2016 Infiniti Q50

For 2016, the INFINITI Q50 is available in five trims with a price tag starting from $33,950. The sedan sees its rivalry arising from the German luxury brands like the BMW 3 Series, the Audi A4, and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class. The German cars do have a lot of explosions under their belt and are very comfortable for all the occupants inside. Let’s see how well the Q50 goes against these popular German rivals.

INFINITI has also revamped the trim lineup for the 2016 model year. Now they are offering five primary trim levels starting with the base level Q50 2.0T, followed by the 2.0T premium, 3.0T premium, 3.0T Sport, and 3.0T Red Sport 400 trim levels. As the name indicates, the 2.0t trims feature the turbocharged four-banger engine while the 3.0t trims feature the twin-turbocharged V6 setup. The Red Sport 400 trim of the sedan will get reviewed separately.

Which Trim Should you buy?

The INFINITI Q50 puts up a unique proposition in which the base trim is quite potent in terms of standard features and technology. If you are willing to put up with the least powerful engine in the lineup, then the base Q50 should be a pretty good deal considering the price tag. However, if you want a punchier engine, the 3.0 trims will be our recommendation.

INFINITI is offering a myriad of choices for the powertrain with the 2016 Q50. The base engine consists of a turbocharged 2.0 L four-cylinder engine that is good for 208 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. Next up is the 3.0 L Turbocharged V6 engine that puts out 300 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. Lastly, comes the feisty Twin-Turbocharged version of the same 3.0L V6 which puts out 400 hp and 350 lb-ft of torque, which is exclusively available in the Red Sport 400 trim. All of these powerhouses are mated to the same buttery smooth seven-speed automatic transmission. Rear-wheel drive is standard on all trim levels, with the All-Wheel Drive presented as an optional extra for $2,000. 

Looking at the spec sheet, the 2016 Mercedes C-Class dominates this compact executive car segment, but the Q50 makes a way better proposition since it comes in about $5,000 less. The Audi has a better output figure than the INFINITI, but the CVT on the former does lag down the acceleration in the respective runs. When comparing the top speed, luckily all the sedans in the competition offer the same figure of 130 mph.

The new powertrains blessed by INFINITI have helped a lot in terms of fuel economy. The base engine now has an EPA estimated at 26 MPG in combined city and highway driving. This is still quite average for this class. However, what's not average is the fuel tank capacity as the INFINITI Q50 gets a massive 20-gallon fuel tank, which gives it over 500 miles of range on combined highway and city driving, making the compact executive car perfect for long journeys across states. 

Compared to the German rivals, INFINITI falls short with the combined fuel economy figure of 26 MPG, but it does make up for the lower figures with a big 20.0-gallon fuel tank that gives the highest range in the competition. Both BMW and Mercedes take the top spot with a combined mileage of 28 mpg, followed by Audi offering 1 mpg less in the combined section.

INFINITI is essentially the luxury wing of Nissan, so expect good things from the Q50. The Q50 might be compact, but it can seat five people. The front seats have ample room for most, however, taller adults will certainly struggle in the rear due to its sloping roofline. As a matter of fact, the Q50 offers almost SUV levels of front-seat legroom, which is quite impressive for its class. The seats themselves are quite average, and they lack adequate support. The available sport seats provide the bolstering and support needed.

The interior is well-appointed even on the base trim. Nifty features like dual-zone automatic climate control are offered as standard. Also standard is the leatherette upholstery that feels and looks way better than the cloth upholstery available on some rivals. You also get a leather-wrapped steering wheel along with eight-way power-adjustability for the driver. The sedan offers a cargo capacity of 13.5 cubic feet, making it the most practical option.

On the spec sheet, the INFINITI Q50's interior might feel cramped for taller people sitting in the back, however, people won't find much space in its rivals either. The Q50 in fact offers nearly the best amount of legroom and headroom in this segment. It also offers the most shoulder room across both rows of seating. That being said, some of the highlighting features of the interior are:

• Dual-zone automatic climate control
• Eight-way power front seats
• Column-mounted shift paddles
• Leatherette (premium vinyl) upholstery
• Rear air vents

What’s there to keep you entertained?

The standard infotainment system on the INFINITI Q50 consists of two separate screens. There is an 8-inch upper touchscreen and a 7-inch lower touchscreen nicely tucked into the central infotainment stack. The 8-inch screen is the main infotainment hub, while the 7-inch touch screen handles in-car controls like climate control. The system runs the latest INFINITI InTouch system, which also boasts voice recognition capability. Other standard features include: 

• HD Radio
• Satellite radio
• Two USB ports
• Smartphone app integration
• Six-speaker setup 
• Upgradable Bose 14-speaker premium audio system 

Since its debut in 2013, the INFINITI Q50 has largely stayed the same. The 2016 model year was supposed to be the mid-cycle refresh, which should have included upgraded exterior styling, but we guess Nissan put all their focus into revamping the powertrains that they completely neglected the exterior redesign. The Q50 is still the same from the outside. This is not all bad because INFINITI definitely has a good road presence, which is enforced by its wide shoulder lines and aggressive front-end design. 

All of these sedans look pretty, however, we reckon that the Q50 lacks the pizzaz that the German compact executive cars possess. The Q50 looks bigger and bolder, but it is less of a head turner compared to the exterior designs on offer by the German rivals. The wheelbase is longer on the Q50, but it is very maneuverable in the city. That said, some of the best exterior features are:

• 17-inch alloy wheels
• LED fog lights 
• LED taillights
• Automatic LED headlights
• Heated mirrors
• Dual chrome exhaust tips
• Upgradable 19-inch wheels
• Upgradable bigger brakes
• Upgradable adjustable suspension dampers

The INFINITI Q50 has received excellent safety ratings across various testing campaigns. This is due to the excellent chassis design by Nissan that goes by the name of Nissan FM Platform. FM stands for front midships, which denotes that the center of mass of the engine is located behind the front axle centerline. Nissan has nearly achieved a perfect 50:50 weight distribution with the Q50. The chassis might be safe, but the INFINITI does not come standard with any active safety features, but that said, some of the highlighting ones are:

• Automatic Collision Notification 
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Full-Speed Adaptive Cruise Control
• Forward Collision Warning with Emergency Braking
• Rear parking sensors and backup collision intervention
• Lane Departure Warning and Lane Keeping Assist
• Active Lane Control

You should consider the 2016 INFINITI Q50 if you are looking for a well-rounded car in this compact executive sedan space. There are a lot of things that are going for the Q50 like its generous interior room and various powertrains to choose from. However, Nissan has failed to cover all the bases, and the Q50 lacks overall refinement and safety technology when compared with the complete packages offered by the Germans in the segment.