Apple CarPlay is
optional (for $623)
on the BMW as the
company insists its
standard software is
just as good. It’s not...knobs, pads, are everywhere. The dreaded track-
pad remains frustrating, and linked to a dim-witted
infotainment system. There’s a sneaking Toyota-ness
about it, too, while fat body pillars eat into the glass
house, making it more cab-forward than it should be.
Not one car makes a dud noise, though. The Infiniti
wails like a muffled GT-R from the inside and out, while
the BMW’s granular howl builds with timbre the more
it revs. But it’s the Lexus which is most eventful. Its
bellowing rumble coalesces with rich intake noise as
soon as your foot kisses the firewall, helping it sound like
you’re moving faster than in reality. An ‘ASC’ dial hidden
by your right knee artificially enhances the soundtrack,
but the engine sounds more convincing without it. Give
it another 1000rpm instead, Lexus.
So have the Japanese proved differences between
these three merely lie in a badge? Well, not in the
Infiniti’s case. While it might seem like the real deal, with
more features crammed in here than the latest iPhone
X – seriously, the only options are paint colours – and
an alluring look, the Q60 Red Sport proves to be all style,
little substance. Of course, that powertrain with endless
grunt is an exception, but a wooden suspension setup,
distant steering, and stiff ride make it hard to harness.
The steering-by-wire answers an unasked question. It
removes vibrations, yes, but with all the drive modes
available, you should be able to lock up the ‘emergency’
clutch for a more direct feel when up it. You’d probably
leave it on all the time, anyway.
You could swap the Lexus and Infiniti’s price tags and
no-one would notice. That chassis might not sparkle
with feel, but it has more dynamic talent than most
1700kg-odd rigs. There’s loads of grip at its limits, and
you’d enjoy cutting track laps from morning ’til night.
The interior feels lavish, and the noise from inside is
enchanting. But the RC’s approach lacks clear thinking.
We couldn’t master the throttle and steering’s ultra-
lightness during commuting, no matter how much time
we spent in it. And if only the F Sport’s engine could bite
with the same anger as its bark.
The BMW’s challenge, however, is justifying the huge
price difference between it and the Lexus. It starts well
with more room in the back seats, a better ride, and a
powertrain both blistering and civil. Its looks are less
divisive, and you wouldn’t trade its iDrive system for
a million Lexus track-pads. It feels the most natural
to drive, and while you’d be looking around the Lexus
cabin for the sound switch, selecting the right drive
mode for decent throttle response, the BMW would have
already pissed off like a Messerschmitt.
And so despite its price premium, BMW successfully
fends off these Japanese upstarts to win our comparison.
But while it’s a convincing victory against the Infiniti,
you wouldn’t quite write off the Lexus. Three quarters
the BMW’s price, it offers value for its plush interior,
x-factor and dynamics. It’s not just a different bottle, if
you like, but also a different and interesting flavour.M
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