Infiniti

QX70

Totally uncompromising, the QX70 clearly wants it all – and to be fair it has it all. Beautiful, stylish and elegant looks combine superbly with a blistering performance and technology and equipment levels that are second to none with absolute attention to detail. And look out for the limited edition Vettel model topping the £100k mark.

Test Drive

Infiniti QX70S Design 3.0d

We seem to live in an era ruled by technology and this often results in unnecessary complications especially within the motoring industry, so it is somewhat refreshing that Infiniti has kept things nice and simple on its QX70 model.

But don’t be fooled into thinking the car lacks the techno treats that are demanded by today’s multi-media led lifestyles, it’s just a case of buttons rather than touchscreen menus.

Take for example the interior of many modern SUVs– a simple task such as adjusting the temperature or increasing the radio’s volume often means navigating a complicated touchscreen menu. That’s not the case with the QX70 – I counted 22 buttons on the centre console and there’s almost as many to be found on the multi-function steering wheel, overhead controls and between the front seats.

And there’s no denying the mighty presence of the car from the outside too thanks to its muscular lines, privacy glass, 21-inch alloys, sunroof, roof rails, LED rear lamps, smoked headlights and S Grade badging.

The interior is spacious and has a solid, tough and hardy feel to it. Yet it is very generously equipped too with the likes of Bluetooth connectivity, a 14-way adjustable driver’s seat with heating and cooling function and a rearview camera. The S Design model also features a multimedia pack as standard (£2,400 option on other models) which introduces a high resolution screen, 30GB navigation system with voice recognition, a Bose premium sound system with 11 speakers plus CD player, DVD reader and connectivity to all modern media devices.

In addition to striking looks and a wealth of on-board technology, customers want SUVs that can deliver outstanding performance capabilities too. And in fairness to Infiniti the QX70 has plenty of guts with the 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel engine delivering 238PS of power which helps the giant of a vehicle sprint from 0-62mph in a brisk 8.3 seconds and onto a top speed of 132mph. According to official figures it can achieve combined fuel economy of 32.8mpg with carbon emissions of 225g/km.

In and around town, the vehicle did feel a little cumbersome and the steering seemed quite heavy at times. But out on the faster lanes and motorways, it whizzed along at quite a clip moving effortlessly through the seven speed automatic gearbox – there are steering wheel mounted paddles if you fancy taking a little more control. And there is also a sport suspension setting to get those teeth chattering!

The driver benefits from good all-round visibility thanks to the elevated driving position, although the rear headrests do get in the view-line a little bit and there are some blind sports when glancing back over your shoulder to change lanes on a motorway.

But that aside, the ride is smooth, the road-holding grounded and the driving dynamics impressive with ample power to accelerate at short notice if required.

The car can easily accommodate five adults and the generously-sized boot with its 410-litre capacity (1,305 litres with the rear seats dropped flat) is accessed via a powered tailgate which is very practical. Elsewhere there are plenty of handy storage options scattered throughout the cabin.

Safety features are comprehensive too with the likes of cruise control, forward collision warning, intelligent brake assist, lane departure warning, rain and light sensors, six airbags and the added reassurance of all-wheel-drive to keep you motoring during the colder months.

All in all, the Infiniti QX70 is a great all-rounder. Admittedly at £50,350 it may seem a little on the pricey side, but it’s worth remembering that it is competing in a premium market against opposition with equally hefty price-tags. And unlike many rivals it lacks some of the showy and unnecessary razzmatazz, but simply goes about its business in a confident and assured manner.

Test drive

Infiniti FX30d S (Now the QX70)

Boasting a massive presence and a seemingly endless supply of on-board technical wizardry the Infiniti FX is guaranteed to bring out the green-eyed monster in onlookers.

Admittedly, this car is not cheap – rolling in at just shy of £49k, but with a premium price comes a premium quality vehicle that oozes style and sophistication at every turn.

Powered by a 3.0-litre diesel engine, this mighty all-wheel-drive model can sprint from 0-62mph in just 8.3 seconds and has a top speed of 132mph.

But it’s not so much the speed of the FX30 but more the way it is achieved in a refined, smooth and controlled manner.

Looks are vital to attract buyers and this car is guaranteed to grab your attention thanks to its bold stance, smoked headlamps, privacy glass, body-coloured mirrors, heated and electrically-folding side mirrors, twin exhaust pipes, sunroof, LED lights, 21-inch alloys and polished aluminium roof rails.

And you certainly won’t be disappointed when you take your seat behind the leather multi-function steering wheel. The incredibly comfortable leather seats boast 14-way electrical adjustments and there are memory settings for the driver to store a favourite position for the seat, door mirrors and steering column. And, of course, the seats can be heated or cooled.

Comfort levels are exceptionally high and there is ample leg, head and elbow space for three adults to travel in style in the rear seats.

Creature comforts are plentiful and include an 11-speaker Bose sound system with CD player. This system features a 2GB music box and is compatible with all modern day devices.

Then there is the dual zone climate control, rear view camera, Bluetooth connectivity, cruise control and plenty more besides.

The boot is very generously sized and capacity can be increased thanks to 60:40 split-folding rear seats. Elsewhere there are a number of handy storage compartments throughout the vehicle.

All dials and read-outs are perfectly positioned for driver usability and the controls are housed in a large central stack making them easily accessible. This means the driver can concentrate on the task in hand rather than searching for fiddly control buttons.

The vehicle can easily cope with busy city centre driving, but bursts into action on faster country lanes and motorways as it eases its way through the seven-speed automatic transmission.

There are steering wheel-mounted paddle shifts if you want to change gear manually.

As one would expect, Infiniti has packed a comprehensive range of safety features into the vehicle.

My only slight complaint was visibility. The trio of rear headrests do cause quite an obstruction.

But that aside, what a car and don’t forget its AWD capabilities mean it can cope with any little surprises Mother Nature throws in its path.