Infiniti Q50 2.2d Premium 2014 Review

Infiniti is Nissan's luxury brand, much as Lexus is to Toyota, except the company's Americanised range of bulging luxo-barges have failed to connect with Australian buyers. But the winds of change have brought a refreshingly cool breeze in the form of the new Q50 sedan, a more sophisticated proposition than its forebears, with a more progressive design inside and out, and decidedly useful technology. Q50 pricing starts at $51,900 (plus on-road costs).

I've just spent a week driving the new Infiniti Q50 2.2d S Premium, the top-of-the-range turbo-diesel model, and I'm impressed.

Priced from just over $60,000 the Q50 is teeming with cleverly-integrated technology that doesn't distract or annoy. It has a suitably premium feel and the Mercedes-Benz-sourced engine and transmission give it plenty of clout.

Its driver aids are subtle and well integrated -- most of them operated via the steering wheel buttons. Radar cruise control is effective and intuitive, while the lane departure prevention and blind spot warning and intervention systems are better than most, and far less obtrusive.

Better yet, most of the Q50's intelligent sensory driver aids can simultaneously be switched on or off via a single button on the steering wheel.

It's also pleasing to see the Q50's cameras and sensors (including the 360 around view monitor) flick on automatically when you get too close to an object, or when another car or cyclist or person comes within close proximity of the car.

The most impressive system is the back-up collision intervention gizmo. When you slot the car in reverse, the proximity sensors engage along with the reversing camera, as per most luxury cars, but the car automatically hits the anchors when it detects you're too close to an object. Its effectiveness is astonishing. It's virtually fool proof and has the potential to save lives.

Add features like a digital radio tuner hooked up to a high-fidelity 14-speaker BOSE audio system, 10-way electrically adjustable leather seats, auto-adjusting seatbelts, magnesium steering wheel paddle shifters, an electric sunroof and a dual touchscreen infotainment system and the Q50 driving experience is rarely unpleasant.

It's also got loads of 'app' functionality so you can check social media on the run, download music streaming software and the like. The touchscreen interface is cool too, allowing finger swipe navigation like a smartphone.

Infiniti has paid plenty of attention to the quality of materials, endowing the car with a luxurious, well-heeled feel. The doors shut nicely, the car feels solid, and there’s leather everywhere. The cabin ambience is only let down by some interior plastics, which look and feel a bit cheap.

Comfort levels are par for the course for a vehicle such as this, with cushy seats, plush carpets and lots of space for four adult passengers. Ride comfort is good but not great, as the suspension is tuned for sportiness too, with F1 driver Sebastian Vettel involved in its development -- which means you can sling it into corners without fear, but you'll also feel some bumps too.

When pushed, the chassis responds with confidence, maintaining a flat and predictable attitude through corners. It's confidence-inspiring stuff, and makes the car satisfying to drive briskly. 

The only weak link in the Q50's dynamic capability is the steering, which feels too sensitive when you're flying along. In time the driver would get used to this, but it's finicky to begin with.

Dubbed 'Direct Active Steering' it's the world's first steer-by-wire setup, using electronic impulses instead of a mechanical connection to transmit driver input to the front wheels. There is a mechanical redundancy system in case the electronics fail.

The digitised steering system is better suited to everyday driving scenarios; direct active steering shines around town, when navigating tight turns and when parking. It's one of the most direct steering systems I've experienced, striking a good balance between weight and response.

I really like the Q50's design too, and so other road users it seems. The Q50 isn't as bulbous as the previous Infiniti models but is still bold, displaying equal parts Japanese precision and European finesse in its sculpted lines.

Sitting on 19-inch alloy wheels it looks a bit sporty too, but thankfully it's not so low to the ground that it scrapes its chin over speed bumps and angled driveways.

Propulsion is supplied by a 2.1-litre turbo-diesel engine that is powerful and efficient, grinding out 125kW and 400Nm. It shifts the Q50's chubby 1748kg mass with ease, riding a wave of torque that makes it feel more lissom than it should.

Infiniti reckons the Q50 averages 5.2L/100km on the combined cycle, and though the trip computer reading of 8.1L/100km is a long way off that claim, my 450km test saw a lot of traffic lights, and a fair portion of it was at full-throttle. Hey, sometimes I'm in a hurry.

The Mercedes-sourced powertrain is not perfect. It's louder and harsher than most diesel engines you'd find in BMWs, for instance. The seven-speed transmission is a charmer though, smooth and silky for the most part.

Infiniti's Q50 is a car I'd be proud to have sitting in my garage. It does most things very well, and is exceptional in some areas. As good as it is, however, the biggest hurdle for the Japanese luxury car in this country will be depreciation.

According to Australia’s vehicle pricing authority, RedBook, a three-year-old entry-level Infiniti Q50 2.2d GT ($51,990 plus ORCs) will be worth 49 per cent of what it was new. That means if you bought one today, put 70,000km on the clock, and kept it in average condition, it would be worth half what you paid by 2017 if sold privately.

The reason for this is simple -- there's virtually no demand for the Q50, and a lot of people still don't know Infiniti exists!

The retained value of Infiniti cars will increase as the company builds the brand, but this is no mean feat. A four-year/120,000km warranty is good start, and if the car maker can green-light the new circa-$150,000 Q50 Eau Rouge version of this car, which is powered by the Nissan GT-R's storming 3.8-litre dual turbo V6, people would take notice.

Despite that significant reason not to invest in the Infiniti, there are dozens more reasons to look more closely at the Q50. It's an accomplished car that's a pleasure to drive, and that bodes well for the company's future.