By Tim Barnes-Clay, Motoring Journalist

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This Infiniti is no oil painting, but it’s not ugly either. The car is different, in a curvaceous sort of way.

Touches like the wavy bonnet arches, in-yer-face front grille and glitzy daytime running lights give it an angry yet sophisticated look.

Infiniti is the posh arm of Nissan – so luxury abounds, but what about practicality? Well, the Q70 Hybrid offers loads of headroom, and legroom is generous in the front. The rear is a different story. Three adults will fit, but legroom is limited.

The boot isn’t amazing either. There is 350 litres of load space in the Hybrid due to the electrical gadgetry stuffed behind the rear seat. This means you’re not going to get much else in once your kid’s buggy or your set of golf clubs is in there. The rear seats don’t fold down either, limiting your options further.

The cabin is awesome though. The rounded dashboard is distinct because it’s so curvy and boisterous. German interiors are more logically laid out, but the Infiniti does make a refreshing change.

Behind the wheel, the Q70 Hybrid’s 3.5 litre petrol lump and extra electric motor means you’re in for a speedy drive. Acceleration is creamy smooth, yet you feel pinned to your seat. Zero to 62mph takes only 5.3 seconds, and the top speed is 155mph.

The Infiniti glides along and almost does the driving for you. Its seven-speed gearbox is silky and flawless and, with the press of a button, you can kick the whole car into sport mode if you want even more athleticism. I did a Kettering to Dudley 150mile return trip and honestly felt fresh and relaxed after mile munching up and down various motorways.

The car is also good at carving through the corners on rural routes, but its steering is a little light so it doesn’t always feel as planted as German rivals like BMW and Merc. The Q70 is safe, too. Six airbags, intelligent cruise control, forward collision warning, lane departure warning and lane departure prevention all help to instil a sense of confidence.

The Q70’s electric motor is there to perk up performance economically, so an official figure of 45.6mpg and 145g/km of CO2 emissions is no surprise. The Infiniti will even stay in electric-only mode if you keep at around 20mph and you don’t bury your right foot into the carpet. What’s more, the car’s eco and normal driving modes simply relax the throttle response, helping you get a little bit more petrol for your pounds.

Speaking of cash, you’re looking at forking out well north of £40,000 for this Infiniti, but you do get a lot of machine for your money. The Q70 Hybrid comes with a stack of kit on the inside and outside. Sat-Nav is standard, you get leather heated and ventilated seats, front and rear parking sensors, LED headlights, and meaty 18 inch alloy wheels. 

On the whole, the Infiniti Q70 Hybrid is a quick, luxury saloon with an ability to deliver you to your destination effortlessly. It is a great company car choice because of its low emissions, but it’s not as badge-cool as a BMW, Mercedes-Benz or Audi. That said; it’ll tell the world you’re a little different – and you’ll be able to find your motor in the sea of German executive saloons in your firm’s car park.

PROS AND CONS 

• Fast √
• Fun √
• Economical √
• Rear legroom X
• Boot Space X 

 

FAST FACTS

• Max speed: 155 mph
• 0-62 mph: 5.3 secs
• Combined mpg: 41.6
• Engine: 3.5 V6 petrol + electric motor
• power (bhp): 359
• torque (Ib.ft): 402
• CO2: 145 g/km
• Price from: £43,250