PREVIEW
The 2014
Infiniti Q50 is not only the new generation of the company's popular
entry-level luxury sport sedan, it also serves to herald Infiniti's new
naming strategy. Infiniti passenger cars will have "Q" designations,
while SUVs all have "QX" in their names. The Q50 might use a different
name, but it is essentially the latest generation of the car we knew and
loved as the G37 and G25.
With a
bolder-looking snout, smoother curves, subtle character lines and
available 19-inch wheels, the 2014 Q50 looks like a proper evolution of
the Infiniti G series and every bit a luxury sport sedan. As before,
there's a welcoming, well-trimmed cabin that this year has things kicked
up a notch in terms of luxury ambience.
The Infiniti
Q50 comes standard with a 3.7-liter V6 that sends 328 horsepower to the
rear wheels; all-wheel drive is optional. For the first time, there's a
hybrid version as well, and the Q50 Hybrid boasts 354 hp and a very
impressive 31 mpg combined fuel economy EPA estimate.
The Infiniti
Q50 also features a variety of new technologies. Direct Adaptive
Steering is an optional (standard on hybrid), all-electric steering
system that Infiniti says allows for quicker responses, improved
steering feel and four different driver-selectable settings. In
practice, however, we didn't care for it due to its artificial and
inconsistent feel. There's also Active Lane Control, which can sense
changing road surfaces or crosswinds and then automatically make minor
steering corrections, thus reducing driver effort and fatigue. Finally,
the Q50 features a new, twin-touchscreen electronics interface as well
as added collision-prevention-based safety systems.
Amid all
that change, the 2014 Infiniti Q50 mostly retains the spirited
personality of the G series line. We say mostly because dynamically it's
a mixed bag. The powerful V6 moves the car with impressive authority,
but the use of all-season run-flat tires on most trim levels equates to
subpar handling when the car is driven hard through turns.
Opting for
the Sport trim level sadly doesn't make much difference, as the
conservative stability control system still keeps cornering limits on
the low side for a sport sedan. The hybrid version is also disappointing
due to its strange steering and braking action, as well as its lower
than expected fuel economy during our testing. Another downside:
Infiniti doesn't offer the Q50 with a frugal four-cylinder engine,
meaning its starting MSRP is a little higher than most competitors.
Overall, the
2014 Q50 could still merit consideration among rivals such as the Audi
A4, BMW 3 Series,Cadillac ATS and Mercedes-Benz C-Class. More serious
driving enthusiasts will be disappointed in the Q50's ultimate handling
capabilities. But if you mainly want a well-built entry-level luxury
sedan boasting plenty of advanced technology features, the Q50 should
easily satisfy.
FEATURES
The 2014
Infiniti Q50 comes in two main variants: Q50 and Q50 Hybrid. The regular
Q50 comes in base, Premium and Sport trim levels. The Q50 Hybrid comes
only in Premium and Sport trims. All-wheel drive (AWD) is available for
every trim.
The base Q50
comes with 17-inch alloy wheels, automatic LED headlights, LED
foglights, keyless ignition/entry, cruise control, dual-zone automatic
climate control, eight-way power front seats, leatherette (premium
vinyl) upholstery and a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel (heated on
AWD models). Standard electronic features include Infiniti's new
"InTouch" electronics interface (with twin touchscreen displays and
smartphone app integration), Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity, a
rearview camera and a six-speaker sound system with a CD player,
satellite radio and two iPod/USB audio interface ports.
The Premium
adds a sunroof, heated front seats, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a
14-speaker Bose sound system and a multimedia monitor/display. Springing
for the Sport adds a sport-tuned suspension, 19-inch alloy wheels with
summer performance tires, leather seating, a sport driver seat (with
power lumbar and additional bolster adjustments), aluminum pedal trim
and paddle shifters.
The Q50
Hybrid versions of the Premium and Sport are also nearly identical.
Leather upholstery comes standard on the Hybrid Premium, and all Hybrids
have Infiniti's Direct Adaptive Steering (which offers four different
steering responsiveness settings) and a power tilt-and-telescoping
steering wheel.
Options are
mostly offered for the Premium and Sport trim levels, as the base Q50
can only be equipped with the optional sunroof. On the non-hybrid Q50
Premium, you can add the 19-inch wheels with summer tires (rear-wheel
drive), leather upholstery and a navigation system. The navigation
system is also optional for all Sport models.
With those
two items in place, the non-hybrid Q50 Premium and Sport models can be
enhanced with the Deluxe Touring package that includes adaptive
steering, auto-dimming sideview mirrors, a 360-degree camera parking
system, front and rear parking sensors, the power tilt-and-telescoping
steering wheel, driver memory settings, and a 60/40 split-folding rear
seat with pass-through.
The
Technology package (which requires the Deluxe Touring package) features
adaptive headlights with automatic high beam control, blind-spot/lane
departure warning and intervention systems, an upgraded climate control
system with an air purifier, adaptive cruise control, and forward and
back-up collision warning and prevention.
Instead of
those packages, the Q50 Hybrid Premium and Sport models offer a Deluxe
Technology package. It bundles the features from the Deluxe Touring and
Technology packages.
INTERIOR
The Q50
continues Infiniti tradition with a cleanly styled cabin that features
rich materials (with a choice of genuine aluminum or wood accents),
supportive seats and ample room front and rear. The Sport model's front
seats also provide power-adjustable bolsters to further tailor lateral
support.
The biggest
interior change this year is the handsome, down-sweeping center stack
that houses a new large central touchscreen. Actually, the new InTouch
electronics interface utilizes two stacked displays (8-inch and 7-inch)
that offer drivers the ability to display and customize different
information on each screen. The touchscreen interface works pretty well,
as do smartphone app integration and the redundant controller for the
navigation system. In our experience, though, the screens can wash out
in direct sunlight.
Thankfully,
InTouch continues Infiniti's philosophy of providing user-friendly
infotainment interfaces. There are redundant hard buttons for both the
climate control and audio systems arranged logically around the lower
touchscreen. We wish the radio also had a traditional tuning knob rather
than a rocker switch, but overall we like the touchscreen's large
virtual buttons and ease of smartphone integration.
Trunk
capacity for non-hybrid Q50 models measures 13.5 cubic feet, which is
pretty roomy for this class of car. The Infiniti Q50 Hybrid's battery
pack and related components reduce that number to 9.4 cubes.
UNDER THE HOOD
The 2014
Infiniti Q50 is powered by a 3.7-liter V6 with 328 hp and 269 pound-feet
of torque. The Q50 Hybrid has a 3.5-liter V6 that joins forces with a
50-kilowatt electric motor fed by a lithium-ion battery pack for a
combined output of 354 hp. All Q50s come with a seven-speed automatic,
as there's no manual transmission option. Rear-wheel drive is standard,
while all-wheel drive is optional.
Fuel economy
for the rear-drive Q50 is an EPA estimated 23 mpg combined (20 mpg
city/29 mpg highway). Choosing all-wheel drive lowers those numbers
slightly. The rear-drive Q50 Hybrid earns 31 mpg combined (29 city/36
highway), while the AWD version comes in at 30 mpg combined. In our
testing, however, the Hybrid struggled to meet these numbers.
In other
Edmunds testing, a rear-wheel-drive Q50 Premium accelerated from zero to
60 mph in a swift 5.5 seconds, while the hybrid did the same sprint in
just 5.2 seconds
No comments:
Post a Comment