Compare the2018 Infiniti Q50VS 2018 Audi A7

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 A7 doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The Q50 (except Pure) offers an optional Around View® Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The A7 only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

To help make backing safer, the Q50 (except Pure)’s optional cross-path warning system uses wide-angle radar in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. The A7 doesn’t offer a cross-path warning system.

Both the Q50 and the A7 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 and blind spot warning systems.

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 A7’s 4-year/50,000 mile basic warranty expires 10,000 miles sooner.

Infiniti’s powertrain warranty covers the Q50 2 years and 20,000 miles longer than Audi covers the A7. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the A7 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2017 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Infiniti vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Infiniti 23rd in initial quality. With 8 more problems per 100 vehicles, Audi is ranked 26th.

The Q50 Hybrid’s standard 3.5 DOHC V6 hybrid produces 20 more horsepower (360 vs. 340) than the A7’s 3.0 supercharged V6. The Q50 Red Sport 400’s standard 3.0 turbo V6 produces 60 more horsepower (400 vs. 340) and 25 lbs.-ft. more torque (350 vs. 325) than the A7’s 3.0 supercharged V6.

On the EPA test cycle the Q50 Hybrid AWD gets better fuel mileage than the A7 (26 city/30 hwy vs. 21 city/29 hwy).

Regenerative brakes improve the Q50 Hybrid’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The A7 doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The Q50 stops much shorter than the A7:

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 A7 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 A7’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 A7 doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

The Q50 handles at .95 G’s, while the A7 Premium Plus pulls only .84 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the Q50’s turning circle is 2.3 feet tighter than the A7’s (36.7 feet vs. 39 feet). The Q50 AWD’s turning circle is 1.6 feet tighter than the A7’s (37.4 feet vs. 39 feet).

The Infiniti Q50 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 150 to 700 pounds less than the Audi A7.

The Q50 is 6.6 inches shorter than the A7, making the Q50 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Q50 Hybrid uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The A7 doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Q50 has 7.5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the A7 (101.5 vs. 94).

The Q50 has 3.3 inches more front headroom, 3.2 inches more front legroom, .9 inches more rear headroom and .2 inches more rear shoulder room than the A7.

With its sedan body style, valet key, locking rear seatbacks and remote trunk release lockout, the Q50 offers cargo security. The A7’s hatchback body style and non-lockable folding seat defeat cargo security.

The Q50 3.0t offers a remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The A7 doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The Q50 is available in both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations. The A7 doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Infiniti Q50 will be $13291 to $29560 less than for the Audi A7.

The Infiniti Q50 outsold the Audi A7/S7/RS 7 by over six to one during the 2016 model year.