2019 Infiniti Q60

The 3.0t Pure base model is the cheapest in the range and has a listed MSRP of $40,850 in the rear-wheel-drive configuration. At the midpoint of the range, the Luxe trim is priced at $45,000, while the fully-loaded Red Sport 400 leaps ahead by $10,000 and costs $55,000, the most expensive of the three trims. These prices exclude a destination charge of $995 and do not take any additional packages into account. To upgrade any of the available trims to all-wheel-drive further lifts the price by $2,000 for each model.

Both base models provide stable and secure handling with good grip and confident cornering. The Red Sport model is the most competent, however, released with Dynamic Digital Suspension which enhances handling capabilities even more. Direct Adaptive Steering can be equipped optionally, but we advise against this as the system leads to an unnatural sense of disconnectedness. This also results in a lack of feedback through the steering, which requires the continued selection of Sport+ mode in order to feel in tune with the road, but by virtue of artificial weighting. Even without the Adaptive Steering selected, the Q60 requires a lot of mid-cornering input to keep it on track, and steering, in general, is harder work than on many rivals.

Despite this, the Q60 offers excellent braking capabilities, which are brilliantly calibrated to react to pedal pressure. Emergency braking, although precise, did leave its tell-tale smell in the air when floored quite hard. With the exception of the wandering steering wheel, the coupe offers a pleasant drive on the highway (read, in a straight line).

The Q60 is not a terrible car, but it cannot be labeled as a great car either. We'd settle for calling it an average luxury small vehicle, featuring a lovely (albeit dated) cabin with comfortable front seats, two powerful engine options, and a pleasant driving experience that admittedly, does very little to blow the driver away. Handling is less than impressive, although the ride comfort is soft and comfortable. With limited trunk space and a cramped rear seat added to the clumsy infotainment system, there seem to be a few more negatives than positives for this vehicle. Although definitely not the worst coupe on the road, it ranks in the lower end of the segment overall, and in comparison to main competitors the Q60 just doesn't live up to the high standard set by the likes of the Audi A5 and Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupes, or the driver-focused BMW 4 Series.

With the entry-level model being under-equipped in terms of safety features, driver aids, and onboard technology, the remaining two options can be weighed up for their value for money. At the top of the range, the Red Sport 400 costs a whopping $10k more than the Luxe and potentially requires additional packages to be equipped at thousands of dollars more. The mid-range Luxe, by contrast, offers ample power, a premium sound system, moonroof, and basic automatic emergency braking, and even when adding the ProASSIST bundle still comes out under $50,000 in total. That's why it's our recommended trim as, if you must buy a Q60 Coupe, it strikes the best balance of value for money.

The base model C 300 is priced at around $3,000 more than the Q60 but has many more standard features included and numerous optional extras which the base model Q60 does not have access to at all. The entry-level C Class even has the option of ventilated and heated seats, and a much more refined cabin with cutting-edge technologies. Although the C class range is equipped with a less powerful engine, a 2.0-liter engine that produces 45 hp less than what the Q60 does, it achieves better gas mileage estimates and offers performance that belies the numbers. It's more dynamically talented too, competent through the corners and refined everywhere else. The C-Class has a bigger trunk, but the interior cabin room remains similar on both vehicles. The Mercedes, with a much more engaging drive, better handling, and superb ride quality, as well as vastly improved feature content and availabiility, comes out on top in this comparison.

A firm favorite in the luxury small car segment, the Audi A5 beats the Q60 on many fronts, not least of which include a recently redesigned interior, numerous standard safety and convenience features, leather seats and sunroof as standard on even the base model, and a much more spacious trunk area. Although a smaller 2.0-liter engine on the A5 means slightly less power, output figures are still satisfying and turn out brilliant fuel economy rates as an added bonus. The Audi also handles with classic German accuracy, where the Q60 scores much lower. The only area where the Q60 leads is in the standard equipping of the more powerful V6 engine, something available on the more potent S5 and RS5 derivatives from Audi. This is still not sufficient reason to choose the Infiniti over the Audi, however, and the result is as expected: Audi reigns supreme.