Even a few months and 5,000 miles into my year with the Q60, I’m still checking out all it has to offer. But one thing that jumped out at me almost immediately, that I frankly find perplexing, is the poor resolution of the Infiniti’s cameras.
It’s odd because Infiniti really moved the needle on this kind of technology in 2007 with its awesome Around View Monitor multi-camera system that still impresses to this day. So it’s disappointing to see this high-powered graphic display with a subpar image. In daylight the vehicle’s cameras are pretty good and get the job done, but at night they’re awful, bordering on pointless. Usually a vehicle’s rear lights help illuminate the area behind the car enough for the camera to get a good image, but not with the Q60. Maybe the rear design doesn’t focus the light where it needs to be, but images from the rear and side monitors oftentimes appear pitch black.
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Also, the screen seems to be an older-generation model; I’ve seen better screens in vehicles decidedly not in the luxury segment. For example, the Chrysler Pacifica and Volkswagen Atlas have beautifully crisp and vibrant screens, and their images really pop.
Maybe I’m spoiled, but I don’t think an Infiniti owner should be jealous of a minivan driver when it comes to elegance and presentation.
Despite the resolution, the addition of a side camera helps keep the tires free from curb scuff, and the front cam stops me from scraping the bumper on parking bumps, a real concern with such a low-sitting car. For those, I’m grateful. By the way, I predict forward cameras are an emerging front in the infotainment arms race. Why they aren’t in all trucks is a real safety miss, but I digress.