It’s not that the engine isn’t strong – 208 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque are decent figures in a vacuum – it’s that the Q50 doesn’t comport itself with the hustle and speed of many of its four-cylinder luxury-sedan rivals.

I really want more liveliness and urgency out of the 2.0-liter turbo-four.

With relatively large sidewalls (225/55R17 tires) providing lots of squish, harsh impacts rarely make it from pavement to passengers. The ride quality is especially notable, and I thank, in part, the 17-inch wheels.

There’s plenty of sound deadening to keep the cabin quiet, and combined with the soft ride, any freeway journey feels shorter than it really is in this car.

Like any good luxury car, the Q50 keeps its occupants as happy as if they weren’t in a car at all.

There’s just enough visual flair to grab attention, even if the Q50 isn’t the most dramatically styled luxury sedan out there. This car transmits a luxurious vibe and has a wide, planted stance. In the three years since, however, I’ve come around to appreciate its understated curves and creases. When the car was revealed at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show, I found the Q50 soft, bulbous, and uninspiring.

The Q50’s design has grown on me, to the point where I now actually quite like this Hagane Blue tester’s appearance.There’s a reassuring heft and predictability to the Infiniti’s system I can always tell exactly how the front wheels will respond to my input, with weighting and resistance that accurately relays information about grip and cornering speed. Fortunately, this 2.0t model has an old-school electro-mechanical power steering mechanism. I’ve never liked the glitchy, often-recalled, and horrifically artificial Direct Adaptive Steer system in other versions of the Q50. Three cheers for realistic steering feel.This particular test car, a 2.0t Premium AWD model, is a perfectly nice luxury sedan, but always leaves me wanting just a little bit more in several areas. Like the Three Bears of Goldilocks, I haven’t yet found a Q50 that is just right.

This tamer, less powerful model appeases my need for realistic steering feel and heft, but leaves me wanting a livelier powertrain. When it was loaded up with its hottest engine in Red Sport 400 trim, I loved the power but hated the steering and handling.

You’ve got to pity the Infiniti Q50’s struggle to please my fickle tastes.

Q50 bustime