We review the Infiniti Q50S Hybrid AWD from price to economy and all its features

FORMULA ONE is about hybrid technology, so what better way to test the new Infiniti Q50S Hybrid than on an 800 mile round trip to Spa for the Belgium GP.

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As title sponsors to the Red Bull Racing F1 team, unlike the rest of Europe, I do get to see models of the Japanese luxury car brand on a regular basis.

But on the UK high streets, the 25-year old brand is still largely unknown and this £47,520 AWD model certainly had people both confused and impressed.

However, this executive saloon is up against some stiff competition that has hammered the German autobahns for years.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS?

At first, the styling is unspectacular, a bit like the cheaper Jaguar XF. In fact, on first sight my unimpressed passenger said: "Is that it?". But on closer inspection you notice the subtle styling that hints that this is not an entry model Mercedes-wannabe.

I like the aggressive front lights, spotlights and black grill, plus the chrome Infiniti badge, that still has people guessing. The 19" triple-spoke wheel also look excellent wrapped in low-profile tyres.

Let's put it this way, the man in the P&O ticket booth at Dover was suitably impressed. Doesn't sound like much of an endorsement, does it? Just remember he sees hundreds of cars pass through each day. The Infiniti's styling is modest, not all shouty, shouty.

HOW DOES IT DRIVE?

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Understated … no Mercedes-wannabe

The 3.5litre V6 petrol engine and electric motor worked beautifully and made light work of the miles.

The endless gadgets are designed to make life easier and the Intelligent Cruise Control is very good, if somewhat of an odd sensation. It detects if a car in front of your is slowing and then brakes accordingly before returning you to speed once the car in front has started moving.

The seven-speed automatic gearbox can be controlled by F1-inspired paddle shift while the car can quickly be switched into Eco, Standard or Sport mode, depending on how you fancy driving. It does not stop there as there are cameras and sonar around the car to help you park it.

The Q50S Hybrid AWD I had delivered 364hp which made it a doddle to drive on the motorways with 0-62 achieved in 5.4seconds and top speed limited to 155mph like its German counterparts.

But while the technology was impressive enough to give you an on-demand thud in the kidneys, it's still not especially good on the wallet. I found that I averaged around 34mpg although Infiniti say their diesel base model will deliver up to 64.2mpg.

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WHAT'S IT LIKE INSIDE?

Perhaps Infiniti's biggest strength is loading this top of the range model with gadgets.

The Japanese designers look like they have gone mad with the company's credit card in a branch of Currys - placing not one but two 8" and 7" touchscreens in the centre of the console. Air-vents are ruthlessly swept to the side of the dashboard.

The Smartphone generation will love the ability to hook-up the car to their Facebook account and download apps. Button-pressers will enjoy the G-force display charting the car's movement through corners. The frugal will like the (totally pointless and nerdy) Eco Drive Report, which marks your driving style out of 100.

The seats are comfortable and it is easy and quick to find a good driving position. There is plenty of room in the back seats.

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Endless gadgets … Infiniti plays to its strengths

But sadly, it is not all good news. As anyone with an iPad or tablet will tell you, fingerprints on the screen is a nightmare. It's even worse in the Infiniti as the centre dash is covered in more grubby paw-prints like a toddler's highchair.

The SatNav — which comes as part as the £2,760 Multimedia pack — is clunky and needs much refinement. The dash display too quickly becomes tiresome. The graphic of the car's energy supply and battery use gets annoying and, despite studying the 274-page manual, I'm still at a loss to discover what the intriguing "chassis control" actually does.

The boot is also smaller than expected, due to the hybrid's battery pack, meaning there is space for just one set of golf clubs.

VERDICT

There is no doubt that this model is incredibly clever. The on-demand horsepower makes it great fun to drive and it stocked full of technology that will leave you plenty to play with while stuck in a jam.

It is brilliantly understated and low sales figures across Europe mean it will remain an exclusive option. But at over £47,000 it is not cheap. Plus you could grow tired of explaining to people that it is a posh Nissan in the same way a Lexus is a posh Toyota.

But the biggest problem of all is its established rivals at BMW, Mercedes and Audi, who are currently hogging the market.