Compare the2018 Infiniti Q50VS 2018 Acura TLX

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Q50 (except Pure) offers optional Back-up Collision Intervention which use rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The TLX doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

Both the Q50 and the TLX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height-adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available all-wheel drive, crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Infiniti Q50 is safer than the Acura TLX:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The Q50 comes with a full 4-year/60,000 mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The TLX’s 4-year/50,000 mile basic warranty expires 10,000 miles sooner.

The Q50’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the TLX’s (7 vs. 5 years).

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Q50’s reliability 18 points higher than the TLX.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ April 2017 Auto Issue reports that Infiniti vehicles are more reliable than Acura vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Infiniti 4 places higher in reliability than Acura.

The Q50 has more powerful engines than the TLX:

As tested in Motor Trend the Q50 Hybrid 3.5 DOHC V6 hybrid is faster than the Acura TLX V6:

As tested in Car and Driver the Q50 Red Sport 400 3.0 turbo V6 is faster than the Acura TLX 3.5:

As tested in Car and Driver the Q50 Red Sport 400 is faster than the Acura TLX 2.4 DOHC 4 cyl.:

On the EPA test cycle the Q50 Hybrid gets better fuel mileage than the TLX:

On the EPA test cycle the Q50 2.0t RWD gets better city fuel mileage than the TLX FWD V6 (23 city vs. 20 city).

Regenerative brakes improve the Q50 Hybrid’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The TLX doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The Q50’s standard fuel tank has 2.8 gallons more fuel capacity than the TLX (20 vs. 17.2 gallons).

For better stopping power the Q50 Sport’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the TLX:

The Q50’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the TLX are solid, not vented.

The Q50 stops much shorter than the TLX:

The Q50 Red Sport 400’s 265/35R19 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 35 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the TLX A-Spec’s 40 series tires.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires available on the Q50 can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The TLX doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

The Q50 offers an optional driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads. The TLX’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The Q50’s optional drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The TLX doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Q50’s wheelbase is 2.9 inches longer than on the TLX (112.2 inches vs. 109.3 inches).

The Q50’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (53.5% to 46.5%) than the TLX’s (59.7% to 40.3%). This gives the Q50 more stable handling and braking.

The Q50 handles at .95 G’s, while the TLX V-6 SH-AWD pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Q50 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.5 seconds quicker than the TLX (25.5 seconds @ .76 average G’s vs. 27 seconds @ .74 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Q50’s turning circle is 2.1 feet tighter than the TLX V-6’s (36.7 feet vs. 38.8 feet). The Q50 AWD’s turning circle is 2.1 feet tighter than the TLX SH-AWD’s (37.4 feet vs. 39.5 feet).

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the Q50 is rated a Mid-size car by the EPA, while the TLX is rated a Compact.

The Q50 has 8.2 cubic feet more passenger volume than the TLX (101.5 vs. 93.3).

The Q50 has 3 inches more front headroom, 1.9 inches more front legroom, .8 inches more rear headroom, .6 inches more rear legroom and .7 inches more rear shoulder room than the TLX.

The engine in the Q50 is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the TLX. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because there are no rear spark plugs and the accessory belts are in front.

The Q50’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The TLX’s standard intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Q50’s available headlights were rated “Acceptable” by the IIHS, while the TLX’s headlights are rated “Marginal.”

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Q50 Premium/Sport offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The TLX doesn’t offer cornering lights.

Insurance will cost less for the Q50 owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the Q50 with a number “5” insurance rate while the TLX is rated higher at a number “10” rate.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Q50 is less expensive to operate than the TLX because it costs $54 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost less on the Q50 than the TLX, including $80 less for an alternator, $148 less for a starter and $105 less for a power steering pump.

The Infiniti Q50 outsold the Acura TLX by 6% during the 2016 model year.