Compare the2018 Infiniti Q50VS 2018 Cadillac XTS

The Q50 (except )’s optional pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The XTS doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

Both the Q50 and the XTS 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 Cadillac XTS:

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

The Q50’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the XTS’ (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 Motor Trend the Q50 Hybrid 3.5 DOHC V6 hybrid is faster than the Cadillac XTS V6:

As tested in Car and Driver the Q50 Red Sport 400 3.0 turbo V6 is faster than the Cadillac XTS (base engine):

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

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

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

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Q50 Hybrid/2.0t’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. (Start/Stop isn’t accounted in present EPA fuel mileage tests.) The XTS doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

A seven-speed automatic is standard on the Infiniti Q50, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a six-speed automatic is available for the XTS.

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

The Q50 stops much shorter than the XTS:

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 XTS’ optional 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 XTS doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

The Q50 has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Q50 flat and controlled during cornering. The XTS’ suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

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 XTS doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

The Q50 handles at .95 G’s, while the XTS AWD pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Q50 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2.1 seconds quicker than the XTS AWD (25.5 seconds @ .76 average G’s vs. 27.6 seconds @ .63 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Q50’s turning circle is 2 feet tighter than the XTS’ (36.7 feet vs. 38.7 feet). The Q50 AWD’s turning circle is 1.3 feet tighter than the XTS’ (37.4 feet vs. 38.7 feet).

The Infiniti Q50 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs up to about 350 pounds less than the Cadillac XTS.

The Q50 is 11.3 inches shorter than the XTS, making the Q50 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Q50 has 1.2 inches more front headroom and 2.4 inches more front legroom than the XTS.

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

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 XTS can only raise the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Q50 has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent vandalism, such as sugar in the tank and fuel theft. The XTS doesn’t offer a locking fuel door.

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

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 XTS is rated higher at a number “8” rate.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Q50 is less expensive to operate than the XTS because it costs $360 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Q50 than the XTS, including $206 less for an alternator, $133 less for front brake pads and $54 less for a fuel pump.

The Infiniti Q50 outsold the Cadillac XTS by almost two to one during the 2016 model year.