Compare the2018 Infiniti Q50VS 2017 BMW 3 Series Sedan

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Infiniti Q50 are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The BMW 3 Series Sedan doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety tests front crash prevention systems. With a score of 6 points, IIHS rates the Forward Emergency Braking optional in the Q50 as “Superior.” The 3 Series Sedan scores at most only 3 points and is rated only “Advanced.”

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 3 Series Sedan doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

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 3 Series Sedan doesn’t offer a cross-path warning system.

Both the Q50 and the 3 Series Sedan have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, available all-wheel drive, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems and around view monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Infiniti Q50 is safer than the BMW 3 Series Sedan:

	Q50	3 Series Sedan
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	225	232
Neck Injury Risk	24%	36%
Neck Stress	223 lbs.	345 lbs.
Neck Compression	45 lbs.	113 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	185/312 lbs.	321/434 lbs.

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

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 BMW 3 Series Sedan:

	Q50	3 Series Sedan
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	79	258
Chest Movement	.9 inches	1.1 inches
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	196	326
Spine Acceleration	46 G’s	64 G’s
Hip Force	415 lbs.	688 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	190	291
Spine Acceleration	36 G’s	38 G’s

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

Warranty

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 3 Series Sedan’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 BMW covers the 3 Series Sedan. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the 3 Series Sedan ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2016 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Infiniti vehicles are more reliable than BMW vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Infiniti 13th in reliability, above the industry average. With 6 more problems per 100 vehicles, BMW is ranked 14th.

Engine

The Q50 has more powerful engines than the 3 Series Sedan:

	Horsepower	Torque
Q50 2.0t 2.0 turbo 4 cyl.	208 HP	258 lbs.-ft.
Q50 3.0t 3.0 turbo V6	300 HP	295 lbs.-ft.
Q50 Hybrid 3.5 DOHC V6 hybrid	360 HP	n/a
Q50 Red Sport 400 3.0 turbo V6	400 HP	350 lbs.-ft.
320i 2.0 turbo 4 cyl.	180 HP	200 lbs.-ft.
330i 2.0 turbo 4 cyl.	248 HP	258 lbs.-ft.
340i 3.0 turbo 6 cyl.	320 HP	330 lbs.-ft.

As tested in Motor Trend the Q50 Hybrid 3.5 DOHC V6 hybrid is faster than the 330i 2.0 turbo 4 cyl. (automatics tested):

	Q50	3 Series Sedan
Zero to 60 MPH	4.9 sec	5.6 sec
Quarter Mile	13.6 sec	14.2 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	103.6 MPH	97.8 MPH

As tested in Car and Driver the Q50 Red Sport 400 3.0 turbo V6 is faster than the 330i 2.0 turbo 4 cyl. (automatics tested):

	Q50	3 Series Sedan
Zero to 60 MPH	4.5 sec	5.6 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	10.5 sec	14.7 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	5 sec	6.5 sec
Quarter Mile	13 sec	14.2 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	112 MPH	98 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

The Q50 Hybrid’s standard fuel tank has 2.8 gallons more fuel capacity than the 3 Series Sedan Diesel’s standard fuel tank (17.8 vs. 15 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Q50’s standard fuel tank has 4.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the 3 Series Sedan’s standard fuel tank (20 vs. 15.8 gallons).

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Q50’s brake rotors are larger than those on the 3 Series Sedan:

	Q50	Q50 Sport	320i/330i	340i
Front Rotors	12.6 inches	14 inches	12.3 inches	13.4 inches
Rear Rotors	12.1 inches	13.8 inches	11.8 inches	13 inches

The Q50 stops much shorter than the 3 Series Sedan:

	Q50	3 Series Sedan
80 to 0 MPH	223 feet	225 feet	Road and Track
70 to 0 MPH	156 feet	191 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	108 feet	115 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	135 feet	141 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Q50 Red Sport 400’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the 3 Series Sedan (F:245/40R19 & R:265/35R19 vs. F:225/40R19 & R:255/35R19).

Suspension and Handling

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 3 Series Sedan doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Q50’s wheelbase is 1.6 inches longer than on the 3 Series Sedan (112.2 inches vs. 110.6 inches).

The Q50 handles at .95 G’s, while the 330i pulls only .87 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Q50 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the 330i (25.5 seconds @ .76 average G’s vs. 26.3 seconds @ .7 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Q50’s turning circle is .4 feet tighter than the 3 Series Sedan’s (36.7 feet vs. 37.1 feet). The Q50 AWD’s turning circle is 1 foot tighter than the 3 Series Sedan xDrive’s (37.4 feet vs. 38.4 feet).

Chassis

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 3 Series Sedan doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Passenger Space

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the Q50 is rated a Mid-size car by the EPA, while the 3 Series Sedan is rated a Compact.

The Q50 has 5.3 cubic feet more passenger volume than the 3 Series Sedan (101.5 vs. 96.2).

The Q50 has 2.5 inches more front legroom, 1.6 inches more front shoulder room and 1 inch more rear shoulder room than the 3 Series Sedan.

Ergonomics

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 3 Series Sedan doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The Q50 (except 2.0t)’s optional easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The 3 Series Sedan doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

Consumer Reports rated the Q50’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the 3 Series Sedan’s headlights, which were rated “Poor.”

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Q50 has standard extendable sun visors. The 3 Series Sedan doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Economic Advantages

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Q50 is less expensive to operate than the 3 Series Sedan because it costs $63 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost less on the Q50 than the 3 Series Sedan, including $43 less for a water pump, $53 less for an alternator, $73 less for front brake pads, $130 less for a starter and $11 less for fuel injection.

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