The Infiniti Q60 Red Sport boasts a 400-horsepower twin-turbo V6 engine. The base model has a 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder engine (208 hp) and the next level, the Sport, has a 300-hp V6.
The 2018 Infiniti Q60 is a sporty two-door coupe that’s little changed from last year’s styling.
But it features a choice of three turbo-charged engines mated to a seven-speed automatic transmission. All three models feature all-wheel drive.
I tested the Red Sport, which boasts a 400-horsepower twin-turbo V6 engine. The base model has a 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder engine (208 hp) and the next level, the Sport, has a 300-hp V6.
The interior of the Red Sport is luxurious. The leather upholstery is beautifully stitched and elegantly co-ordinated, and the front seats are very comfortable. The only quibble is the difficulty in reaching back to find the seatbelt for both front seats. My legs must be shorter than most, but once I was moved forward to drive, I had to make a real effort to grab my seatbelt.
For all its stylish lines, people found it difficult to get into the back seat unless the driver’s or passenger’s seat were electronically moved far forward. That’s not a big effort but it can be an inconvenience when you’re in a hurry. A friend of mine who road in the back seat is about five feet 11 inches and he said his head kept hitting the low roof whenever we went over bumps.
But a car this stylish and at this price point is for successful people of a certain age who want to zip around town and country with perhaps a couple of grandchildren in the back seat. The two rear passengers need to be spry.
The screen on the dashboard provides clear information for drivers coming into or leaving tight parking situations, as well as a view to the rear.
One of the features I enjoyed the most was the Around View Monitor. It displays an aerial view of the car using four cameras positioned around the exterior. In addition, there’s a rear view that shows where you’re backing up. That makes even the most difficult parking spaces much easier to navigate.
I also appreciate the way the steering wheel vibrates to tell you you’re going over a broken white line. The car automatically nudges you back into the middle of the driving lane.
The dash is clean and simple, with an easy-to read tachometer and speedometer dominant behind the steering wheel, and the display screen on the right is easy to read and use.
The Drive Mode selector easily offers Standard, Snow, ECO, Sport, Sport+ and Personal modes, and drivers can further fine-tune their steering, engine and suspension inputs for a total of 336 customizable settings. I only had the car for a week, so I chose Standard for most of my driving and Sport+ on the highway.
The Q60 has plenty of acceleration and passing power on the highway, and the handling is crisp. I found it particularly enjoyable on country roads in the early autumn. The cabin is quiet on the highway, which allows you to enjoy the Bose Performance Series sound system.
The Q60’s seats are heated and the steering wheel is leather-covered.
The trunk is roomy enough for two golf bags but not much else unless the rear seats are folded down.
Because of the engine size in the Red Sport, fuel consumption estimates are 12.5 litres/100 km in the city and 9.2 litres/100 km on the highway, according to autoTRADER.ca.
Prices for the Q60 all-wheel-drive coupes start at $46,295 for the 2.0 litre, $53,295 for the Lux 3.0 and $61,295 for the Red Sport.
The Q60 is a compromise for those who like sporty handling in a high-end vehicle but are willing to settle for an automatic transmission and electronic steering. Fewer automakers are offering stick shifts due to public preference, so that’s to be expected. But having a stick shift would be far preferable to the paddles on the steering column and the Sport+ setting.
Perhaps manual gearboxes are a young man’s game or a pastime for purists. In any case, the buyers who select a Q60 Red Sport will be happy with the looks, the handling and the performance. And their grandchildren will be, too.
Peter Bailey is an award-winning newspaper editor and writer with more than 40 years of experience. He specializes in automotive and travel writing, and lives in Hamilton, Ont.
The views, opinions and positions expressed by columnists and contributors are the author’s alone. They do not inherently or expressly reflect the views, opinions and/or positions of our publication.
