By Kelly Foss, MyCarData.com

INFINITI Q70 | Starting Price: $49,000

Infiniti, the luxury brand of Nissan, recently refined the naming conventions for its models. The “QX”s are now the SUV’s and the “Q”s are the sedans. My recent test vehicle was the Infiniti Q70 which is the replacement for the luxury midsize Infiniti M.

The Q70 is a well-executed vehicle that would compare with an E Class Mercedes, a BMW 5 series or a Lexus GS.

This Q has a very seductive body shape yet it’s not one of those “hey, look at me” garish type of machines. It has the ability to glide down the road un-noticed as it effectively delivers driving experience to those who appreciate it… its owners. Even the exterior color palette reinforces this approach with white being the most attention-getting color offered.

This understated luxury is somewhat more evident on the interior. The shapes and colors are very well designed and bespeak a subtle yet high level of luxury. The seating is very comfortable and sufficiently roomy. The anticipated Q70L provides an additional 5.9 inches of length for rear passengers. The upgraded Bose audio package was excellent and the navigation system was informative and easy to use.

My test car was a Q70 rear wheel drive with the 5.6 V8 engine. This high trim level car also came equipped with a Technology Package providing lane departure warning, blind spot intervention, forward collision warning etc. The Sport Package included 20-inch wheels, sport suspension, super brakes and aluminum paddle shifter that are attached to the steering column and not the steering wheel. With all this finery, our Q70 was priced at $72,260, a handsome sum.

The Q70 is offered in a 330 horsepower 3.7 V6, at 420 horsepower 5.6 V8 and a V6 based hybrid model. This is a rear wheel drive luxury sport sedan and both the 3.7 and the 5.6 are offered with an optional all-wheel drive package. All models are equipped with a 7 speed automatic transmission.

Some luxury sport sedans are so soft and squishy that there is a disconnect between what the car is doing and what the driver senses. The Q70 is not afflicted by any such maladies. The driver has excellent awareness of what is going on with this vehicle and excellent control of it. Part of that responsiveness is due to the Drive Mode Selector positioned on the center console. A twist of the dial changes the car’s attitude and feel from ECO to Snow to Standard to Sport. I quite like the Sport mode myself.

The car talks to the driver and happily responds to commands. The result is a very compelling combination of a luxury sedan that is not merely a straight- line freeway cruiser. Rather, this car is responsive and very rewarding as an all-around driver’s car.

All told the Infiniti Q70 is a very nice automobile with well-deserved high owner satisfaction ratings.

SUBARU IMPREZA| Starting Price: $17,900

Subaru has successfully been building a loyal customer following for years. The company’s highly rated vehicles are known for their inclement weather off-road capabilities and their reliability. The Impreza compact sedan was recently redesigned and offers a very broad array of choices. So how does the Impreza compare with the pillars of the compact sedan world, the Honda Civic and the Toyota Corolla? The answer is, quite well actually.

Being a Subaru, the Impreza starts out life designed and equipped differently from other vehicles in its class. The biggest difference is the drivetrain. All Imprezas are equipped with Subaru’s famous all-wheel drive system. That means from the same vehicle platform and drivetrain, Subaru can offer a broad array of vehicles. The “standard” Impreza competes with most compact sedans except that it comes standard with a highly capable all-wheel drive system. The fuel economy is just a touch lower due to the extra equipment but the car can do things and go places that most of its competitors can’t. The highly capable off-road XV Crosstrek which is also introducing hybrids to the Subaru line is an Impreza derivative. Additionally two Impreza performance models — the WRX and the WRX STi — are also offered.

Another significant differentiator is Subaru’s horizontally opposed, flat 4 cylinder engine. This design provides more power and because the engine is flat and sits low, the car has a lower center of gravity and therefore better handling.

The Impreza is offered in either a 4 door sedan or a 5 door hatchback. Trim levels include base, premium and luxury. All models come with either a 5 speed manual or a Linetronic CVT automatic transmission to handle the power. The “standard” and XV Crosstrek Imprezas are fitted with a 2.0 liter 148 horsepower 4 cylinder engine. The performance WRX models have a turbo and a power rating of 265 horsepower. The WRX STi, which is basically a street legal rally car and has a more aggressively tuned engine, is a turbocharged 2.5 liter with 305 horsepower.

My test WRX STi was almost more fun than the law allows. This compact was solid, quiet roomy and had a good-sized trunk. The very visible air scoop on the hood is not just cosmetic — it actually blows air right down onto a huge intercooler which feeds the turbocharger. The large rectangular wing spoiler on the trunk, however, is over-the-top for my liking and provides no benefit unless you’re traveling at “I’m going to jail when they catch me” speeds. The body is very stiff, the semi racing Dunlop tires grip and when the turbo spools up the car will rocket to 60 miles an hour in 4.6 seconds… fast! Amazingly though, the car is supple and very tractable in daily driving and is fun to drive fast or slow. For the suburban enthusiast, however, the plain WRX may be a better choice as it’s more civilized and can be had with an automatic transmission.

I’ve driven all the Imprezas and every one of them excels in its niche.

Visit MyCarData.com for more information on these models.