Infiniti announced its official arrival in Singapore back in 2012 with much fanfare, with a lavish showroom opening and the introduction of no less than three models at one go. Since then however, the brand has went all quiet, with barely any significant new models to add to its line-up in its two years of existence on our island.

But after a period of stagnation, Infiniti is ready to assert itself back into relevance once again, this time hoping to capture an even greater demographic by introducing models that can challenge in more competitive segments. Let’s face it, a 3.7-litre luxury sedan, a gargantuan 5.0-litre SUV and a large four-seater convertible are not exactly the type of cars that sell in great numbers here in Singapore.

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Infiniti’s latest addition though heads straight into the junior executive sedan market, a sector dominated by the likes of BMW’s 3 Series, Audi’s A4 and the recently-launched Mercedes-Benz C-Class, not to mention a noted fellow Japanese rival in the form of the Lexus IS, a car that has had three generations to perfect its formula and go toe-to-toe with the Germans. Infiniti certainly has its work cut out if it wants the Q50 to challenge the established names in this class.

At first glance, it doesn’t even look like the Q50 belongs there, in the sense that it looks very much like a bigger car from a class above. Pulling out the measuring tape only confirms that the Q50 is indeed larger than all of its competitors, at least in length, with the car measuring in at a hefty 4,790mm long, making it significantly longer than the 3 Series (4,624mm), C-Class (4,686mm), A4 (4,703mm) and IS (4,665mm).

If anything, the larger size will certainly appeal to buyers who are self-conscious, and who subscribe to the maxim of ‘bigger is better’. But, in Singapore’s congested urban environment at least, a car of this size does feels a bit ponderous to drive. It’s just pure physics really; just ask any E-Class or 5 Series driver how tricky it is to manoeuvre their cars around our numerous ridiculously tight carparks that litter our city.

It doesn’t help that the car’s handling, while decent, isn’t exactly anything exciting to shout about either. It corners mostly cleanly, but the steering offers very little feel or feedback, if at all, and it seems as though the car is just going through the motions, with hardly any verve or excitement as it responds tamely to the driver’s instructions. In return, you do get a car that rides very well over most road surfaces, with just a touch of firmness, probably brought about by the Bridgestone run-flat tyres, but for a car that bears the legendary Skyline name back in its native Japan, the Q50’s dull drive is a tad disappointing.

That said, it could have been worse, or perhaps better. Local cars don’t get the Q50’s Direct Adaptive Steering steer-by-wire system, where the steering is controlled by a series of motors that takes care of the communication between the steering wheel and the front wheels (there remains a fixed column link as a just-in-case). Reaction to the system thus far have been mixed, with some appreciating the directness and variability of the system, and others bemoaning the lack of mechanical feel, but it remains to be seen as to whether Infiniti will want to offer the system for Singapore.

In terms of drivetrain, the Q50 makes good use of its partnership with Daimler to borrow a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine that powers a good number of Mercedes-Benz’s sedans. The engine in question is identical to the C250 and E250 models, tuned to produce 211bhp and 320Nm of torque. Similarly, the gearbox is sourced from Stuttgart, with Mercedes lending Infiniti a 7G-Tronic box to go along with the engine.

Performance, unfortunately, is much like the car’s handling, being mostly decent and capable in most conditions, but not quite offering enough such that the Q50 can really challenge its main rivals. The car hums around in serene comfort, but it feels somewhat lazy to get going when pushed. Matters are not helped by the gearbox, which strangely has an odd delay in between shifts, especially in the lower gears. There are no paddle shifters too, so the only way to alleviate the issue is to take matters in your own hands and nudge the gear lever into manual mode.

Still, at least its lackadaisical nature affords you time to appreciate the Q50’s interior, which looks fairly well-put together, in classic Japanese style. Taking pride of place in the cabin are two touch screens, one on top of the other, and forms part of Infiniti’s InTouch system. The one above is a standard screen with a few functions available for display, while the bottom one is the ‘main’ one, and has been designed to resemble a smartphone in its layout, complete with configurable ‘apps’ to access the numerous settings and controls. It takes a bit of getting used to, but it is quite innovative and interesting to use. Overall fit and finish is excellent, as you’d expect from a Japanese high-end marque.

It is a pretty noble first effort from Infiniti to set out to challenge the established names, but it is a fiercely competitive segment that the Q50 is fighting in, and simply being good won’t really cut it in this day and age. Then again, hardly anyone goes straight to the top on their first attempt, but Infiniti would do well to follow the example of Lexus. Given time, there is no doubt that Infiniti will eventually get there.

NEED TO KNOW
Engine 1,991cc, turbocharged 16V, in-line 4
Power 211bhp at 5500rpm
Torque 350Nm at 3500rpm
Gearbox 7-speed automatic
Top Speed 245km/h
0-100kmh 7.2 seconds
Fuel efficiency 7.3L/100km
CO2 168g/km

Price $215,800 with COE
Availability Now

Also Consider: Audi A4 2.0, BMW 320i, Lexus IS250, Mercedes-Benz C250

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