Infiniti QX70S 3.7 AWD: Authentic sports SUV still turning heads

By Ghaith Madadha - Aug 28,2017 - Last updated at Aug 28,2017

Photo courtesy of Infiniti

A visually arresting sports crossover SUV with authentic sporting credentials but when first launched as the FX back in 2003, Infiniti’s enduring signature model was extensively evolved for a second generation circa 2009.

Renamed the QX70 as of 2013, its influence on the now burgeoning sports SUV segment has been significant if somewhat unrecognised by rivals. And even now, on the eve of its retirement, the QX70 remains a truly unique vehicle, with inspired and viscerally-charged design, dynamics and drive-train that is engaging and rewarding like scant few others.

Dramatic and charismatic

Stylish and evocative, QX70 could have been mistaken for a European exotic when it first arrived, and remains as sexy as ever today, with its long bonnet, side vents, short overhangs, rakish roofline and rearwards cabin design all alluding to its sports car intentions, underpinnings and layout.

With its swooping lines, scalloped wings and pert rear, the shark-like QX70 seems to be sitting on its rear, with an athletic stance, distinct sense of urgency, and the long distance between its wheel-arches and A-pillar lending it and indulgent, luxurious and sporty profile.

Underneath, the QX70 is built on a front-mid engine platform with the engine positioned just behind the front axle for balanced within wheelbase 53:47 front-to-rear weighting. It also features sophisticated front double wishbone, rear multi-link suspension and rear-drive derived and biased four-wheel-drive system for sports car-like driving dynamics.

A baroque design with a palpable sense of motion and the dramatic, it features slim, browed headlights and broad, deep-set and hungry honeycomb grille and dual big bore tailpipes at the rear, while in the sportier QX70S trim, as driven on Jordanian roads, it fitted vast 21-inch wheels to better fill in its discretely bulging wheel-arches.

Urgent and exacting

Likely to be replaced by a smaller displacement turbocharged engine in the QX70’s eventual replacement, the current VQ-series naturally-aspirated 3.7-litre V6 with variable valve timing and lift, is, however, a true gem.

Developing 329BHP at a haughty 7000rpm, it is a velvety smooth, urgently progressive, engaging and exacting engine with superbly precise throttle control to allow one to dial in perfectly measured increments of power and grip versus slip through a corner. Long-legged and high-revving to 7500rpm rev limit, the QX70’s engine allows one to maintain a consistent yet, uninterrupted power build-up through fast sweeping corners.

Pulling hard and responsive from tick-over to redline, the QX70’s charismatic V6 is gutsy, punchy and incremental with toque peaking at 267lb/ft at 5200rpm, if at 13l/100km combined, is slightly thirstier than more modern yet, less rewarding engines. Acceleration through the 0-100km/h benchmark takes just 6.8-seconds or less, and top speed is 233km/h or more.

Refined and quiet at low rev, the QX70S’ acoustics rise from discreet thrusting, whirring and whining to a more intense and urgent, yet, subdued wail as revs reach towards the redline. Given the QX70S’ visceral character, an optionally more vocal and evocative exhaust note would not have been amiss.

Fluency and feel

Peaky, precise and with pin-point throttle control, the QX70S is still a benchmark in its segment after all these year. Driving all-four-wheels through a smooth and swift shifting 7-speed automatic gearbox, with responsive manual mode shifts actuated through fixed column-mounted magnesium paddle shifters, the QX70S also features downshift rev matching that automatically blips the throttle on downshift, for more fluent driving.

Rear-biased up to 100 per cent and able to send 50 per cent to the front wheels when necessary on low traction surfaces and for road-holding, the QX70S handles with rear-drive balance and sporting panache, but can claw back grip when necessary.

Benefiting from rear-drive instincts yet four-wheel-drive road-holding at the limit, the QX70S is about as close as a 1995kg SUV gets to being a sports car. Playful at the rear if provoked while stability controls are in low intervention mode, the QX70S’ chassis is balanced, nuanced and adjustable with a pivot of it weight, while some understeer is evident if pushed too hard into a corner without some finesse.

Firm and meaty when cruising, the QX70S’ hydraulic-assisted comes alive through corners, becoming lighter, more natural and intuitive with better road feel, feedback, resistance and nuance than expected for an SUV riding on huge low profile 265/45R21 tyres.

Classy, comfortable and committed

Stable, committed, refined and reassuring on motorway duties, the QX70S is, however, also, intuitive, eager and agile through winding switchbacks and country lanes. Well-controlling its weight through corners, the QX70S feels tidy in lateral weight shift, while rebound control is settled and buttoned down.

Last driven as the FX37 on smooth Dubai roads, the QX70S thoroughly impressed one more demanding, textured and winding Jordanian back roads, where it well-processed road imperfections despite its somewhat firm setup and tyres. One, however, felt that perhaps slightly tauter dampers and taller tyre sidewalls would retain fluency while improving suppleness, vertical control on crests and help keep wheels even more firmly dug into the road.

Classy and comfortable with supportive seats and alert driving position, the QX70S’ cabin feels well constructed with quality materials like purple thread stitched leather upholstery and steering, and a sporty dual pod-like design and intuitive layouts. Well-kitted, it features a reversing and bird’s eye view camera to help negotiate tight parking spots and compensate for its low roofline, high waistline and long bonnet.

Evocative when peering over its long scalloped bonnet, the QX70S’ curvaceous wings somewhat limit front visibility in tight spaces, but help one position it through corners. Despite a rakishly sloped roofline, it is well packaged with good rear headroom even for tall passengers and wide door swing angles.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Engine: 3.7-litre, in-line V6-cylinders

Bore x stroke: 95.5 x 86mm

Compression ratio: 11:1

Valve-train: 24-valve, DOHC, variable timing

Gearbox: 7-speed automatic, four-wheel-drive

Ratios: 1st 4.923 2nd 3.193 3rd 2.042 4th 1.411 5th 1.0 6th 0.862 7th 0.771

Reverse/final drive ratio: 3.972/3.692

0-100km/h: 6.8-seconds

Maximum speed: 233km/h

Rev limit: 7500rpm

Power, BHP (PS) [kW]: 329 (333) [245] @7000rpm