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When it's time to buy yourself a used luxury performance coupe, you'll most likely look at what the Germans have to offer. The BMW 4 Series and the Audi S5 are good contenders, and the most popular Japanese option in this equation is, arguably, the Lexus RC. You can also search for a Mercedes-Benz C-Class coupe, as it was only discontinued three years ago, meaning there are plenty of lightly used exampleson the secondhand market.
However, there's another luxury performance coupe that received far less attention than the ones mentioned above. It's the Infiniti Q60 Red Sport 400, and it packs quite a lot of punch. More than enough, in fact, to give those aforementioned models a proper run for their money. Thanks to the magic of depreciation, the Q60 Red Sport 400 currently sits as one of the strongest performance luxury two-door buys on the used market, largely because buyers overlooked the model when it was new.
Infiniti Built It, And No One Noticed
Just a few years ago, the Q60 Red Sport 400 sat as Infiniti's flagship performance coupe. The Q60 arrived in 2013 as a replacement for the outgoing G-series line of Infiniti sedans and coupes. Come 2016, the Red Sport 400 iteration entered the fold, taking the top spot in the model's lineup thanks to its power and a variety of performance-oriented components and upgrades.
The crux of its performance potential lies in its engine: the Nissan VR30DDTT twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6. The mill has advanced features such as an intake and oil pan made of lightweight resin, and variable valve timing on both the intake and exhaust valves. The pair of direct-mount turbochargers hook up to an electronic wastegate and an integrated exhaust manifold. The powerplant also sports two water pumps and two intercoolers. A choice between rear or all-wheel drive is available, and a seven-speed automatic transmission handles the gear changes.
It makes 400 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque. The all-wheel-drive model can reach 60 miles per hour in 4.5 seconds and a limited top speed of 155 miles per hour.
More engineering went into making the Q60 Red Sport 400 a German performance contender than just its engine. For example, the suspension system is tuned and uses Infiniti's Dynamic Digital Suspension (DDS), which allows the car to constantly monitor numerous parameters such as bounce, roll, and pitch rates and adjust accordingly. Its brakes are also enlarged to help better handle the Red Sport's 400 hp. In addition, the chassis is stiffened with extra reinforcements, and the steering is quicker and heavier. The wheels are staggered in size, with the rear axle receiving larger, 20-inch rims and the front making do with 19-inch units.
How It Stacks Up
When it comes to straight-line speed, the 400-hp Infiniti Q60 Red Sport 400 beats both the 311-hp Lexus RC 350 and the 382-hp BMW M440i in sheer power output. However, the Infiniti is often cited as being much more focused on straight-line speed and value, since its chassis is less comfortable on a track than in the BMW or Lexus.
Infiniti wanted to engineer the Q60 Red Sport 400 to be as formidable a contender as possible against the Germans. After all, when we think of luxury performance sedans or coupes, we naturally think of German automakers, and Infiniti was acutely aware of this. However, even with its performance-oriented nature, folks largely ignored the Q60 when it was new. But the reason behind the poor sales wasn't because the coupe couldn't perform.
The Germans Won The Popularity Contest
The luxury performance-coupe market is a tight-knit community, and only a couple of brands are typically "allowed" in. Of course, BMW takes the top spot with multiple high-octane coupes on their model list, such as the 4 Series, one of the Q60 Red Sport 400's direct competitors. The Lexus RC is also in the club, but it's more like the Bimmer's sidekick, as it's nowhere near as popular among the enthusiasts who frequent the circle.
While the Q60 Red Sport 400 was in production, Infiniti was suffering from a sales lull and a dulling of the performance side of its brand identity. Back in the 2000s and very early 2010s, Infiniti was known for its sporty coupes and sedans, namely those in its G-series. However, once the older naming system was phased out in favor of the "Q" system, things became confusing.
Compounding that is Infiniti's rather blatant decision to ignore its sedan, the Q50, and coupe in favor of its SUVs. This meant both the Q50 and Q60 suffered with dated styling, out-of-touch infotainment systems and interiors, and an extreme lack of advertising. As the years wore on, more folks forgot about the Q60 and its Red Sport 400 grade. The brand had become a luxury SUV marque, and the traditional sedan and coupe were forgotten.
Luckily, for those of you who are bargain-minded and interested in a Q60 Red Sport 400, the fact that it was pushed out and forgotten is a good thing.
Depreciation Worked In Our Favor
When the Infiniti Q60 Red Sport 400 first hit the market in 2016, it cost $51,300 for the rear-drive model, and all-wheel drive was available for $2,000 more. By the final model year, 2022, that MSRP rose to $58,200. However, its price has fallen dramatically nowadays. The 2017 models typically fetch around $19,920, according to Kelley Blue Book. Final model-year examples usually sell for around $38,820. Again, its average rate of depreciation is around 33% over three years. A BMW 2027 M440i with 386 hp retails for $67,100...
Bringing back its two main competitors, the BMW 4 Series and the Lexus RC, the Infiniti's depreciation rate slots between the two. The 4 Series, for example, is rated 7.9 out of 10 for retained value by iSeeCars, whereas the Infiniti is rated 8.1 out of 10. However, the Lexus holds its value much better, with a retained value score of 8.9 out of 10.
What To Look Out For & Average Costs
If its average price and power output have enticed you to consider buying a Q60 Red Sport 400, there are some real-world costs to consider before pulling the trigger. For starters, insurance. On average, a Q60 Red Sport 400 has an insurance premium of $283 per month. As for maintenance, RepairPal reports an average annual cost of around $746 per year, which is cheaper than the BMW 4 Series but more expensive than the Lexus RC. As for reliability, Kelley Blue Book's consumer reviews section places the Q60 as a whole with an exceptional 4.7 out of 5 rating.
If you're searching for the absolute best value, it's best to look for models built between 2018 and 2020. That way, you avoid some potential first model-year issues, but still benefit from a good chunk of depreciation by staying away from the four- and five-year-old examples.
The Q60 Red Sport 400 Is A Hidden... Gem?
As for whether the Infiniti Q60 Red Sport is a sleeper coupe, the answer is a resounding yes. From any angle, unless you spot the red brake calipers, it looks like any other Q60. The 400-horsepower engine also beats out some of its competition, and it's relatively rare compared to those adversaries, making the Red Sport a unique model to see on the road in the first place.
Luckily, it just made it underneath the collector car market's radar. It wasn't a track-day legend like the BMW, or a full-blooded sporty grand tourer like the Lexus can be. The Q60 Red Sport 400 took a middle-of-the-road position, making it neither here nor there in the grand scheme of things. This means the car's used price is not inflated by collectors' desires.
The Q60 wasn't a failed model by any means, the Infiniti just tried to straddle too much of the middle, leaving it with nowhere to lean into. Because of this, the model is currently one of the best used luxury performance coupe buys on the market and, as of right now, few know about it.
Sources: Infiniti, BMW, Lexus, MotorMatchup.com, Car and Driver, RepairPal.com, iSeeCars.com, Kelley Blue Book, Insurance.com.
