Jag XF looks like a Jedi starfighter. And the BMW 5-series has traditional, buttoned- down sheet metal.
But Infiniti’s midsize luxury sedan has a visual personality like no other, rejecting sharp edges and right angles at every turn. Put it this way: If the Q70L luxury sedan were ice cream it would be soft-serve.
Our Q70L tester is the long-wheelbase version — which is great if you are hauling dignitaries or have longlegged kids. The “L” model has almost
6 extra inches of back-seat knee room. That might not sound like much, but it is actually the difference between comfortable and expansive. My 15-year- old son, who has a 34- inch inseam, can stretch out in the back seat and juggle soccer balls with his knees.
The Q70 comes in a variety of flavors. The three engine choices are a 3.7- liter V- 6 ( 300 hp), a 5.6-liter V-8 (420 hp) and a gas- electric hybrid that pairs a V- 6 gas engine with a lithium-ion battery. Other variations include regular- and long-wheelbase variants. Q70s also come in your choice of rear- wheel- drive or allwheel-drive.
Our tester is the stretched Q70L with rear wheel drive which has an MSRP of $69,055. Less lavishly-equipped Q70 models start at about $50,000. The color is “graphite” inside and out, with shiny aluminum accents inside and chrome embellishment outside. Cream-colored piping on the Q70L’s plush interior is an inspired design touch.
Richard Maddox, a sales manager at Infiniti of Chattanooga, says his dealership has about 18 Q70s in stock, including about seven of the long wheelbase versions.
Maddox said Q70Ls are targeted to families with teen-age children who have outgrown the smaller back seats of most sedans and SUVs. He noted that the premium for the added wheelbase is only $ 1,500 and includes heated back seats and auto-close rear doors.
STYLING AND FEATURES
From the driver’s seat, you peer over the Q70L’s undulating hood. Imagine the Batmobile melted and remolded. The windshield vista is a constant reminder that there’s nothing cookie- cutter about this vehicle.
Some stretched sedans look like baby limos, but the Q70L integrates those extra inches without losing the car’s essential proportions. Visually, it leaves you with the vague feeling the car is just a pinch longer than normal. While most of the space lands in the back seat, the trunk also is cavernous. The Q70 is technically a mid- size sedan, but adding the long wheel- base option puts it in full- size territory.
Compared to some of its rivals, the Q70L doesn’t have a prominent front end. Instead, the mesh and chrome grille is classy and tasteful, just such as the old- school analog clock on the dash.
Also, thank you Infiniti for remembering ergonomics. Finally a luxury sedan that has a trusty foot-pedal operated emergency brake, easy-to-read headlight controls and actual dials for adjusting the volume and tuning the radio. A mid-lifer like me can actually sit in a Q70L and operate it immediately without a long tutorial from a dealership tech expert. Refreshing.
Still, the Q70L has all
the bells and whistles buyers expect at this price: climate- controlled leather seats, heated steering wheel, power moon-roof, eight- inch color display, satellite radio, and ingenious around-view monitor that helps you avoid swapping paint in the parking lots at Hamilton Place.
The “premium select package” is new for 2017 and includes essentially an extra layer of makeup for the entire car. The $ 3,300 package includes gorgeous 20-inch wheels, a rear spoiler, and dark-finish exterior trim. Inside, the “premium select” trim adds illuminated kick plates, semi-aniline leather seats and a suede- like headliner.
DRIVING EXPERIENCE
Our Q70L tester from Infiniti has the V- 8, 420- horsepower engine and rear-wheel propulsion. The result is a smooth, effortless driving experience that doesn’t agitate your stomach after a dinner at Ruth’s Chris. The base engine on a Q70 is 3.7-liter V-6 that gets slightly better gas mileage than the V- 8, but doesn’t have quite as much giddy-up.
There’s a drive mode selector that lets you modulate the throttle response and shift points so you can adjust the car’s performance to your mode. These well- intentioned options are nice, but I get the feeling most people prefer to set it and forget it.
Steering is light, although a speed- sensitive power- steering feature adjusts to your driving tendencies. Generally, there’s nothing fastidious about the Q70L that requires your attention after a long day in the office. And don’t most of us just want an uncomplicated drive home? Give me a soft suspension setting and light jazz at rush hour. The Q70L supplies both.
BOTTOM LINE
The Q70L feels like one of those movies that real-people love, but gets mixed reviews from the critics. Our advice: Trust your instincts. the Q70L is an immensely comfortable car that you’ll be extremely glad you own several hours into a road trip. Meanwhile, your local Infiniti store has a deep selection of Q70 models to choose from.
Contact Mark Kennedy at mkennedy@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6645. Follow him on Twitter @ TFPCOLUMNIST. Subscribe to his Facebook updates at www.facebook. com/mkennedycolumnist.