July 14, 2005

Used Vehicle Review:
Infiniti Q45, 1997-2001
By Chris Chase

Photo: Nissan/Infiniti. Click image to enlarge

Here's a question: how do you tick off a whole bunch of people who just bought the final examples of the first generation Infiniti Q45 luxury sedan in 1996? Easy - introduce a totally redesigned Q45 in 1997 and price it $7,000 cheaper.

That's no hypothetical question, either; it's exactly what Infiniti did when it launched the second generation of its flagship sedan, a car that had a much different character than the one it replaced. To wit: it was smaller (albeit only slightly), had a softer ride and handling and a smaller, less powerful engine than the original Q45.

In 1997 and 1998, this Infiniti "Q" ship was available in two trims: a "base" model and a more expensive Touring model, known as the Q45t. In 1999, the base model was dropped.

Being Infiniti's flagship model, every Q45 was loaded with just about every conceivable luxury and safety feature that could be crammed into a car, and all this for thousands of dollars less than a Lexus LS400.

That high value quotient remains intact today. Check out these used values: a 1997 model is worth between $7,000 and $9,800 per the Canadian Red Book, a mere fraction of the base car's $65,000 M.S.R.P. A 2001 Q45t is worth $26,050, just 37 per cent of its $70,000 price when new. In case you were wondering, yes, that is a good deal - a new Honda Accord with a V6 is worth $29,500.

Choose a used Q45 for the price, but if safety is a priority, you may want to continue shopping. While the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Institute didn't test the Q45, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) did conduct a partial test of the car, and the results weren't stellar. The IIHS gave the Q45 a "marginal" rating in frontal crash tests, citing a potential for head and left leg injury for the driver. No side impact tests were conducted.

From a reliability standpoint, however, the Q45 seems to be a good bet. Due to the Q45's relatively low sales volume, Consumer Reports only had enough data to rate 1997 and 1999 models but based on that alone, there are far worse ways to spend that $26,000 you have laying around. The Q45 receives the magazine's coveted "recommended" rating, which is no small feat for a car loaded with electronic gizmos, which can often be more troublesome in the long-run than the more basic mechanical components of a car. Indeed, trouble spots are few here, with the only major issue stemming from the braking system in 1997 models. The Q45 gets above average ratings for the durability of its electrical system and power equipment, a rarity in any car approaching ten years of age.

Fuel economy is what you'd expect for a large sedan powered by an eight-cylinder engine: expect a Q45 to burn fuel at a rate of about 9.3 L/100 km on the highway, and around 13.5 L/100 km in the city.

Truthfully, if you want a flashy car that people will look at when you drive by, feel free to spend the money on a BMW 7-series or a Mercedes-Benz S-Class. If you want a car that will coddle and isolate you and your passengers from the cruel outside world, pick up a Lexus LS400. But if you want an attractively-priced V8-powered import sedan that won't attract the attention of every around you, then a second-generation Infiniti Q45 is the Q-ship for you.

Pricing

Red Book Pricing (avg. retail) July 2005: