Used 2015 INFINITI Q60

Don’t get excited: The 2015 Infiniti Q60 coupe is the same car as it was last year, which is the same as the Infiniti G37 coupe that’s been kicking around in various forms since 2008. If you’re thinking of the stunning Q60 Coupe Concept Infiniti showed the world at the Detroit Auto Show in early 2015, you’ll have to wait a while longer. That said, the Infiniti Q60, in both coupe and convertible form, is still an excellent luxury performance car. With aggressively sharp good looks, a comfortably sporty interior, a powerful V6, and an available 6-speed manual transmission, the Infiniti Q60 coupe and Q60 convertible still hold their own against competitors like the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class, except in fuel economy.

In cruising mode, the 2015 Q60 is quiet and comfortable, pampering its occupants with refinement and high-tech goodies. But as soon as you drive enthusiastically, it’s easy to believe how this car and the Nissan 370Z are related under the skin. The Q60 offers accurate steering, crisp brakes, and a planted suspension you’d expect from a luxury sports coupe. The responsive 3.7-liter V6 pulls strongly, whether mated to the 7-speed automatic or 6-speed manual transmission, the latter of which is fast becoming a rarity in modern cars. Convertibles offer a high-performance Q60 IPL (Infiniti Performance Line) model, which adds more horsepower, a tighter suspension, and larger brakes. A driver-selectable Vehicle Dynamic Control system lets you explore the Q60’s outer roadholding limits before the system intervenes, and all-wheel drive is available on automatic-equipped coupes. Unfortunately, the convertible hardtop is undignified in the way it squeaks and rattles when closed.

The Q60 coupe and convertible offer a comfortable and high-quality interior, even if it’s a little dated feeling. Materials are all high-quality, and we especially like the aluminum trim and 8-way adjustable form-fitting standard driver’s seat. Sport 6MT versions offer even better seats with 12-way adjustability. The easy-to-see 7-inch full-color display mounted high in the center stack easily operates many of the car’s functions, but looks a little dated. Rearward vision is poor in coupes thanks to the racy roofline, and when the top is up on the Q60 convertible, you’ll be glad there’s a standard backup camera.

From nearly every angle, this is a good-looking car. The shape of the swept headlights is etched by the taillights, and there is a smooth sweep to the sheet metal as it arcs over the wheels and passenger compartment. The contouring of the fenders gives the Infiniti a distinct and upscale look. Subtle chrome accents and Infiniti’s signature 4-bar grille design are notable touches, as are the standard bi-xenon headlights and LED taillights. The Q60 coupe and convertible each offer available 19-inch wheels and IPL-specific front and rear body pieces, side sills, and a rear decklid spoiler.

ADAPTIVE CLIMATE CONTROL
IF you’ve ever driven a convertible, you’ve probably found yourself fiddling with the climate control more than you like – go fast and you need to turn up the heat, go slow again and it’s suddenly too hot. The Q60 convertible’s standard adaptive climate control does all that automatically.

MANUAL TRANSMISSION
The 2015 Infiniti Q60 is one of the few vehicles left in its class – or anywhere, really – that’s still available with a manual transmission. And this 6-speed is a good one, offering smooth shifts and an easy-to-use clutch. If you like rowing your own, it’s worth checking out.

Compared to cars like the Audi A5 coupe, the value-oriented Q60 comes standard with xenon high- and low-beam headlights, keyless access with push-button start, and heated front seats. Base Q60 models also include dual-zone climate control, an 8-way power driver’s seat, leather, and a backup camera – features that are often optional on Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Audi vehicles. There’s also a 6-speaker audio system with a USB input. Safety equipment includes six airbags, active head restraints to reduce whiplash, and Nissan’s slide-away brake pedal assembly that moves the brake pedal to reduce lower-leg injuries to the driver in front-end collisions.

The Infiniti Q60 offers four descriptively named option packages: Premium, Sport, Navigation and Technology. The Premium package adds an upgraded audio system and backup sensors, the Sport adds a more aggressive suspension and other driving-fun hardware, the Navigation package adds you-know-what, and the Technology package throws in intelligent cruise control, brake assist and advanced climate control. A Limited model bundles all those separate packages together in coupes, making it easy to go all-in on the Q60. The high-performance Infiniti Performance Line convertible isn’t markedly better to drive than the standard model, and at more than $60,000, we can’t recommend it.

There’s only one engine available for the Infiniti Q60: a robust 3.7-liter V6. This is the latest iteration of Nissan’s renowned VQ35-series all-aluminum DOHC engine, and it’s a fine example of the blend of power, torque, and smoothness you’d expect in a luxury-car engine. You can choose either a standard 7-speed automatic or close-ratio 6-speed manual, the latter of which is becoming increasingly rare in sporty luxury coupes. The IPL convertible edition makes use of retuned engine-management software and a freer-flowing exhaust for a minor bump in power, but it comes only with an automatic transmission. Regardless of configuration, all Q60s require premium-unleaded gasoline.

3.7-liter V6 (Coupe)
330 horsepower @ 7,000 rpm
270 lb-ft of torque @ 5,200 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 19/27 mpg (automatic), 18/25 mpg (all-wheel drive), 17/25 mpg (manual)
3.7-liter V6 (Convertible)
325 horsepower @ 7,000 rpm
267 lb-ft of torque @ 5,200 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 18/26 mpg (automatic), 16/24 mpg (manual)

3.7-liter V6 (IPL Convertible)
343 horsepower @ 7,400 rpm
273 lb-ft of torque @ 5,200 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 18/26 mpg