Coupe Shopping: A Review of the INFINITI Q60

Coupe Shopping: A Review of the INFINITI Q60

By Megan Busch

I’m not a girl who knows a ton about cars. I’ve driven Jeeps all my life (as has my mother), and I really haven’t veered off that track—ever. So, I’ve teamed up with the group at Baker Motor Company to try new things, namely cars outside my norm. A few times each month, I’ll be driving one of Baker’s cars and letting you know what I think. This isn’t going to be a series of Car and Driver or Motor Trend reviews. It’s just a girl sharing her honest opinion about some nifty vehicles.

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Just recently, I drove the Mercedes-Benz C-Class around town, and like many of these test drives I’ve been doing for Baker, it was a first for me to drive a sporty luxury coupe (certainly, my husband’s old 1999 Honda Civic that he drove in college doesn’t count). This time around, the team at the dealership put me in a similar car—an INFINITI Q60 Coupe. At this point, I like that I’ve driven two cars in the same class. It makes it easier to make comparisons between the two models. So for those of you looking for a two-door coupe, here’s how the INFINITI holds up to scrutiny.

Streamlined Technology

The Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe housed all of its technology in an iPad-like screen mounted on the dashboard. It seems to stand out a bit, like it was an aftermarket addition to the car, not part of the original package. The INFINITI Q60 Coupe has a built-in touch screen giving access to each technological aspect of the car—from driving modes and heated seats to BlueTooth technology and integrated GPS. A secondary display behind the steering wheel makes the most-often-used technological features even easier to access and places the information you need to know right in front of your eyes. Although it doesn’t include a few of the helpful tools that the Mercedes-Benz does—like automated seatbelt assistance and reminders to grab your keys—the INFINITI excels in technological integration in a way that’s seamless, modern, and never bulky.

Driving Modes

The INFINITI coupe strives to offer options, especially in performance. I enjoyed toggling through the various driving modes and feeling the difference in the engine power and the torque. Although Snow mode will probably only be useful in the Lowcountry once every five years, it’s available alongside Sport and Sport+ modes. What did I like the best? ECO mode. Pretty much always, I enjoy saving money. It was great to switch to ECO mode and see the increase in miles-per-gallon the car was getting. I drove around all day on this setting, I didn’t feel much lag in the power behind the gas pedal, and I was able to save a little money at the pump along the way.

Plenty of Room

For a coupe, the INFINITI Q60 seemed spacious to me—up front and in the backseat. Now, I’m not a driver with very long legs, so a passenger riding behind me would have a decent amount of room in any car. If, say, an NBA player were driving, however, it may be a little tight in the INFINITI’s backseat. Overall, the legroom seemed more spacious to me than that of the Mercedes-Benz C-Class. Two built-in cup holders and the luxurious leather upholstery of the Q60 offer a comfortable ride for two passengers in the back.

Drawing Conclusions

The Q60 takes the classic interior look of the Mercedes-Benz C-Class and transforms it into something sleeker and more modern. The analog clock of the C-Class becomes an integrated technological screen. Contemporary grey and metallic finishes replace the traditional brown wood veneer in the C-Class. This modernized look even comes at a slightly lower price point than the C-Class. The Q60 is $38,950 MSRP for the base model, whereas the Mercedes-Benz costs $42,650 at minimum. Bottom line? If you’re normally a Mercedes-Benz driver loyal to the brand and you’re looking for a coupe, I would definitely recommend taking the INFINITI Q60 for a spin before you make your final decision. It’s always nice to have options, right?

About this 2017 INFINITI Q60 3.0t Premium

2-Door Coupe

3.0L V6 Engine

Automatic Transmission

Graphite Shadow Exterior

Graphite Interior

Cargo Package

Premium Plus Package

Remote Engine Start

Heated Front Seats

Heated Steering Wheel

Illuminated Kick Plates

Mirror and Seat Memory

Price: $49,935

Test drive the 2017 INFINITI Q60 Coupe at Baker Motor Company in West Ashley.