The Detroit News's view

In a sea of stylish luxury sedans, the Infiniti Q45 has made few waves. For 1999, Nissan Motor Co. has tried to jazz up its flagship with a few visual tweaks inside and out, and only modest mechanical alterations. Even the top-of-the-line Touring model that we drove falls short of the class leaders, in terms of performance, style and value.

If you can tell we’re not jumping up and down about this $52,215 test car, you’re right.

He: Nissan hasn’t done well at all with this new-style Q45. Sales last year plunged to 8,000 units, from 10,000 the previous year, and nearly every competitor is outselling Infiniti by a handy margin. I have to admit that I was a bit disappointed when Nissan decided to change the Q45 several years ago to a more conservative, luxury-oriented model, from the aggressive and sporty original that I loved so well. But I’ve grown to like this new Q. The ride quality is outstanding, even on the Touring model we drove, with the low-aspect-ratio 17-inch tires. And the handling is still quite impressive for the class.

She: Gee, honey, that’s really nice, but my problem is, I didn’t feel like I was in a $52,000 car.

He: That’s OK, sweetheart. I’ve just ordered your new Sentra. Think you can tell the difference?

She: I know you think I’m an idiot. But I took economics in college. And I actually went back this week and revived some old notes from my days at Michigan State. Listen. There was an old crank like me back in the 19th century. He wrote The Theory of the Leisure Class. I won’t bore you with all the details, but he talked about conspicuous consumption. You know, having so much money that you can waste it. That stuck in my mind as I was driving around in the Q45.

He: You didn’t raise this issue when we were testing the fancy Volvo or the Acura or even the $40,000 Ford Expedition.

She: I totally expected you to say that. I just reached the breaking point with a $52,000 car on which I have to pay $420 extra for heated seats and $120 for splash guards. Think about it. You’d have to make at least $200,000 a year to justify buying this car. And there are so many other better buys, from the Cadillac Seville to the Lincoln Continental, that I cannot in good conscience tell people to run right out and buy this Japanese vehicle.

He: You make it sound like you don’t get anything for your 50 grand. How about real upscale mechanical features, such as four-wheel power disc brakes with anti-lock, speed-sensitive power steering, electronically adjustable suspension, electronic traction control and a viscous limited-slip differential? Inside, you get all the luxury touches you’d expect, including leather upholstery, wood trim, a killer 200-watt Bose sound system with cassette and CD, full power accessories and an automatic climate-control system with micro filtration. Sounds like a fine luxury car to me.

She: Well, to me, outside of the jewelry-store analog clock in the dashboard, I thought the inside of the Q45 was bland. And outside, it lacks the high style of a Jaguar, or even a Lincoln. OK, here’s how my crazy mind works. If I really had to justify buying the Q, I would say, think of it like a cocktail dress. There are so few of them on the road, you won’t see yourself coming or going. But for my money, there are better buys out there.

He: I agree that domestic luxury cars such as the Continental are up to $10,000 less expensive than the Q. The Lincoln even looks sexier than the Infiniti. But it all boils down to a matter of personal taste. For most people, the choice of $50,000 luxury cars is going to be a moot issue. But if you’ve got the dough, I don’t think this is a bad choice.

She: Especially if engine power isn’t high on your list.

He: Nissan actually put a smaller, less powerful engine into the Q when they redesigned it. The 4.1-liter V-8 makes 266 horsepower, which is considerably less than you get in competitors such as the S lle, the XJ8, the BMW 540i and the Mercedes-Benz E430. Even the Lexus LS 400 has more power. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying the Q45 is a bad car. It’s just not as good as the best cars in the class.