2015 Infiniti QX70
2015 Infiniti QX70 Review
A fun, fast, quirky thing.
Web2Carz Contributing Writer
Published: April 7th, 2015
Don't let the name fool you; this is not a new car. The 2015 Infiniti QX70 is a new badge that gives this midsize luxury crossover a name that aligns with Infiniti's new naming scheme. Now all crossovers are QX, with the number denoting not capaciousness, but rather cost; the QX70 is the second most expensive crossover Infiniti makes (the QX80 is the most expensive, in case you didn't guess that).
Name aside, the QX70 is a quirky little thing. It's lacking the capacity that its competition has, but it makes up for it with a fun, sporting character that you don't often find in non-cars, especially ones that aren't European and expensive. It's weird, but it's a kind of weird that we can dig.
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Interior
We hope you like one color and only one color, because that's how our QX70's interior came. It's black on black on more black on yet again the same shade of black. It doesn't allow for various angles and shapes to present themselves; instead, everything works equally to absorb every photon that meanders into its maw. Our boss drives an older Infiniti, from around 2009 or so, and it has nearly the same interior as this QX70; it's about time for a change, if we're being honest. If you opt for a two-tone interior, that helps to freshen things up.
Much the same can be said for the infotainment system. It works, and it's snappy, but it feels old compared to what else is out there. -
Exterior
Do you find yourself wishing that you could drive around in a Star Wars stormtrooper's helmet? Well, if you order your QX70 in white with the Sport package, you can! The Sport package includes plenty of blacked-out trim, along with gargantuan 21-inch black wheels that will undoubtedly scuff at even the slightest hint of a curb. While it does confer a bit of a cartoonish appearance alongside white, we can't deny the aggressiveness of all that black paint; Mick Jagger wrote something about this car, we think.
Everything's still a bit rounded and goofy, a relic of Infiniti's design language from when this car was conceived. Given the look of the Q50, the Q60 Concept, and the QX30 Concept, expect the next-gen to look much sharper - literally. -
On the Road
Whereas the QX60 is built more for the mall-crawlers who need to haul a bunch of crap around, the QX70 is built more for the mall-crawlers who want to drive around like lucky jerks because single people don't have to waste money on things like kids and cargo space and lacrosse sticks. Seriously; the QX70 is far more sporting than the QX60, belying the thought that a larger number might infer additional capacity of some kind. Rest assured, it doesn't; in fact, thanks to the rear end's shape, rearward visibility is awfully low.
But you won't need to look behind you while you're driving, because you're going to need to put all your attention on the road in front of you, which will very quickly become the road underneath you. The QX70 has some serious accelerative moxy; the 3.7-liter V-6 isn't as sonorous as it was when it was but 3.5 liters in displacement, but it still packs a throaty roar that begs you to dig deeper into the pedal throw. You don't need to dig that deep, though; the gas pedal is quite touchy.
The ride itself is equally sporty, in that it's harsh and might be too much for your average think-nothing-of-driving buyer. The steering is lively, but it's also heavy. It will bump steer a bit, and it's difficult to keep the car in a straight line for long stretches of time. These feelings will likely diminish if you ditch the dubs and find some more appropriately sized wheels. If you like things toight like a toiger, though, the QX70 will let you beat on it all day; the chassis responds well to harder driving. However, all that sharpness comes with a drawback; our tester was quite prone to noticeable vibrations at idle. -
Final Thoughts
It's hard to find a properly sporty mid-size crossover that isn't German and doesn't cost $75,000. The QX70 that we tested is exactly that. Of course, it gets expensive if you start ticking options like you're in an option-ticking competition, but if you're smart with how you spec it out, you can have something that's fun to drive and seats five in great comfort for a good price. It'll also sound great, appreciate hard driving, and won't totally eat through your gas budget in the first five days of the month. Even though it's getting a bit long in the tooth, the QX70 is still a very good (and very fun) crossover.
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Specs & Price
Engine: 3.7-liter naturally-aspirated V-6
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Drivetrain Layout: Front-engine, all-wheel drive
Power Output: 325 horsepower / 267 lb-ft
Fuel Economy (mpg): 16 city / 22 highway
Base Price: $47,300
As Tested: $59,535 (incl. $995 destination)
Available Features:
Premium Package: Navigation, 360-degree cameras, seat memory, voice recognition, power tilt/telescope steering column, entry/exit assist
Technology Package: Adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning and prevention, forward collision warning, front pre-crash seatbelts, rain-sensing wipers, adaptive front auto-leveling headlights
Deluxe Touring Package: 20-inch alloy wheels, aluminum pedals, quilted leather-appointed seats, maple interior accents, climate-controlled front seats
Sport Package: Adaptive front auto-leveling headlights, sport-style front seats, magnesium paddle shifters, contrasted interior stitching, dark headliner, climate-controlled front seats, aluminum pedals, 4-way power bolster adjustment, 21-inch black wheels, black-painted trim and badges
• For more information such as specs, prices, and photos of the 2015 Infiniti QX70, click here: 2015 Infiniti QX70.