Infiniti QX70 2015 Review

During the launch of the large, American-style QX80 SUV, Infiniti also laid on a diesel QX70 S Design for the drive program in Tasmania. More recently, we also drove a petrol variant in the same level of trim for this seven-day test. The Tassie drive presented an opportunity to assess the QX70's demeanour on mud and gravel roads, and with the petrol model there was time to evaluate the QX70's on-road and around-town conduct in familiar territory.

The diesel V6 in Tasmania proved relatively quiet and refined. At higher revs – on the way past 4000rpm – the engine delivered an unrelenting surge of power and torque that was not in any way diminished by vibration or clatter. There was a little lag evident from a standing start, but the QX70 was not short of straight-line urge otherwise.

Based on its ride and handling balance, the QX70 is almost criminally overlooked in this market. It's supple over bumps, but very well controlled and a minor joy when cornering. On dirt the diesel was much the same as on bitumen, with the rear end stepping out predictably and the front end clinging on for dear life. The QX70 was very easy to place on the road. With so much easy touring on the open road in Tasmania, the QX70 actually used as little as 8.2L/100km – significantly below its official combined-cycle fuel consumption figure of 9.0L/100km.

The problem for the Infiniti, of course, is that those who want its brand of driveability but have no need for the roomier packaging could save money by purchasing the entry-level Porsche Macan – also powered by a diesel V6.

Judged in isolation, however – ie: not comparing it with the wunderkind of luxury SUVs – the diesel QX70 was fun to drive and comfortable for the passengers and the driver alike.

It's the same story with the petrol model. The 3.7-litre V6 sounded muscular and purposeful, even when it was short-shifting at low revs. One first-time passenger asked whether it was a V8, which was understandable, since its bass timbre wasn't distinctively that of a V6.

At higher revs, the petrol V6 was an untamed beast. Full-throttle launches provoked an immediate response and the QX70 just stormed away in whatever direction it was pointing at the time, with quick but smooth shifts and linear torque – all accompanied by a thrilling soundtrack.

Ride comfort, with the electronically-controlled dampers set to auto, was perfectly cushy, but not wallowy. Nevertheless, the Sport setting provided a much more satisfying drive, with little detriment to ride quality. If you spend a lot of time on poorly maintained country roads, the Auto setting is the preferred option. Otherwise, most owners will be perfectly happy with the Sport setting. Since the dampers are adjusted with a rocker switch in the centre console, the system remains set to whatever your last choice was on restart. You could leave the QX70 set to whichever mode suits until the end of time if you wish.

Initially, after a week driving our long-term Land Rover Discovery Sport, the Infiniti on the Auto setting felt very light and taciturn through the wheel. The Sport mode delivered heavier and more communicative steering, which is a blessing for those who like the car to provide feedback about what's happening mid-corner.

In both settings, however, the QX70 felt a little numb on-centre. It was fine with a bit of lock applied though. In fact, the Infiniti could be placed quite accurately on the road and its lively handling and excellent roadholding were very much complemented by the steering away from the straight-ahead.

The Infiniti was very quiet, until the driver opened up the taps – and then the engine's presence was felt... in a good way. Most of the noise heard while cruising was tyre noise, and even that was muted. There was a hint of rustle from the wind around the A pillars.

During night driving the headlights cast a strong beam, even when dipped.

Fuel consumption for the petrol variant was 14.2L/100km over the course of the week, which is not exceptional. What made it less acceptable than other large-capacity V6 SUVs was the amount of time the QX70 spent on the open road. At least 60km of freeway travel during the week made little dent on the petrol consumption. The lack of an auto-stop system didn't help, but if fuel economy is an issue, the diesel is the better choice. It is also more suitable – with its torque peaking lower in the rev range – for activities like towing.

The driving position was a mix of good and bad, and the petrol QX70 got off to a bad start. Some petite person driving the car previously had cranked up the firm side bolstering for the squab and seat base to the point where the seat was narrow and very uncomfortable indeed. But two dials on the side of the base allowed the bolstering to be adjusted for the driver to sit comfortably at the helm. There was lumbar adjustment too. After getting the seat set up correctly it was all good, well-shaped with plenty of adjustment to accommodate different builds.

The steering reach adjustment could be a little longer perhaps, and the transmission tunnel encroached on the left side of the footwell. Infiniti is persevering with a foot-operated parking brake too, when other brands have migrated to an electronic switch in the centre console.

The major instruments were easily legible, as was the trip computer display in between, but it was a bit low-res in its presentation.

In the QX70's centre fascia, the presentation was pretty busy, with plenty of switches for climate control below and infotainment above. There was a kind of single-point controller and associated menu buttons that look like they were designed for an earlier generation, when compared with the latest MMI set-up from Audi, as one example. It was hard to reach them all from the driver's seat, furthermore, but at least the display itself showed multiple streams of information (audio track below the satnav display, for instance), along with additional information in the trip computer display located in the instrument binnacle.

That means basically you're not required to drill down and back for different items of information, and there are redundant switches to allow you to change the audio track or volume from the wheel while the satnav or other infotainment option is displayed in the main screen. However, the satnav was rather complex to read at a glance (if you're seeking the ETA for example), and I found pairing a Bluetooth phone to stream audio was a complex and counter-intuitive process.

And on the subject of Bluetooth and audio streaming, there were frequent drop-outs during the last few days on test. That might have been the phone or Telstra, but it hasn't been a problem using this particular phone with other cars tested in the past. While the basics are certainly there, the QX70's interior design could do with an upgrade.

There was enough room in the back seat for adults, provided the driver wasn't too long in the leg. And headroom back there was respectable too, although it wasn't cathedral-like with the sunroof fitted. There were face-level vents in the rear of the centre console, but not a whole lot else to keep kids settled.

The boot was not cavernous, but it was large enough to be practical for a vehicle of this size, and there were levers either side to flip down the rear 60:40 split-folding seat for added carrying capacity. Luggage capacity was improved with a space-saver spare under the boot floor, although that might not be ideal for those occasions the QX70 is a long way from home or a service station.

After mulling over the QX70, and based on driving both the diesel and petrol S Design variants, one thing was plain: The Infiniti, which was arguably state of the art when first driven overseas is beginning to look and feel dated.

It's still an enjoyable car to drive, but if driving satisfaction were the sole purchasing criterion, buyers would be hammering on the door of the nearest Porsche dealer for a Macan. Funnily enough, that's exactly what they ARE doing. VFACTS figures show that Porsche has sold over 1100 units of the Macan this year, and Infiniti has sold 102 of the QX70 during the same period. That's the market sending a clear signal...

2015 Infiniti QX70 S Design (petrol) pricing and specifications:
Price: $88,900 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 3.7-litre petrol V6
Output: 235kW/360Nm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel: 12.1L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 282g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: Five-star ANCAP