Infiniti knows how to build a twin turbo V6 engine, especially of the 3-liter variety. Much of my childhood was spent daydreaming about the then new second generation 300ZX. The top-tier version was powered by a glorious 3-liter twin turbo V6. A likely underrated 300-horsepower masterpiece that could be considered the grandfather of the engine that sits under the hood of our review vehicle today, the 2021 Infiniti Q50 Red Sport AWD.
Unlike the 300zx, even the longer wheelbase four passenger version, the Q50 is an entirely practical car. With a premium interior that seats five adults and useable – if not spacious – trunk, Infiniti’s premium sports sedan is many things that the beloved sports coupe of my youth wasn’t.
All while shaving a half second or more off the 300zx’s zero to sixty time, depending on news outlet and driver.
Exterior design that has been around the block but still looks fresh
We remember when the Q50 first arrived for the 2014 model year. At the time there wasn’t much that could compete with the futuristic design. Matter of fact, the relatively unchanged exterior was so far advanced that it still looks fresh in 2021. However, in a line up with segment competitors the Q50’s curb appeal slightly wanes.
A well-made premium interior
There are more luxurious sedans in the segment, but no one can argue the Q50’s excellent fit and finish. Front legroom is plentiful and rear seat passengers will find the accommodations excellent for two adults or three youth.
In our experience, Infiniti makes one of the most comfortable seats found in any new car. The frame is padded just enough to be comfortable, but not so much that you lose support. Our Red Sport 400 arrived with semi-aniline quilted leather seats. We appreciated the red stitching throughout the cabin, which adds a nice contrast. The Red Sport also adds quilted side inserts on the seats and dashboard dials with dark chrome finish.
Cargo space is about average for the segment. With 13.5 cubic feet, the Q50 will work for most around town situations. You can fit quite a few groceries or backpacks for instance. But those looking for optimal cargo space and desire something in the Infiniti family will want to look at the QX50 SUV.
Two screens instead of one
The Q50 has not one, but two touch-capacitive color screens in the center console. Both screens work together to provide infotainment and control other vehicle functions. The top 8-inch screen displays Apple CarPlay, Android Auto or navigation and can be controlled using the touchscreen, steering wheel controls or a control knob. The lower 7-inch screen can display various apps depending on the user’s preferences. Infiniti’s “InTouch” system works well after you take time to configure the car and explore the features.
Driver Profiles are automatically implemented based on which key fob is used. Which allows the Q50 to feel like “your car” for everyone in the family with their own fob. The driver’s seat and steering wheel automatically adjust when you jump in and push the on/off button.
Options include a 16-speaker Bose sound system and advanced Climate Control System with “Plasmacluster” air purifier.
Available active safety technology includes an “around view” monitor with moving object detection, intelligent cruise control, forward emergency braking, distance control assist, blind spot monitors, backup collision and lane departure warning. Additional features include lane departure prevention with active lane control, adaptive front lighting, high beam assist and predictive forward collision warning.
A bit more about that incredible engine
Whether you opt for the 300 horsepower of 400 horsepower variant, the Q50’s 3-liter twinturbo engine is a work of mechanical art. Referred to the as VQ V6, the direct-injection system is tuned to provide an excellent balance of efficiency and power. While this is a new car, the tuner/home mechanic in me could easily see this lightweight aluminum engine swapped out into a long number of vintage Japanese sports cars creating the ultimate import restomod. I also think that it could be easily tuned to favor performance over efficiency if/when that time arrives.
The standard twin turbo, offered in the Q50 3.0t LUXE and Q50 3.0t SPORT models, produces 300 horsepower and 295 lb-ft torque. The high-output version, like the one found in our Q50 RED SPORT 400, delivers 400 horsepower and 350 lb-ft of torque.
Both engines are matched to a seven-speed automatic transmission with manual shift mode. The 2018 Q50 can be configured with rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive.
Thanks to the powerful engine and quick shifting automatic, the Q50 offers excellent acceleration. Entering the highway, even a short ramp that is about the equivalent of an aircraft carrier, is easy. Passing is a breeze. The plus-sized brakes on our Red Sport made quick work of stopping and resisted fading in stop and go traffic. While we aren’t the biggest fans of Infiniti’s drive-by-wire system, it has evolved over the years, After a few days behind the wheel the system almost feels somewhat natural, almost. Our guess is that most cars at some point in the future will feature a system that uses this technology over the conventional steering that we are accustomed to. It allows for user configuration that would be impossible in a traditional system.
Our Red Sport review vehicle also included Infiniti’s “Dynamic Digital Suspension.” The adjustable suspension system can be set for comfort or varying levels of sport. While we want to be heroes and say that we left the suspension dialed up to the sportiest mode, we found the comfort-biased settings worked the best for everyday driving.
Pricing
The base model Q50 Pure starts at $36,600 plus fees. The Q50 RED SPORT 400 includes leather-appointed seats, aluminum-accented pedals, dark chrome interior trim, dark metallic paddle shifters, 19-inch wheels and tires, custom exhaust tips, sport brakes with red painted calipers, a full range of safety and driver aid technologies. Our nicely equipped Red Sport with all-wheel-drive costs $62,065.
