Cruising through the Alps in an Infiniti convoy
We headed to Geneva to test Infiniti's all-wheel drive technology, and left pondering where the Japanese company fits in to the car market
“What a beautiful day,” I say to the manager of the mountainside restaurant we were congregated outside, waiting for a snow plough to take us up the slopes to the hotel.
“Yes, to have blue skies here in January is very unusual, you are very lucky,” he replied, trying not to acknowledge the awkwardness of the small talk.
If my face wasn’t frozen in situ I’d have raised an eyebrow - quite how you can call us lucky to be stood outside as the temperature hit -7 degrees centigrade I don’t know. But then, he was wearing a t-shirt, so I suppose it’s all relative…
He had a point, though. From our destination at the Whitepod Hotel in south-west Switzerland, we were surrounded by imposing Alpine mountain ranges and could see over the French border across the truly gorgeous Lake Leman.
The skies were clear and the view was uninterrupted, the farthest stretches of the lake near Geneva obstructed only by more mountain peaks. It’s as breathtakingly beautiful as you imagine, and then some.
However, it’s all a little bit awkward. You see, we’ve come to Switzerland to sample Infiniti’s all-wheel drive system, with the intention being to show off just how capable the premium Japanese car maker’s system is, even in snow.
Except, there isn’t any - on the roads, at least, You see, while there might be three-foot snow drifts beside the road, the Swiss are incredibly proficient at clearing the tarmac, and with a couple of gorgeous days overhead, the roads would barely trouble a rear-wheel drive sports car on trackday tyres.
Nevertheless, as we arrived at Geneva airport that morning we'd been greeted by something quite interesting to sample - the 2019 model year Q50 hybrid. Infiniti also dropped a QX30 and Q30 off for testing, and it’s the former of these two we sampled first.
As we trundle out of Geneva airport and onto the motorway that straddles the lake, we’re reminded just how close to greatness the QX30 gets while ultimately ending up quite uninspiring.
It’s based on the Mercedes-Benz GLA, and out on the road it’s quite impressive - that gruff diesel engine is kept quiet by lots of sound deadening, and it’s a comfortable cruiser. It’s a perfectly pleasant daily driver.
However, it just lacks some kind of pizzaz, that unidentifiable thing that the premium manufacturers in Germany are so great at. It’s hard to find too much to fault - the main issues being that interior materials are mixed, visibility isn’t great and the sat nav looks outdated - but you’re always left feeling like you’re some way short of what premium should be. Perception is everything in this class, and Infiniti has a little way to go on that front.
After many motorway miles we stop for coffee as our route takes the altitude higher and thermometer lower. It’s time to swap into the Q50 and I’m suitably intrigued - to my eyes it’s a handsome thing, with just enough quirkiness to the styling to be true to its Japanese roots.
Cappuccinos sipped and indeterminate European savoury snacks consumed, we hit the mountains’ curvy tarmac. The snow beside the road is starting to pile higher, but the surface remains perfectly clear - damn you, Monsieur Plough.
First impressions of the Q50 are good. The interior has a similar issue with mixed materials, but they’re much less obvious here. The centre console has two screens, which feels right for a premium car in 2019, and the seats are big and comfortable.
And driving impressions are equally decent. At all speeds the Q50 feels quiet and refined, and the hybrid system is impressively punchy, as you’d expect with 346bhp on tap. At low speeds on electric power there’s little road noise at all, and even when the V6 petrol does kick in, it’s smooth enough to not be too noticeable.
The Q50 is a newer and more expensive car, and as such it does feel like a step up from the QX30. And as we pull into the hotel car park, the awe-inspiring scenery and impending awkward small talk distracting me from rationalising my thoughts, I’m left pleasantly surprised by the sleek saloon.
A couple of hours later, after getting transported halfway up a ski slope by a snow plough, I get a moment to reflect. And as I sit beside the fire, my toes slowly regaining circulation, I pore over the numbers… and I start to wonder where Infiniti sits in the grand scheme of things.
The Q50 starts at £43,415 for the rear-wheel drive hybrid, with the all-wheel drive version starting at £46,615 and the top spec tipping just over £50k. When the new BMW 330e - that’s the hybrid - goes on sale in the summer, you should be able to get a well-specced one for over £5,000 less. In fact, go for a top-spec, all-wheel drive diesel 3 Series, and you’ll struggle to make it more expensive than the entry-level Q50.
You could even get a decently equipped 5 Series for the cash, which will drive better, feel more expensive and carry more badge appeal. The only advantage the Q50 really has is the fact it has a great reputation for reliability in America. (It doesn’t really sell enough in the UK for meaningful data.)
Night closes in and we’re invited for fireside beers. The mercury has hit double digits below freezing and the ‘pornstar IPA’ I’m sipping has turned to ice. Before hypothermia sets in I try to come to a conclusion.
I’m conflicted. On the one hand, in isolation the Q50 rather grew on me and showed plenty of promise. But cost is a stumbling block. If it was priced in a way that made it a bridge between mainstream manufacturers and the traditional premium brands it would make more sense, but when you could buy from one of the excellent Germans and save enough cash to buy a nearly new hatchback as well it becomes hard to recommend.
As Infiniti faces the challenge of revitalising the brand as it heads into a new all-electric era, it’ll be interesting to see how it slots in with the establishment. At the moment it’s an outlier, but with a little finessing it could find itself more than just a quirky alternative.
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Comments (2)
It's sad in a way – you can tell the cars are 90% of the way there, but cheaper European rivals just mean they won't make it onto anyone's shopping lists. At least in the UK...
I have the hybrid and I love it, buy them second hand and they are a bargain . So much less than the Germans and at half the mileage, only v8s are faster. The car is rapid.