Compare the2018 Infiniti Q50VS 2018 Mercedes CLA

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 CLA 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 CLA 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 CLA 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.

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

Both the Q50 and the CLA 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 and blind spot warning systems.

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

Infiniti’s powertrain warranty covers the Q50 2 years and 20,000 miles longer than Mercedes covers the CLA. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the CLA ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

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

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ April 2017 Auto Issue reports that Infiniti vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Infiniti 9 places higher in reliability than Mercedes.

The Q50 3.0t’s standard 3.0 turbo V6 produces 92 more horsepower (300 vs. 208) and 37 lbs.-ft. more torque (295 vs. 258) than the CLA’s 2.0 turbo 4 cyl. The Q50 Hybrid’s standard 3.5 DOHC V6 hybrid produces 152 more horsepower (360 vs. 208) than the CLA’s 2.0 turbo 4 cyl. The Q50 Red Sport 400’s standard 3.0 turbo V6 produces 192 more horsepower (400 vs. 208) and 92 lbs.-ft. more torque (350 vs. 258) than the CLA’s 2.0 turbo 4 cyl.

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

As tested in Car and Driver the Q50 Red Sport 400 3.0 turbo V6 is faster than the CLA250:

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

The Q50 Hybrid’s standard fuel tank has 3 gallons more fuel capacity than the CLA (17.8 vs. 14.8 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Q50’s standard fuel tank has 5.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the CLA (20 vs. 14.8 gallons).

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

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 CLA are solid, not vented.

The Q50 stops shorter than the CLA:

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

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 CLA’s optional 40 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Q50 offers optional 19-inch wheels. The CLA’s largest wheels are only 18-inches.

The Q50 Red Sport 400 RWD offers an optional space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the CLA; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed.

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 CLA doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Q50’s wheelbase is 5.9 inches longer than on the CLA (112.2 inches vs. 106.3 inches).

The Q50’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (53.5% to 46.5%) than the CLA’s (61% to 39%). This gives the Q50 more stable handling and braking.

The Q50 handles at .95 G’s, while the CLA250 pulls only .90 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Q50 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the CLA250 (25.5 seconds @ .76 average G’s vs. 26.4 seconds @ .69 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 CLA 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 CLA is rated a Subcompact.

The Q50 has 23.5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the CLA (101.5 vs. 78).

The Q50 has 2 inches more front headroom, 4.3 inches more front legroom, .7 inches more front shoulder room, 2.1 inches more rear headroom, 8 inches more rear legroom and 2.9 inches more rear shoulder room than the CLA.

The Q50 uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The CLA 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 CLA. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

Consumer Reports rated the Q50’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the CLA’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 CLA’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 CLA 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 CLA doesn’t offer cornering lights.

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 CLA doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Q50 is less expensive to operate than the CLA because it costs $387 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Q50 than the CLA, including $26 less for an alternator, $607 less for a starter, $216 less for fuel injection and $192 less for a fuel pump.

The Infiniti Q50 outsold the Mercedes CLA by 67% during the 2016 model year.