Compare the2018 Infiniti Q50VS 2017 Lexus CT200h

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 CT200h scores 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 CT200h 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 CT200h doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

The Q50 (except 2.0t)’s optional lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. The CT200h doesn’t offer a lane departure warning system.

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 CT200h only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

The Q50 (except Pure)’s optional blind spot warning system uses digital cameras monitored by computer to alert the driver to moving objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them and moves the vehicle back into its lane. The CT200h doesn’t offer a system to reveal objects in the driver’s blind spots.

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 CT200h doesn’t offer a cross-path warning system.

Both the Q50 and the CT200h 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 and daytime running lights.

The Infiniti Q50 weighs 541 to 1057 pounds more than the Lexus CT200h. The NHTSA advises that heavier cars are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts. Crosswinds also affect lighter cars more.

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 CT200h’s 4-year/50,000 mile basic warranty expires 10,000 miles sooner.

The Q50’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the CT200h’s (7 vs. 6 years).

The Q50 2.0t’s standard 2.0 turbo 4 cyl. produces 74 more horsepower (208 vs. 134) and 105 lbs.-ft. more torque (258 vs. 153) than the CT200h’s 1.8 DOHC 4 cyl. hybrid. The Q50 3.0t’s standard 3.0 turbo V6 produces 166 more horsepower (300 vs. 134) and 142 lbs.-ft. more torque (295 vs. 153) than the CT200h’s 1.8 DOHC 4 cyl. hybrid. The Q50 Hybrid’s standard 3.5 DOHC V6 hybrid produces 226 more horsepower (360 vs. 134) than the CT200h’s 1.8 DOHC 4 cyl. hybrid. The Q50 Red Sport 400’s standard 3.0 turbo V6 produces 266 more horsepower (400 vs. 134) and 197 lbs.-ft. more torque (350 vs. 153) than the CT200h’s 1.8 DOHC 4 cyl. hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the Q50 Hybrid 3.5 DOHC V6 hybrid is faster than the Lexus CT200h:

As tested in Car and Driver the Q50 Red Sport 400 3.0 turbo V6 is faster than the Lexus CT200h (base engine):

The Q50 Hybrid’s standard fuel tank has 5.9 gallons more fuel capacity than the CT200h (17.8 vs. 11.9 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Q50’s standard fuel tank has 8.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the CT200h (20 vs. 11.9 gallons).

For better stopping power the Q50’s brake rotors are larger than those on the CT200h:

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 CT200h are solid, not vented.

The Q50 stops much shorter than the CT200h:

For better traction, the Q50 has larger standard tires than the CT200h (225/55R17 vs. 215/45R17). The Q50 Red Sport 400’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the CT200h (F:245/40R19 & R:265/35R19 vs. 215/45R17).

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 CT200h’s 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Q50 offers optional 19-inch wheels. The CT200h’s largest wheels are only 17-inches.

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 CT200h 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 CT200h’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 CT200h doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Q50’s wheelbase is 9.8 inches longer than on the CT200h (112.2 inches vs. 102.4 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Q50 is .5 inches wider in the front and 1.7 inches wider in the rear than the track on the CT200h.

The Q50’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (53.5% to 46.5%) than the CT200h’s (58.8% to 41.2%). This gives the Q50 more stable handling and braking.

The Q50 handles at .95 G’s, while the CT200h pulls only .83 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

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 CT200h doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the Q50 is rated a Mid-size car by the EPA, while the CT200h is rated a Compact.

The Q50 has 15.4 cubic feet more passenger volume than the CT200h (101.5 vs. 86.1).

The Q50 has 1.8 inches more front headroom, 2.4 inches more front legroom, .2 inches more front hip room, 2.8 inches more front shoulder room, .5 inches more rear headroom, 2.2 inches more rear legroom, .7 inches more rear hip room and 3.5 inches more rear shoulder room than the CT200h.

With its sedan body style, valet key, locking rear seatbacks and remote trunk release lockout, the Q50 offers cargo security. The CT200h’s hatchback body style, non-lockable folding seat and non-lockable remote release defeat cargo security.

The Q50 uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The CT200h uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

The engine in the Q50 is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the CT200h. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

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 CT200h doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

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 CT200h’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Q50’s available headlights were rated “Acceptable” by the IIHS, while the CT200h’s headlights are rated “Poor.”

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 CT200h 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 CT200h doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The Q50’s power mirror controls are mounted on the armrest for easy access. The CT200h’s power mirror controls are on the dash, hidden behind the steering wheel, where they are awkward to manipulate.

On extremely cold Winter days, the Q50’s optional (except Pure) heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the car heater warms up. The CT200h doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

The Q50 has a standard center folding armrest for the rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable. The CT200h doesn’t offer a rear seat center armrest.

Both the Q50 and the CT200h offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Q50 has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The CT200h doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Q50 is less expensive to operate than the CT200h because typical repairs cost much less on the Q50 than the CT200h, including $16 less for a water pump, $37 less for fuel injection and $360 less for a timing belt/chain.

The Infiniti Q50 outsold the Lexus CT200h by over four to one during the 2016 model year.