Infiniti's Q70 sedan has pop, and all the perks

A menu of Mark Glover’s AutoGlo car reviews can be seen on the Business page of The Sacramento Bee’s website – www.sacbee.com/news/business/article4005306.html

Sacramento, California – I’ve always liked Infiniti’s lineup with its nice mix of generous standard features and peppy performance.

The recently tested 2017 Infiniti Q70L 5.6 sedan gave me no reason to re-evaluate my long-held perceptions.

Please understand that we’re talking about a pricey piece of hardware here – $64,850 to start and $69,055 on the tester.  Luxury sedan, check.

Performance?  Yup, also there in spades.

The tester was driven by a 5.6-liter V-8 pumping out a max 416 horsepower and 414 foot-pounds of torque.  Mashing the accelerator on the Q70L delivered a satisfying engine roar and a heart-racing run-up through the seven-speed automatic transmission.

The car’s a terrific road cruiser, but the enthusiastic power plant allows the driver to fulfill some road warrior fantasies without going off the reservation.  The tester also came equipped with a manual shift mode, by the way.

OK, fuel mileage suffers amid all that power, coming in at a tepid 16 miles per gallon in the city and 24 mpg on the highway.

I’m assuming most Q70 buyers have the kind of coin to disregard gas costs, the better to enjoy the luxury/comfort/convenience features to be found on this ride.

The tester came with multiple LED lighting features, leather/climate-controlled/10-way power front seats, a heated steering wheel, Japanese Ash wood interior trim, power sliding/tinted glass moonroof, heated rear seats, a super-sophisticated navigation system, a Bose audio system with 10 speakers and enough safety/security features to qualify for recognition from the United Nations.

The tester had some subtle driving-assist features that drew my attention but did not come off as annoying – a pleasant plus in this era of overly sensitive driver-warning systems.

Handling was excellent, even on tight city streets.

Brakes were exceptional, part of a “Premium Select Edition” package that included sport brakes with four-piston front and two-piston rear calipers.

Those brakes came to my rescue in the Sacramento International Airport parking garage, where a careless driver suddenly darted across the bow of my Infiniti.  As it was happening, the words “unavoidable crash” flashed through my mind, but my ride stopped on a dime and avoided a costly crunch by maybe six inches.

There are times when you thank the car for bailing you out.  This was one of those times.

Overall, my Q70L 5.6 sedan was a solid B-plus or A-minus of a luxury sedan, a good grade in a field of crowded competitors from all over the world.