2020 INFINITI Q60 RED SPORT 400 DELIVERS FUN DRIVE IN EYE-CATCHING PACKAGE

Despite an impressive appearance and refreshing for the 2017 model year, Infiniti’s Q60 small luxury sports coupe doesn’t get the respect it deserves from critics who generally give higher marks in their reviews to its mostly Teutonic competitors.

This is in direct contrast to the praise its predecessor received when Motor Trend named the G35 sedan and coupe its Car of the Year when it was introduced for the 2003 model year.

So has Infinity lost its way here? Or not kept up with modern tastes (which can be fickle at times).

I think not.

The 2020 Infiniti Q60 Red Sport 400 model is one of the most striking vehicles on the road today, fun to drive with an eye-catching design that is sure to attract attention if (when?) it shows up in your driveway. Coupes nearly always look sexier than sedans, and the Q60 is no exception.

Little change has been made since the third generation was introduced three years ago, and little had to be for 2020 after some tinkering was done the last couple of years.

The Q60 lineup for 2020 features six models with the 3.0t Pure, 3.0t Pure AWD, 3.0t Luxe, and 3.0t Luxe AWD getting a 300 horsepower, 3.0 twin-turbo V6 and both the Red Sport 400 and Red Sport AWDs getting a more powerful V6 version under its hood.

The 3.0-liter V6 in the Red Sport 400 (upon which this review is based) is rated at 500 horsepower and 360 pound-feet of torque and is mated to a 7-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters for manual gear selection.

In addition, the Red Sport 400 gets an extra Sport+ mode for enhanced performance in addition to the Personal, Standard, Snow, Eco, or Sport modes available in other models. Fuel economy is rated at 20 miles-per-gallon city, 27 highway, and 20 combined, 

The 2020 Q60 Red Sport 400 comes with a long list of standard features included in the base price of $58,175 (including the $1,025 destination and delivery charge.

Among them are exclusive 20-inch aluminum alloy wheels, exclusive Red Sport exhaust tips, LED headlights, chrome double-arch grille, dual-zone climate control, heated 8-way power front seats, leather-wrapped and heated steering wheel (not a big attraction in South Florida), power tilt and telescoping steering wheel, genuine carbon fiber interior trim and matte black interior accents, aluminum accent sport pedals, tinted glass moonroof, remote and push-button start, front and rear sonar system to aid maneuvering in close quarters, Bluetooth hands-free phone system, and a 13-speaker Bose audio system.

The Infiniti InTouch infotainment system includes navigation and voice recognition and is very user friendly.

In addition to the usual airbags and seatbelt systems, safety features include automatic collision notification and emergency call, forward emergency braking with pedestrian detection, electronic brake distribution, blind-spot warning and backup collision intervention, and a surround-view monitor with moving object detection.

Oh, yes, The Q60 is available with either rear-wheel or all-wheel drive.

With all those features as standard, the only options on my test Q60 were a cargo package (trunk protector, cargo net, console net, first-aid kit and shopping bag hook), illuminated kick plates, welcome lighting, and Infinity interior ambient lighting that ran the total to $59,880. 

What I liked about the 2020 Infiniti Q60 Red Sport 400: This is an attractive car inside and out. Adjusting settings to Sport or Sport+ upgrades the performance from the twin-turbo V6 even further.The interior has a sophisticated ambiance, and the ride is very comfortable. The dual touchscreen displays allow you make adjustments like changing audio settings without having to switch from the navigation screen. The exhaust notes are sweet.

What I didn’t like about the 2020 Infiniti Q60 Red Sport 400: The trunk was only big enough to handle just three bags we were taking on our trip, even though one was on the small side. Fuel economy is on the low side among its segment.

Would I buy the 2020 Infiniti Q60 Red Sport 400? Yes. There is a lot of competition among luxury coupes, but the Q60 and its eye-catching exterior is one of the most stylish in the small luxury segment. With its coupe form, it has more the feel of a sports car than simply a small luxury vehicle.