2003 Infiniti Q45 - Consumer Guide Automotive

Category	Luxury Rating (See All Ratings)	Premium Large Car Average Rating

Acceleration	7	6.5

Fuel Economy	4	4.1

Ride Quality	8	8.2

Steering/Handling/Braking	7	6.6

Quietness	7	7.8

Controls	7	5.7

Room/Comfort/Driver Seating (front)	8	8.1

Room/Comfort (rear)	7	7.6

Cargo Room	3	4.8

Value within Class	4	5.3

Total Score:	62	64.7

Ratings: Maximum 10 points per category

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2003 Infiniti Q45 Review

Rear-axle-ratio revisions designed to enhance acceleration are among changes for 2003 to Nissan's luxury-brand flagship. The Q45 has 4.5-liter V8 and a 5-speed automatic transmission with manual shift gate. ABS, antiskid/traction control, and 17-inch wheels are standard. The interior is trimmed in leather and wood and includes front side airbags and head-protecting curtain side airbags. An in-dash information screen serves an available navigation system, and there's standard voice control for audio, climate, and navigation functions. Newly standard for '03 are door-mirror "puddle" lights and an in-dash CD changer in place of a glovebox cartridge unit. Base Luxury and uplevel Premium are the model names. The Premium includes 18-inch wheels, adjustable suspension, heated and cooled front seats, and reclining heated rear seats. It also comes with intelligent cruise control designed to maintain a set following distance from other traffic, plus a color-TV camera that displays a rear view on the dashboard screen when the transmission is in reverse. Satellite radio is available, and a Journey option for the Luxury adds intelligent cruise control, run-flat tires, and other amenities.

Competition

With wide price ranges and numerous body configurations, this diverse segment has two clear Best Buy choices--the refined Lexus LS 430 and the unique Audi A6. The LS 430 can't be beat for comfort and features at around $55,000, while the A6 earns Best Buy status for its blend of space, performance, design sophistication, powertrain choices, and workmanship at prices below those of most rivals.

We Recommend the Acura RL--a steal at around $45,000 fully equipped. Though it is a front-drive V6 in a field of V8 rear-drive models, it has a great ride, plenty of power, and is quite luxurious. If you are looking for something a bit more sporting, we Recommend BMW 5-Series. If your taste ranges more toward the luxury end, then take a look at the roomy Cadillac DeVille.

News

An all-wheel-drive option is being rumored for Q45, though timing is not clear. If the AWD does materialize, we wouldn't expect it until 2005 at the earliest. Otherwise, analysts forecast little near-term change.

The Q45 posted a 37-percent year-to-year sales gain in calendar 2001, mostly due to early introduction of the redesigned '02 model. But the total was a modest 5726 units, and that fell by a whopping 35 percent in 2002. Though other luxury sedans were down too, including archrival Lexus LS 430, the Q45 hasn't been the sales winner Infiniti was hoping for.

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