Compare the2018 Infiniti Q50VS 2018 Chevrolet Impala

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 Impala doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

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 Impala doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The Q50 offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Impala doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

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 Impala only offers a rear monitor and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the front or sides.

Both the Q50 and the Impala 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 crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems 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 Chevrolet Impala:

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 Impala’s 3-year/36,000 mile basic warranty expires 1 year and 24,000 miles sooner.

Infiniti’s powertrain warranty covers the Q50 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Chevrolet covers the Impala. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the Impala ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The Q50’s corrosion warranty is 1 year and unlimited miles longer than the Impala’s (7/unlimited vs. 6/100,000).

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ April 2017 Auto Issue reports that Infiniti vehicles are more reliable than Chevrolet vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Infiniti 7 places higher in reliability than Chevrolet.

The Q50 has more powerful engines than the Impala:

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

As tested in Car and Driver the Q50 Red Sport 400 3.0 turbo V6 is faster than the Chevrolet Impala 3.6:

As tested in Car and Driver the Q50 Red Sport 400 is faster than the Chevrolet Impala 2.5 DOHC 4 cyl.:

On the EPA test cycle the Q50 Hybrid RWD gets better fuel mileage than the Impala (27 city/32 hwy vs. 22 city/30 hwy).

On the EPA test cycle the Q50 2.0t RWD gets better fuel mileage than the Impala Flex-Fuel V6 (23 city/30 hwy vs. 19 city/28 hwy).

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

The Q50’s standard fuel tank has 1.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the Impala (20 vs. 18.5 gallons).

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 Impala.

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

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 Impala are solid, not vented.

The Q50 stops much shorter than the Impala:

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 Impala Premier’s 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 Impala 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 Impala’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The Q50’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (53.5% to 46.5%) than the Impala’s (59.5% to 40.5%). This gives the Q50 more stable handling and braking.

The Q50 handles at .95 G’s, while the Impala LT pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Q50 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.6 seconds quicker than the Impala Premier (25.5 seconds @ .76 average G’s vs. 27.1 seconds @ .68 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Q50’s turning circle is 2.1 feet tighter than the Impala’s (36.7 feet vs. 38.8 feet). The Q50 AWD’s turning circle is 1.4 feet tighter than the Impala’s (37.4 feet vs. 38.8 feet).

The Q50 is 11.7 inches shorter than the Impala, making the Q50 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Q50 has .3 inches more front headroom and .1 inches more rear headroom than the Impala.

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

The engine in the Q50 is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Impala. 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 front and rear power windows all open or close with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Impala’s passenger windows don’t close automatically.

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 Impala can only operate 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 Impala 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 Impala’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

While driving with high beams on, sensitive light sensors available for the Q50 3.0t/Red Sport 400 detect other vehicles which could be blinded and automatically switch to low beams. The Impala doesn’t offer automatic dimming high beams.

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 Impala doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The Q50’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Chevrolet only offers heated mirrors on the Impala LT/Premier.

When the Q50 with available tilt-down mirrors is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Impala’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

The Q50 has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning is only available on the Impala LT/Premier.

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 Impala 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 Impala because it costs $76 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Q50 than the Impala, including $94 less for front brake pads and $217 less for a fuel pump.