The market for luxury vehicles is not an easy one to compete in; between all the German competitors, and the Acura and Lexus lines, plus Cadillac and Lincoln right here at home, you have a lot of options.

And then there is Infiniti -- which has rebranded its lineup for 2014 as they try to improve their popularity and become a luxury brand more people covet..
One of the rebranded sport sedans from Infiniti (former one of its M-series sedans) is the 2014 Q70, which I recently got the chance to test, and I’m back with a full report on the vehicle.

LOOKS
There is a classy, yet not obnoxiously high-class look on the Q70, and it features a distinct design on the hood with the ends flared up -- this is clearly an Infiniti even from a distance.
Inside, you get enough space in back to fit 2 or 3 people, but it’s a tight squeeze. Realistically, this speedy machine is best driven with just the front seats filled or one or two short people in back.
It’s not gonna be your family ride, as it’s definitely not a grocery-getter.
Outside you get 18-inch tires; and; inside you get quality leather seats, wood trim, courtesy lights and a pretty strong overall interior design. And the optional power sliding tinted glass moonroof is one feature that is tailor-made for a sporty sedan like this.

One curious feature on the Q70 was the option to have a cigarette lighter and ashtray in the vehicle. (I honestly can’t remember the last time I saw that, but I believe Bill Clinton was president).

ENGINE, HANDLING, RIDE QUALITY
How’s the drive in this ride? Super fast and super fun is the best way to put it.

To put it in layman’s terms, you simply haul as you pull away from a light, and the responsiveness of the ride is top-notch as you maneuver. Once on the freeway, you’ll get the urge to go all “Fast and Furious” with this ride, as it seems ready to play its part. (Not that I did this, of course).
The 3.7-liter V-6 engine packs 330 horsepower and 270 lb-ft of torque. It’s rear-wheel drive; with a 7-speed automatic transmission. You also get a manual shift mode, and the vehicle features independent front and rear suspension.

MPG
I experienced a pretty disappointing 21 mpg in the Q70. Official numbers are 18 city/26 highway and 21 combined. This is nothing to write home about.
Depending how you drive, you can do better than I did. But that requires driving a sporty ride like a plain old car (You can go into ECO mode, for instance, instead of Standard or Sport, but it feels like the car is going in slow motion; Wasn’t really my style). There is also a Snow mode, though luckily I never really had to use that.

TECH
The standard 7-inch rearview monitor is helpful when backing up; you get a full array of audio options (AM/FM/CD/Satellite/USB for iPod and other devices).
Rain-sensing wipers and HiD xenon headlights and also included.
You also get memory for seat position, steering wheel, mirrors, climate control, and audio settings -- so that’s all ready to go for you.
My test vehicle had the optional Bose sound system with 16 speakers, which needless to say was pretty impressive (though it’s a bit pricey to add).

SAFETY
Standard features include ABS; brake assist; traction control; tire pressure monitoring.
Optional packages feature the Blind Spot warning, Lane Departure Warning and other safety features (though I would like to see these features become more standard, as they really are life-savers).

PRICE
Hold on to your hats folks, as this sporty speedster starts out at $49,500. My fully decked-out test ride climbed up to just over $64K.

Options I had inclued:
-- Rear decklid spoiler ($455)
-- Tech package ($3,050): Blind spot warning and intervention; lane departure warning and prevention; intelligent cruise control (which is great; as it stops you if the person in front stops); distance control; brake assist with forward collision warning; pre-crash seat belts)
-- Touring package: ($2,000): 16-speaker Bose sound system, Forest Air system; Power rear sunshade.
-- Sport package: ($3,750): 20-inch wheels; sports front fascia, headlamps and grille; sports brakes; sport-tuned suspension; front sport seats, steering wheel and shift knob; solid magnesium paddle shifters; aluminum pedal accent
-- Premium package ($4,200): Hard-drive Navigation system; 8-inch color touch-screen; Voice recognition; NavTraffic and Weather; restaurant guide; Infiniti Connection (via cell); Rear Sonar system

No, this is not an inexpensive toy -- quite the opposite in fact.

BOTTOM LINE
The 2014 Infiniti Q70 is a fun, sporty ride that will make you enjoy your time on the road tremendously.

Is it overly expensive? No question, and it’s out of most folks’ price range without a doubt.

But if you’re one of the few lucky enough to have this kind of dough to spare, this will be a very tempting option if you’re looking for an extra-zippy and well-handling vehicle to cruise in.

No doubt many of its luxury competitors are equally enticing, but after driving those options and the Q70, this might be where you end up if your experience is anything like mine was.