Infiniti QX70 SUV (2013-2017)

The Infiniti QX70 (previously the Infiniti FX) is a large car with big engines and high running costs. There isn't a slow model in the range and stiff suspension means it corners well, too, but it's worth taking a test drive just to see if the ride is soft enough for you to live with on a daily basis.

Lagre dimensions and a heavy weight are a recipe for high running costs. The worst offender in the range is the 5.0-litre S Premium, which manages to return only 20.9mpg in fuel economy and emits a whopping 316g/km of CO2. The most efficient is the 3.0-litre diesel (below), but even that only manages 32.8mpg and still pumps out 225g/km of CO2 for a £295 annual road-tax bill.

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Both petrol models will cost you £505 a year in road tax thanks to those high CO2 emissions. Servicing and maintenance will be less expensive than you'd think thanks to Infiniti's Nissan connection, though.

All versions of the QX70 are pretty fast. In the petrol corner, you can take your pick from a 3.7-litre V6 or a 5.0-litre V8, which accelerate the car from 0-62mph in 5.8 and 6.8 seconds respectively. The 3.0-litre diesel V6 is slower than both petrols and quite a lot noisier, but inevitably has the lowest running costs.

All models come with an effective seven-speed automatic gearbox that changes up and down through the gears quickly and smoothly – but you can take over yourself using paddles mounted behind the steering wheel if you prefer more control. The QX70 tackles corners well for a car of its size and height thanks to a clever four-wheel-steering system and four-wheel drive.

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Despite its high centre of gravity, the car tends not to lean into corners, so there isn't very much body roll. However, the steering is a little numb and the ride a bit too firm at times.

The QX70 is focused on being a sporty luxury car, so occupants need to be ready for a fairly hard ride. Some models come with huge 21-inch alloy wheels that further dent ride comfort. In contrast, the interior is a very pleasant place to be, with comfortable heated and cooled seats that can also be fitted with a massage function. General wind, road and tyre noise is kept to a minimum, but while the petrol models are nice and quiet, the diesel engine can be a bit rattly on the go.

Any car that looks as sporty as the QX70 does must make practicality compromises inside. That means a 410-litre boot with the rear seats in place, which is over 100 litres less than you get in either a Porsche Cayenne or BMW X6. Lower the split-folding rear seats flat and that capacity expands to 1,305 litres – but this is still unimpressive for a big car like the QX70.

The interior is thankfully spacious enough to comfortably seat four adults, although headroom isn't the best. Legroom is fine, however, and the back seats can be reclined for extra comfort.

The QX70 also has 'scratch shield' paint, but you'd have to be very reckless indeed to actually scratch it, as there's a range of cameras fitted to the front, back and sides of the car giving you an all-around view while parking.

With Infiniti being the luxury arm of Nissan – similar to Lexus being Toyota's upmarket brand – all of its engines have been tried and tested across the Nissan range. There have been no major faults or recalls reported, either. In safety terms, the QX70 secured the maximum five-star rating in the independent Euro NCAP crash test. It's equipped with driver and passenger airbags and electronic stability control as standard. There's also the option of adding more safety equipment, including lane-keeping assistance and an intelligent braking system that can brake the car without driver intervention. Interior quality is also pretty impressive, but some materials lack the upmarket feel of some premium rivals.

All Infinitis are packed with standard equipment, so even the entry-level QX70 is decked out with an impressive range of accessories and gadgets. The list includes a reversing camera, cruise control, air-conditioning, heated and cooled leather seats and 20-inch alloys.

If you spend a bit more, you'll get cruise control with automatic braking, sat nav and lane-departure prevention. But be warned – depreciation is very high, so the QX70's resale value on the used-car market is poor.