Infiniti Q70 Hybrid review
We find out if the Infiniti Q70 Hybrid is a worthy contender in its class
If you’re after a refined and comfortable way to travel, there’s a lot to like about the Infiniti Q70 Hybrid. If you enjoy driving, then we’d steer clear. Also, the numbers don’t stack up next to diesel-powered rivals, while a wave of newer plug-ins will soon eclipse it.
Now that Infiniti has introduced a new 2.2-litre diesel to the Q70 range, capable of 57.6mpg and 129g/km, it’s unlikely the few UK customers in the market for a Q70 will look anywhere else. For better refinement and more performance, though, the cleaner Hybrid model is still worth a look.
Economy and emissions have improved from 40.4mpg and 162g/km to 45.6mpg and 145g/km over the old M35h, but it still doesn’t stack up very well against rivals. The more conventional, diesel-powered 215bhp BMW 530d saloon, for example, costs £2,345 less, claims 53.3mpg and 139g/km, and still covers 0-62mph in 5.8 seconds.
Plus, If it’s a luxury hybrid you’re after, then the Lexus GS 450h is a better all-round package. It returns 46.3mpg and 141g/km of CO2, covers 0-62mph in 5.9 seconds and is a smoother and more engaging car to drive, with a more up to date interior.
Okay, so the Q70 Hybrid is faster from 0-62mph on paper than both the BMW and the Lexus, but it never feels sporty. Feather the throttle and the engine/motor combination makes for effortless progress. Use a gentle right foot and you can even set of in perfect silence, but it doesn’t last long, after less than a km the petrol engine kicks in. Push the throttle further it’s definitely no slouch, but the acceleration takes a good few seconds to arrive and there’s no real incentive to rushing it.
More sound deadening and softer suspension settings make it a quiet and comfortable cruiser, but the over-weighted steering and the car’s bulk (it weighs 2.4 tonnes) mean you can feel the car’s mass sloshing from side to side in tight corners.
The interior is comfortable and well equipped – our Premium Tech test car come with full LED lights, a rear-view camera, sat-nav and 18-inch wheels as standard. The ‘Tech’ part of the name is an additional £4,100 pack that includes adaptive cruise control, a Bose premium sound system and an around-view monitor. So it’s well appointed, but the button-strewn dash and digital graphics look dated – not what you want from a near-£50,000 luxury car.
There’s plenty of space in the rear seats, so you can be chauffered around in comfort, but there’s a nasty surprise when you open the boot: The battery pack, located behind the rear bench reduces the standard car’s 450-litre boot by 100 litres, something that’s simply not an issue in more modern hybrids.
