2018 INFINITI Q70 Review

Name: 2018 INFINITI Q70 Review
Brand: INFINITI
Price: 22998 USD

INFINITI Q70 3.7 LUXE Sedan Exterior Shown

INFINITI Q70 3.7 LUXE Sedan Exterior. Premium Select Package Shown.

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$22,998 - $26,998

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INFINITI Q70 model years

INFINITI Q70 for Sale

INFINITI Q70 types

Sedan
Hybrid

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Edmunds' Expert Review

byCarlos Lago^{Carlos Lago has worked in the automotive industry since 2008. Along with an extensive background in performance testing and evaluation, he has produced hundreds of car-related articles and videos.}

Pros

Athletic, with strong acceleration in V8 versions
Large cabin with comfortable seats
High fuel economy from available hybrid model

Cons

Infotainment interface is dated and clunky to use
Many driver assistance features are optional
Ride comfort suffers with the 20-inch wheels
Limited small-item storage in cabin

What’s new

Infiniti has modified the names of all Q70 trims and some options. The 8-inch InTouch entertainment display is standard on all trim levels.

Vehicle overview

This luxury sedan has a comfortable interior and comes in a variety of configurations. It can also be entertaining to drive. But the 2018 Infiniti Q70's shortcomings are pretty obvious.

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2018 INFINITI Q70 3.7 LUXE 4dr Sedan (3.7L 6cyl 7A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $4.45 per gallon for premium unleaded in Ohio.}

Monthly estimates based on costs in Ohio

$263/mo

$219/mo

Avg. Large Car

Calculate my fuel costs

This generation of the Q70 dates back to 2011, back when Infiniti called it the M56. There have been some updates over the years, but this is a very long time in the luxury sedan segment to go without a full redesign. Though spacious, the interior comes up short on storage and aesthetic appeal, and the touchscreen entertainment system feels ancient compared to the standard set by current luxury offerings.

We do like the Q70's V8 engine, and the availability of a long-wheelbase version and even a hybrid help broaden the car's appeal. But, ultimately, no Q70 variant truly stands out in the crowd.

Edmunds' Expert Rating

6.6 / 10

This luxury sedan has a comfortable interior and comes in a variety of configurations. It can also be entertaining to drive. But the 2018 Infiniti Q70's shortcomings are pretty obvious. You'll find better ride quality, fresher designs and more sophisticated infotainment features elsewhere.

Trim tested

Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The ratings in this review are based on our full test of the 2016 Infiniti Q70 5.6 w/Premium Select Edition package (5.6L V8 | 7-speed automatic | RWD).

NOTE: Since this test was conducted, the current Q70 has received only minor revisions related to trim level offerings. Our findings remain applicable to this year's Q70.

Scorecard

Overall	6.6 / 10
Driving	7.5
Comfort	7.0
Interior	8.0
Utility	6.0
Technology	4.5

Driving

7.5

This is a genuine sport sedan. The V8 is big and burly, and the steering and brakes are effective. Much is outdated about the Q70, but performance remains a strength.

Acceleration

8.0

The big V8 accelerates effortlessly at full throttle, although low-rpm power is soft compared to what rival turbocharged engines produce. In our testing, the 0-60 mph sprint took 5.2 seconds — unremarkable for 420 hp — but there's plenty of real-world punch. This is a fast car.

Braking

7.5

Reassuringly firm pedal that's easy to modulate. It feels expertly calibrated and inspires confidence. In our emergency-braking test, the Q70 posted better than average distances with its all-season tires. Note that the Premium Select Edition includes upgraded brakes.

Steering

8.0

It's responsive and accurate in quick transitions, giving you the sense that the Q70 can be placed precisely around turns. Effort is fingertip-light in parking lots yet firm and steady on freeway slogs. Very good for the segment.

Handling

7.5

The Q70 feels narrow and agile on winding roads, turning in eagerly and generally comporting itself like a smaller car. The base car has too much bounce in the suspension for real sporty driving, but a Sport package is available and would provide improvements.

Drivability

7.0

The transmission serves up precise rev-matched downshifts in manual mode, yet it operates unobtrusively in the daily slog. While passing or merging, however, downshifts can be slow to engage in Drive. Overall, the Q70 is a smooth driver that rarely annoys.

Comfort

7.0

On the highway, the Q70's ride is calm and isolating, though imperfect surfaces can make the car feel jittery. The seating is spacious and plush. It's a pleasant car to be in, but not much more.

Seat comfort

8.5

A Q70 strong suit. The seats are soft yet have enough support for all-day drives. The rear seats have excellent under-thigh support.

Ride comfort

5.5

The Q70 lacks the composed suppleness on rough roads that shoppers in this segment rightly expect. The structure too readily quivers and shakes. This is partly down to the big 20-inch wheels and tires. Rivals with similar equipment exhibit more refinement.

Noise & vibration

7.0

It's adequately quiet on most surfaces. Tire noise can intrude at times, but that's par for the course with 20-inch rubber. We noted some gentle shaking from the big V8 at idle; some might call it "character," but others will wish for more isolation.

Climate control

8.5

The straightforward controls include simple rocker switches for temperature adjustment. The entire bank of climate controls is angled up toward the front occupants, enhancing visibility and accessibility. Quiet fan and cold air conditioning in triple-digit heat.

Interior

8.0

The Q70's cabin has very good ergonomics overall. The dashboard and console wrap snugly around the driver. Even the standard-wheelbase model has generous rear legroom. The outdated tech interface is the main drawback.

Ease of use

6.5

The control layout is mostly user-friendly. But the touchscreen is too far from the driver, and the redundant control knob is less intuitive than those in rivals.

Getting in/getting out

8.5

The seats are high relative to the floor, so you conveniently slide onto them more than plop down into them. The roof inside is high enough to stay out of your way, even in back. The door openings are more than adequate.

Driving position

9.0

The wraparound dashboard and elevated center console make the Q70 feel more like a sports car from the driver's seat, and that seat has plenty of adjustments for taller or shorter drivers. The power steering column has plenty of tilt-and-telescoping range.

Roominess

8.5

The Q70's interior dimensions will likely feel just right for many shoppers. Four 6-footers can travel in comfort. Those in back will enjoy the elevated bottom cushion, which gives great thigh support. Space for the rear middle seat is very tight.

Visibility

7.5

Front visibility is excellent, and it's framed entertainingly by the curvaceous front fenders — kind of like in a Corvette. The rising beltline and rakish rear roofline conspire to inhibit rear visibility a bit, but it's still manageable.

Quality

7.0

The cabin is nicely trimmed with lots of leather and interesting industrial-metal accents. Materials quality overall is high, and assembly tolerances seem tight. But the control knob and adjoining seat-heater knobs feel downmarket.

Utility

6.0

The Q70 generally underwhelms on the utility front, but good child safety seat features redeem it somewhat. If you don't care about child safety seats, the lack of small-item storage and a power trunklid might give you pause.

Small-item storage

5.0

Poor. Only two cupholders and an ashtray on the center console. Nothing in the way of thoughtful smartphone nooks or crannies. At least the center-console storage box under the armrest is reasonably spacious and handy.

Cargo space

6.0

The trunk capacity is about average. There's a wide opening, but it narrows at the wheelwells. No power closing, just power release, and the release takes an extra half-second for some reason. The rear seatback is fixed, so you can't fold it down to gain extra cargo capacity.

Child safety seat accommodation

7.5

Two sets of LATCH anchors with three tethers on the rear shelf. Access is user-friendly. A rear-facing seat could be a squeeze behind a long-legged driver (but the Q70L should work just fine).

Technology

4.5

If you're wondering why the Q70 rates relatively poorly overall, this section is the answer. Infiniti has largely left the Q70's touchscreen interface untouched during this decade, and its advanced age is readily apparent. The car's rivals, meanwhile, have decisively pulled ahead.

Audio & navigation

4.0

The most dated infotainment interface you'll find in this class. The touchscreen is a throwback to a different era. The graphics are low-resolution and lack flair. The Bose stereo sounds pretty good, but otherwise the Q70 system is a mess.

Smartphone integration

4.0

The infotainment system debuted well before Bluetooth audio became ubiquitous, and that's painfully obvious. Our Q70 had a hard time remembering paired phones from drive to drive. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay simply aren't offered.

Driver aids

4.0

Our test car lacked the Technology package, which contains just about every high-tech safety feature the Q70 offers. It's almost unheard of in this class for items such as blind-spot monitoring and forward collision warning to be optional.

Voice control

5.0

Not surprisingly, the Q70's voice command system is also getting on in years. We couldn't figure out how to control Bluetooth audio without consulting the manual. Spoken commands must be perfectly precise; there's no "intelligence" that we could detect.

2018 INFINITI Q70 models

The 2018 Infiniti Q70 is available in two main trim levels: 3.7 Luxe and 5.6 Luxe.The numbers indicate what type of engine is under the hood. A long-wheelbase Q70L is available with either engine and similar equipment. There's also a hybrid version (appropriately named Q70 Hybrid Luxe). Rear-wheel drive is standard, and all-wheel drive is optional on non-hybrid models. A seven-speed automatic is the sole transmission available, while a variety of optional packages provide for a degree of customization.

The base Q70 3.7 Luxe receives motivation from a 3.7-liter V6 (330 hp, 270 lb-ft of torque). Standard features include a sunroof, dual-zone automatic climate control, and power adjustable and heated front seats. A no-cost Essential package (which you can expect to be equipped) further adds a heated steering wheel, parking sensors, a heated steering wheel, a top-down parking camera system, leather upholstery, an 8-inch touchscreen display, a navigation system, and a 10-speaker Bose premium audio system.

The optional Premium Select package for the 3.7 Luxe adds dark exterior trim, a rear spoiler, 20-inch wheels, upgraded brakes, a suede-like headliner, and premium leather upholstery.

The Q70 Hybrid Luxe uses a 3.5-liter V6 and a hybrid system (360 hp), and its features largely mirror the 3.7 Luxe. The EPA pegs the Hybrid at 30 mpg in combined driving.

Q70s bearing the 5.6 Luxe badge pack a 5.6-liter V8 (420 hp, 417 lb-ft of torque). These models include all the items of the 3.7 Luxe equipped with the no-cost Essential package.

Long-wheelbase variants are differentiated by the Q70L name. These longer models offer an extra 5.5 inches of rear legroom, a rear 12-volt outlet and heated rear seats.

For all Q70s, the ProActive package adds advanced safety features including forward collision warning, front and rear collision mitigation with automatic braking, blind-spot monitoring and intervention, lane departure warning and intervention, and adaptive cruise control.

The Sport package is available on all standard-wheelbase Q70s. It adds 20-inch wheels, a different fascia, upgraded brakes, a firmer suspension, a 16-speaker Bose stereo, a power rear sunshade and magnesium paddle shifters. Long-wheelbase variants can opt for the Performance Tire and Wheel package, which includes 20-inch wheels and larger, more capable brakes.

Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

4/5Excellent

#1 out of 48 among Luxury Fullsize Cars

RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.

Cost

^{The average total annual cost for unscheduled repairs and maintenance across all model years of the INFINITI Q70 from 2008-2022.}

$509/yr

vs. $729/yr
for Average Luxury Fullsize Car

Frequency

^{The average number of times this model is brought into the shop for unscheduled repairs and maintenance in a single year. RepairPal calculates this metric by tracking millions of unique vehicles over multiple years to determine an average number of visits per year (omitting small routine visits, e.g., oil changes).}

0.72x/yr

vs. 1.74x/yr
for Average Luxury Fullsize Car

Severity

^{The probability that a repair will be a major issue, meaning the repair costs 3x the average annual repair cost for all models. This threshold will be higher for vehicles that have higher labor rates and parts costs (such as a premium brand).}

5.8%

vs. 14.7%
for Average Luxury Fullsize Car

powered by RepairPal ^{Based on RepairPal reliability data as of 8/23/2023. Ratings are provided by RepairPal and Edmunds is not responsible for their accuracy.}

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the Used 2018 INFINITI Q70.

5 (79%)

4 (9%)

3 (6%)

2 (2%)

1 (4%)

4.6

48 reviews

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Most helpful consumer reviews

Excellent value in a great car!

jhawk , 04/15/2018

2017 INFINITI Q70 4dr Sedan AWD (3.7L 6cyl 7A)

If brand name is all that matters then yes please overpay for a German brand. I had a 2015 AWD Q50 premium and decided after 2 1/2 years to trade in for something a bit bigger. The dealership gave me an awesome deal on a 2017 Q70S AWD. A deal so good actually that I ended up paying less for this than I did for my Q50. Now I know this car does not fully compete against the finest …

What a terrible and biased review by Edmunds

JF, 03/04/2018

2018 INFINITI Q70 3.7 LUXE 4dr Sedan (3.7L 6cyl 7A)

It's really a shame how Edmunds trashed the review of this beautiful car as so many customers rely on accurate, unbiased review from major sites such as Edmunds. I had the chance to drive this car for couple thousand miles. It's definitely not the most competitive in the class, but Edmunds' review is absolutely terrible and biased. Their whole article screams one sentence - buy German …

A seriously good sedan.

Jaffrey Ali, 01/29/2018

2018 INFINITI Q70 3.7 LUXE 4dr Sedan AWD (3.7L 6cyl 7A)

5 reasons to love the Q70L. 1. interior and exterior design is beautiful with high build quality. The leather quality on the sensory package is similar to an S-Class and you get just as much space inside. 2. Real buttons make sense and the user interface is much better than digging 3-4 levels into touch screen only interfaces you see now. 3. The naturally aspirated V6 engine is a lot of …

Infiniti Q70H hybrid

ACW3426, 12/06/2019

2017 INFINITI Q70 Hybrid 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl gas/electric hybrid 7A)

Infiniti Q70H is a car overlooked by a lot of people, it is a very practical and reliable car in my opinion. I owned 4 Infiniti cars before, one thing I can vouture for the Infiniti brand is their reliability, I have never been stranded before , their strength is on their engine and transmission, accessories including air conditioning can go way over 100k miles without major issues. …

We have a limited number of reviews for the 2018 INFINITI Q70, so we've included reviews for other years of the Q70 since its last redesign.

See all 48 reviews of the INFINITI Q70

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2018 Q70 Highlights

Type:

Sedan

Trim:

3.7 LUXE

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$50,300
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	21 MPG
Cost to Drive	$263/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	14.9 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	rear wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 60,000 miles

See all features & specs

Safety

Our experts like the Q70 models:

Blind-Spot Intervention: Warns you of a vehicle in your blind spot and steers you away if you attempt a lane change.
Predictive Forward Collision Warning: Watches ahead and flashes an alert if it senses an impending collision.
Lane Departure Warning: Detects and makes an alert if catches you leaving your lane unintentionally.

NHTSA Overall Rating

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
Overall4 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger4 / 5
Side Crash Rating
OverallNot Rated
Side Barrier Rating
OverallNot Rated
DriverNot Rated
PassengerNot Rated
Combined Side Barrier & Pole Ratings
Front SeatNot Rated
Back SeatNot Rated
Rollover
Rollover4 / 5
Dynamic Test ResultNo Tip
Risk Of Rollover11.3%

IIHS Rating

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.

Small Overlap Front Driver-Side Test
Good
Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side Test
Not Tested
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Original
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Updated
Not Tested
Side Impact Test – Original
Good
Side Impact Test – Updated
Not Tested
Roof Strength Test
Good
Rear Crash Protection / Head Restraint
Good