2016 Infiniti Q70L 3.7 AWD Review - Go Long, China

It’s been somewhat challenging in the recent past to keep up with all the model name changes at Infiniti, but such is the case in the automotive luxury marketplace. One year real names are the ultimate fashion statement; the next it’s letters and numbers.

Infiniti seems to have taken this into consideration with naming its 2016 Infiniti Q70L 3.7 AWD.

In simple terms, Qs followed by a number to denote models’ “size” in the range replace Ms and Gs. Simplicity, they say. This is the New World Order of Models, according to Infiniti and its then-President Johan de Nysschen.

Exterior

Infiniti designs all of its vehicles with the concept of nature at the forefront. This is not a tree-hugging philosophy in the truest sense, although natural wood products are typically found throughout the interior. Rather, it’s a desire on the part of its designers to allow the wind to sculpt exterior body panels and strike a balance between aerodynamic efficiency and the call of the wild.

The 2016 Infiniti Q70L 3.7 AWD is no exception to this rule. Designed specifically for the Chinese marketplace, where the size of your luxury sedan is so very important, this Q70L provides an extra 6-inches of overall body length. The look is similar to the regular sized Q70 sedan, but this Grande Edition has been stretched from all four corners to add valuable street cred in Shanghai.

Light bounces off the Hermosa Blue metallic hood and fender flares with a radiance few luxury sedans can match. In my opinion, Infiniti has a way with exterior design unlike any other Japanese automaker in this market. In comparison, looking at a Lexus and Acura does not evoke inspiration.

Whereas I appreciate the new grille design featured on the current Lexus LS, the rest of the car is visually quiet. And, although something new must be coming soon from Acura to replace the current RLX, it looks like nothing more than an oversized Honda Accord with refined LED headlights.

Love it or hate it, the Infiniti stands alone.

Interior

If the outside is designed with nature as the theme, the inside is crafted with a “driver’s first” playbook with a clear purpose that luxury demands leather, wood and a considerable amount of brushed metal and chrome.

Rather than go all-digital with the look and feel of the central gauges, Infiniti goes all-Nissan and provides an easy-to-read, timeless design with its round white on black speedometer and tachometer. In the center, a rectangular digital readout indicates outside temperature, fuel range, gear selection and more, but that’s it. As someone who spends a lot of time behind the wheel of many different luxury sedans, simple is a nice change from many of today’s overly-complex offerings.

Climate controlled front seats offer excellent support and adjustment. Leather stitching adds to the look and function, and side bolsters jut out to increase support but never intrude to the point of discomfort. A 4-spoke steering wheel provides easy access to a multitude of features, including the obligatory cruise control and audio system. I enjoy the feel of the steering wheel in my hands. I am less impressed with steering feel, however, as it seems ponderous at low speeds and overly sensitive when driving on the highway. The 2016 Infiniti Q70L 3.7 AWD is long to begin with, thus I’d prefer that the steering setup take this into account and shrink the driving experience to something closer to midsize. It doesn’t.

Satin metal, chrome and — in our case — the optional White Ash silver-powdered wood trim combine to provide a pleasing space to spend quality time. The center console flows towards its front seat occupants like a wave cresting on the beach; easy to reach and logically designed. For those old enough to remember hands on a clock, Infiniti maintains its tradition of including an analogue timekeeper — with chrome bezel and white face, of course.

Rear seat space is exceptional and there is so much legroom that I find it hard to reach the back of the front seat. Our test vehicle is equipped with optional interior ambient lighting, which makes getting in and out at night a little more entertaining.

Infotainment

Bose Surround Sound provides audio if ordering the optional Deluxe Technology Package equipped in our tester. A total of 16 speakers are strategically placed throughout the interior, several of which are located on the tops of the front seats next to the headrest.

For those not yet ready to fully embrace the coming digital-only world, a CD player is included. Sounds quality is impressive, with crisp highs and seemingly bottomless lows, but I have experienced better in other luxury sedans, including the aforementioned Lexus LS with its 19-speaker Mark Levinson system.

Touchscreen navigation features voice-recognition and turn-by-turn directions plus NavTraffic to make your commute a little easier. Birdview and 3D building imagery compliments this already slick system. Lane guidance and up to three-day weather forecasts are included, plus Google calendar and various other features for the first 6 months as part of the Infiniti Connection package.

Powertrain

If ever there was a gasoline-powered engine that deserves to be in the powertrain Hall of Fame, this is it. Based on the Nissan’s time-honoured 3.7-liter 24-valve V6, this variation produces 330 horsepower and 270 pounds-feet of torque. Mated to a seven-speed automatic transmission with Adaptive Shift Control, all-wheel drive pushes forward with a commanding sense of all-weather control.

Drive

Power delivery is smooth, though I am a little underwhelmed dealing with the added mass of the L. For the most part, there is still plenty of torque to accelerate in traffic, on to the highway, or haul down my favorite country road with just a little too much abandon for the posted speed limit. If it is extra speed you want, consider moving up to the 5.6-liter model. The added price of just under $14,000 is steep, but the power curve spikes with an additional 86 hp and 144 lbs-ft of torque.

While I may not be overly impressed with steering feel — or the lack thereof — I am pleasantly surprised at the stopping power and control provided by the Q70L 3.7 AWD. It stops on a buck, not a dime, but it handles panic with ease for a sedan of this size. Equipped with 20-inch alloy wheels, 245/40R20 all-season tires, and technology advancements at the ready, even a surprising snowfall and the subsequent unprepared drivers are not enough to ruffle the serenity of my drive.

EPA rates city and highway fuel economy at 18 and 24 mpg. We average 20.5 mpg over the course of a week, placing us right in the middle of where Infiniti hopes we will be.

The price of our 2016 Infiniti Q70L 3.7 AWD test vehicle comes in at $63,550 including a destination charge of $905. This places the Infiniti slightly above a comparably equipped 2016 Acura RLX at $61,868 (including $940 destination). Compare this to a 2016 Lexus LS 460 L at $87,380 (including $950 destination) and the Q70L 3.7 AWD looks like a steal.

To be fair, the more direct comparison for the Lexus LS 460 is the Infiniti Q70L 5.6 AWD, but with more horsepower and torque available with the Infiniti and a lower price of about $10,000 comparably equipped, Lexus clearly indicates they are more interested in taking on its German competitors and not its Asian counterparts. Even with a sleek-looking Genesis G90 lurking around the corner in 2016, Infiniti appears well positioned to maintain its share of the very desirable, luxury sedan marketplace.

Disclosure: Infiniti Canada provided the vehicle and insurance for this review.

[Images: © 2016 Jeff Voth/The Truth About Cars]