Compare the2018 Infiniti Q50VS 2017 Lincoln MKZ

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

© 1999 - 2026Advanta-STAR Automotive Research, all rights reserved. This vehicle comparison and all of the content in it are provided only by license from Advanta-STAR Automotive Research Corporation of America (Advanta-STAR). If you are not a legally licensed user of this vehicle comparison, it is against federal law to access it, copy it, forward it, or use it in any manner whatsoever. Any unauthorized use of this vehicle comparison is a violation of U.S. and international law and is punishable criminally and civilly. Removal of this watermark/notification without prior written license and approval received from Advanta-STAR is an agreement, understanding, and/or stipulation by the person(s), entities, agents, attorneys, and any other persons involved in the removal of this watermark/notification (including but not limited to Search Optics, LLC and any and all parent entities, sister entities, and subsidiary entities of Search Optics, LLC and/or any other entity, agent, attorney, and persons related in any manner to Search Optics, LLC) to: 1) an agreed upon amount of liquidated monetary damages of a minimum of $1,250,000.00 US Dollars in favor of Advanta-STAR; 2) the jurisdiction and enforcement of any legal claims associated with this matter asserted by Advanta-STAR in the United States Federal District Court in Portand, Oregon; and 3) service of process of any legal claims asserted by Advanta-STAR associated with this matter may be accomplished by First-Class Postage by the United States Postal Service or comparable service. XPYNN-M34HG 2a06:98c0:3600::103 2026/04/06

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 MKZ 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 MKZ 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 MKZ 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 MKZ 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, rearview cameras, available all-wheel drive, crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Infiniti Q50 is safer than the Lincoln MKZ:

	Q50	MKZ
	Passenger
STARS	3 Stars	3 Stars
HIC	153	254
Neck Injury Risk	48%	52%
Neck Stress	145 lbs.	197 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Infiniti Q50 is safer than the Lincoln MKZ:

	Q50	MKZ
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	190	268
Spine Acceleration	36 G’s	46 G’s

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Warranty

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

The Q50’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the MKZ’s (7 vs. 5 years).

Reliability

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ April 2017 Auto Issue reports that Infiniti vehicles are more reliable than Lincoln vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Infiniti 12 places higher in reliability than Lincoln.

Engine

The Q50 has more powerful engines than the MKZ:

	Horsepower	Torque
Q50 2.0t 2.0 turbo 4 cyl.	208 HP	258 lbs.-ft.
Q50 3.0t 3.0 turbo V6	300 HP	295 lbs.-ft.
Q50 Hybrid 3.5 DOHC V6 hybrid	360 HP	n/a
Q50 Red Sport 400 3.0 turbo V6	400 HP	350 lbs.-ft.
MKZ Hybrid 2.0 DOHC 4 cyl. hybrid	188 HP	n/a
MKZ 2.0 turbo 4 cyl.	245 HP	275 lbs.-ft.
MKZ 3.0 turbo V6	350 HP	400 lbs.-ft.

As tested in Motor Trend the Q50 Hybrid 3.5 DOHC V6 hybrid is faster than the Lincoln MKZ turbo 4 cyl.:

	Q50	MKZ
Zero to 60 MPH	4.9 sec	7.2 sec
Quarter Mile	13.6 sec	15.5 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	103.6 MPH	89.4 MPH

As tested in Car and Driver the Q50 Red Sport 400 3.0 turbo V6 is faster than the Lincoln MKZ 2.0 turbo 4 cyl.:

	Q50	MKZ
Zero to 60 MPH	4.5 sec	7.4 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	10.5 sec	21.6 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	5 sec	8.1 sec
Quarter Mile	13 sec	15.8 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	112 MPH	88 MPH
Top Speed	153 MPH	153 MPH

As tested in Car and Driver the Q50 Red Sport 400 is faster than the MKZ Hybrid 2.0 DOHC 4 cyl. hybrid:

	Q50	MKZ
Zero to 60 MPH	4.5 sec	9.4 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	10.5 sec	25.3 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	5 sec	9.1 sec
Quarter Mile	13 sec	17.2 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	112 MPH	83 MPH
Top Speed	153 MPH	153 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

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

		Q50	MKZ
2WD	2.0 turbo 4 cyl./7-spd. Auto	23 city/30 hwy	21 city/31 hwy	2.0 turbo 4 cyl./Auto
	3.0 twin turbo V6 (300 HP)/7-spd. Auto	20 city/29 hwy	18 city/27 hwy	3.0 twin turbo V6/Auto
	3.0 twin turbo V6 (400 HP)/7-spd. Auto	20 city/26 hwy	n/a
AWD	2.0 turbo 4 cyl./7-spd. Auto	22 city/28 hwy	20 city/28 hwy	2.0 turbo 4 cyl./Auto
	3.0 twin turbo V6 (300 HP)/7-spd. Auto	19 city/27 hwy	17 city/26 hwy	3.0 twin turbo V6/Auto
	3.0 twin turbo V6 (400 HP)/7-spd. Auto	19 city/26 hwy	n/a

The Q50 Hybrid’s standard fuel tank has 4.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the MKZ Hybrid’s standard fuel tank (17.8 vs. 13.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Q50 Hybrid’s standard fuel tank has 1.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the MKZ FWD’s standard fuel tank (17.8 vs. 16.5 gallons). The Q50’s standard fuel tank has 2 gallons more fuel capacity than the MKZ AWD’s standard fuel tank (20 vs. 18 gallons).

Transmission

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 MKZ.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Q50	Q50 Sport	MKZ Hybrid	MKZ 2.0T/3.0T
Front Rotors	12.6 inches	14 inches	11.8 inches	12.4 inches
Rear Rotors	12.1 inches	13.8 inches	11.9 inches	12.4 inches

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 MKZ are solid, not vented.

The Q50 stops much shorter than the MKZ:

	Q50	MKZ
70 to 0 MPH	156 feet	170 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	108 feet	119 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	135 feet	139 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

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 MKZ’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 MKZ doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

Suspension and Handling

The Q50 handles at .95 G’s, while the MKZ Hybrid pulls only .83 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 MKZ Premiere (25.5 seconds @ .76 average G’s vs. 27.6 seconds @ .6 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Q50’s turning circle is 2.3 feet tighter than the MKZ’s (36.7 feet vs. 39 feet). The Q50 AWD’s turning circle is 1.6 feet tighter than the MKZ’s (37.4 feet vs. 39 feet).

Chassis

The Q50 is 4.3 inches shorter than the MKZ, making the Q50 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Passenger Space

The Q50 has 4.9 cubic feet more passenger volume than the MKZ (101.5 vs. 96.6).

The Q50 has 2.3 inches more front headroom, .2 inches more front legroom, .9 inches more rear headroom and .8 inches more rear shoulder room than the MKZ.

Cargo Capacity

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

Servicing Ease

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

Ergonomics

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 MKZ 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 MKZ’s standard intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

Consumer Reports rated the Q50’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the MKZ’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

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 MKZ’s headlights are rated “Marginal” to “Poor.”

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 MKZ’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

Economic Advantages

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Q50 is less expensive to operate than the MKZ because typical repairs cost much less on the Q50 than the MKZ, including $196 less for a water pump, $233 less for front struts, $102 less for a timing belt/chain and $187 less for a power steering pump.

Recommendations

The Infiniti Q50 outsold the Lincoln MKZ by 41% during the 2016 model year.

See Available Inventory