The Infiniti Q50 was intended to replace the G37 in the brand's lineup. But, unfortunately, it has taken a step back from its excellent predecessor.
The Q50 is quick and relatively roomy, but its underwhelming driving experience strips the car of much of its sporty legacy. The Q is fairly nimble, with good turn-in response and well-contained body lean. But it's let down by vague steering. Overall, the Q50 has lost the fun-to-drive agility that was a G37 hallmark. We also tried the much hyped direct active steering option, but we found that it feels artificial and non-linear.
The potent 328-hp, 3.7-liter V6 engine delivers very quick acceleration, but it lacks the refinement of the V6s in some competitive models. Like our test car, most Q50s sold in snow country come with all-wheel drive, which provides added traction over the standard rear-wheel drive. Thus equipped, we recorded 21 mpg overall. That's nothing special for this class; the larger Audi A6 gets 22 mpg. A more fuel-efficient hybrid version of the Q50 is also available.
With the redesign, Infiniti intended to steer the Q50 more toward the luxury end of the sports-sedan equation. But that result isn't very convincing, either. The ride is a bit unsettled and stiff, due partly to the car's run-flat tires, with their rigid sidewalls. The front seats aren't particularly supportive or as comfortable as we expect in a luxury sedan. In addition, cabin quietness and interior fit and finish fall short for this category. The rear seat is relatively hospitable in this typically-cramped class, but the trunk is too shallow and has a small opening.
Infiniti's new dual-screen InTouch control system misses the mark as well. The touch screen responds agonizingly slowly and can be unintuitive to use. After starting the car, for example, you can't change radio stations until the system slowly loads. Early buyers should expect frequent software updates as Infiniti works to debug this system.