Compare the2018 Infiniti Q50VS 2017 Kia K900

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 K900 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 K900 doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

Both the Q50 and the K900 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, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

The Q50’s corrosion warranty is 2 years and unlimited miles longer than the K900’s (7/unlimited vs. 5/100,000).

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 Kia vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Infiniti 13th in reliability, above the industry average. With 17 more problems per 100 vehicles, Kia is ranked 17th.

As tested in Motor Trend the Q50 Hybrid 3.5 DOHC V6 hybrid is faster than the Kia K900 V8:

On the EPA test cycle the Q50 Hybrid RWD gets better fuel mileage than the K900 (27 city/32 hwy vs. 17 city/25 hwy).

On the EPA test cycle the Q50 gets better fuel mileage than the K900:

Regenerative brakes improve the Q50 Hybrid’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The K900 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 K900 doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

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 K900 are solid, not vented.

The Q50 stops much shorter than the K900:

The Q50 Red Sport 400’s 245/40R19 front and 265/35R19 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series front and 35 series rear profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the K900 V8 Luxury’s 45 series front and 40 series rear 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 K900 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 K900’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 K900 doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

The Q50 handles at .90 G’s, while the K900 V8 Luxury pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Q50 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2.8 seconds quicker than the K900 V8 Luxury (25.5 seconds @ .76 average G’s vs. 28.3 seconds @ .61 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Q50’s turning circle is .8 feet tighter than the K900’s (36.7 feet vs. 37.5 feet). The Q50 AWD’s turning circle is .1 feet tighter than the K900’s (37.4 feet vs. 37.5 feet).

The Infiniti Q50 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 400 to 650 pounds less than the Kia K900.

The Q50 is 11 inches shorter than the K900, 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 K900 doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Q50’s optional rear seats fold to accommodate long and bulky cargo. The K900 doesn’t offer folding rear seats, only a ski pass-through.

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 K900 can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

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 K900 doesn’t offer automatic dimming high beams.

The Infiniti Q50 outsold the Kia K900 by over 35 to one during the 2016 model year.