Compare the2018 Infiniti Q50VS 2018 Cadillac CTS

Both the Q50 and the CTS 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, 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 Cadillac CTS:

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

The Q50’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the CTS’ (7 vs. 6 years).

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 Cadillac vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Infiniti 13th in reliability, above the industry average. With 9 more problems per 100 vehicles, Cadillac is ranked 15th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ April 2017 Auto Issue reports that Infiniti vehicles are more reliable than Cadillac vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Infiniti 13 places higher in reliability than Cadillac.

As tested in Car and Driver the Q50 Red Sport 400 3.0 turbo V6 is faster than the CTS V-Sport 3.6 turbo V6:

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

On the EPA test cycle the Q50 RWD gets better fuel mileage than the CTS RWD:

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

The Q50’s standard fuel tank has a gallon more fuel capacity than the CTS (20 vs. 19 gallons).

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

The Q50 stops shorter than the CTS:

The Q50 Red Sport 400 RWD offers an optional space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the CTS; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed.

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 CTS doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

The Q50 handles at .95 G’s, while the CTS Premium pulls only .83 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Q50 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.3 seconds quicker than the CTS Luxury AWD (25.5 seconds @ .76 average G’s vs. 26.8 seconds @ .65 average G’s).

The Q50 is 5.9 inches shorter than the CTS, making the Q50 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Q50 has 4.5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the CTS (101.5 vs. 97).

If the windows are left down on the Q50 the driver can raise them all using the key in the outside lock cylinder. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from outside the vehicle using the key in the outside lock cylinder or the keyless remote. The driver of the CTS can only raise the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

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 CTS’ standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

Consumer Reports rated the Q50’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the CTS’ headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

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 CTS 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 CTS because it costs $297 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Q50 than the CTS, including $637 less for an alternator, $102 less for front brake pads and $417 less for a fuel pump.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Infiniti Q50 will be $8070 to $8942 less than for the Cadillac CTS.

The Infiniti Q50 outsold the Cadillac CTS by over two to one during the 2016 model year.