If you are in the market for a luxury sedan, Infiniti has something worthy to consider. For the 2018 model year, the Q50 Red Sport 400 was treated to a few upgrades. We spent a week with the 2017 model back in March, so this will mostly cover the differences between them. After a week with the new car, we realize there is more than one way to build the perfect sedan.
Nissan has always seemed to achieve greatness by choosing a new way to solve old problems. This is why their luxury brand has had great success with the G35 coupe and sedan. Always taking advantage of the latest advances, we were amazed at the ride quality. A revised digital suspension is constantly adjusting for changing conditions, and the steering had a unique feel. Direct Adaptive Steering is literally steering by-wire. Your hands control a wheel, which is merely an input for the computer. Without a physical connection to the tie-rods, the Q50 is much like an arcade game.
Reviewed: 2017 Infiniti Q50
Our test model was the “Red Sport 400”. It uses a twin-turbo V6 making 400 horsepower and 350 lb-ft of torque. It has active cam timing on intake an exhaust, and it’s a silent runner. The 7-speed automatic is adequate, but nothing remarkable. Punch it into a corner and it will kick down a few gears. You will smile until you remember the open differential. Infiniti does not offer a locking rear differential. This one part holds the entire back from its competitors. Without sending power to each wheel equally, the Q50 will erupt in a one-tire fire when pushed. If you think about going hammer-down on a curving onramp, the inboard tire will spin and until the computer shuts down the party.
Thankfully Infiniti also builds this car in AWD, so that would be our choice if you enjoy driving. Around town, the Q50 Red Sport 400 makes all the right noises and offers 26 mpg. It has every possible tech feature including active lane control, as long as you opt for the Sensory and Proactive Packages. The former adds Bose Audio, memory seats and climate control, while the 2nd has smart cruise, active lane control, and pre-crash seatbelts. Each package has essentials that dealers will never go without, so it helps to bump the sticker price to $60,720. That is a significant investment for any car with an open differential, so give the AWD model a spin and tell us how it holds up. Stay with us for more reviews here on Autofluence.
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