Compare the2018 Infiniti Q50VS 2017 Lexus GS Series

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 GS Series 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 GS Series doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

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 GS Series 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.

Both the Q50 and the GS Series 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 and rear cross-path warning.

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

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

The Q50 has more powerful engines than the GS Series:

As tested in Motor Trend the Q50 Hybrid 3.5 DOHC V6 hybrid is faster than the GS 450h 3.5 DOHC V6 hybrid:

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

The Q50’s standard fuel tank has 2.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the GS Series (20 vs. 17.4 gallons).

The Q50 stops much shorter than the GS Series:

For better traction, the Q50 Red Sport 400’s front tires are larger than the largest tires available on the GS Series (F:245/40R19 & R:265/35R19 vs. F:235/40R19 & R:265/35R19).

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 GS Series doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

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 GS Series doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

The Q50 handles at .95 G’s, while the GS 350 pulls only .88 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Q50 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.4 seconds quicker than the GS 450h (25.5 seconds @ .76 average G’s vs. 26.9 seconds @ .68 average G’s).

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 GS Series doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Q50 has 2.5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the GS Series (101.5 vs. 99).

The Q50 has 2.2 inches more front headroom, 2.2 inches more front legroom and .4 inches more rear shoulder room than the GS Series.

To allow full utilization of available cargo room, the Q50’s trunk lid uses gas strut supported hinges that don’t intrude into the trunk. The GS Series’ useful trunk space is reduced by its intrusive beam hinge.

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

A maintenance reminder system is standard on the Q50 to save the owner time and money by calculating maintenance intervals for oil changes and tire rotation based on odometer mileage. This takes the guesswork out of keeping your vehicle in top condition and helps it last longer. Lexus doesn’t offer a maintenance reminder on the GS Series.

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 GS Series can only operate 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 GS Series’ standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Q50 is less expensive to operate than the GS Series because typical repairs cost much less on the Q50 than the GS Series, including $203 less for an alternator, $261 less for a starter, $137 less for fuel injection, $573 less for a timing belt/chain and $83 less for a power steering pump.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Infiniti Q50 will be $8979 to $9499 less than for the Lexus GS Series.

The Infiniti Q50 outsold the Lexus GS Series by over two to one during the 2016 model year.