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Infiniti Q50 2.2 diesel car review – here’s the Infiniti that means business

A refined, well-built and above all spacious competitor to BMW, Audi and Mercedes exec saloons.
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18 November 2013

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Ironically it’s a 4 cylinder Mercedes diesel that puts this model of the Infiniti Q50 firmly in contention for business car sales in the BMW 3 Series, Audi A4, Mercedes C-Class stakes

Infiniti Q50 Premium 2.2d

What is it?

It’s promising to be the car that helps kickstart Infiniti’s sales in the UK – and in particular to SME small fleets and company car drivers.

Aimed at the lucrative compact executive market, the Infiniti Q50 is a BMW 3 Series and Audi A4 rival that has been designed with an eye on the European market.

So unlike many of Infiniti’s previous models it comes with the Mercedes-sourced four-cylinder diesel we’re driving here – previous Infinitis only had V6s and V8s.

Running a vehicle for business?

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Infiniti_Q50_car_review
The big plus is that the Infiniti Q50 is different from the predominantly German norm. Company car tax is less than you’ll pay in a 320d 3-Series and economy and performance are fine too

What’s hot?

  • The 3 Series, A4 and C-Class are all so common that the Infiniti Q50 really stands out on the road. We quite like the bold, curvy design but it’s not to everyone’s taste.
  • It’s the longest car in its class so you get a huge 500-litre boot and some really spacious back seats that can hold tall adults with ease.
    Infiniti_Q50_car_review
    The Infiniti Q50 is very well built inside – and comes with full leather and masses of kit
  • You’ll get loads of equipment thrown in, with mid-spec Premium models getting full leather, parking sensors, cruise control, a reversing camera and two touchscreens.
  • The interior is hi-tech, stylish and well-built. Our only complaint about it is that you can see a few cheap-looking Nissan buttons spread around (Infiniti is an upmarket brand owned by Nissan).
  • Motorway journeys are a breeze because of the Q50’s excellent refinement. There’s only a whisper of wind noise and a gentle roar from the tyres at 70mph.
  • You’ll find it rides quite nicely, too, cushioning sharp bumps in the road. There is a hint of firmness but it’s no worse than the Audi or BMW in this respect.
  • And it’s clean; the Q50 emits just 114g/km, which puts it in a 17% company car tax band –  only the 109g/km BMW 320d ED is better, with a 16% company car tax banding.

 

What’s not?

  •  This diesel engine is the 2.1-litre unit from Mercedes (despite being badged 2.2), which has always been a bit rough. Here it’s the same, with a noisy, gravelly note under heavy acceleration and a loudish idle.
  • The handling isn’t as fun as in the 3 Series and we’re not entirely convinced by the £800 Direct Adaptive Steering. It’s completely digital (a first for production cars) but reduces steering feedback and can feel twitchy if you set the steering to ‘quick’ if combined with Safety Shield technology.
  • There’s not really a company car tax saving to be made by going for the Q50 over any of its more established rivals. For a 2.2d Premium a standard rate taxpayer will shell out £1030, while a BMW 320d Luxury buyer will pay £1111.

 

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Matt Morton

Matt Morton

Matt Morton is an automotive content writer for Business Car Manager

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