Compare the2018 Infiniti Q50VS 2017 Nissan Maxima

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 Maxima 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 Maxima 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 Maxima 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 Maxima doesn’t offer a lane departure warning system.

Both the Q50 and the Maxima 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, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Infiniti Q50 is safer than the Nissan Maxima:

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

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 Maxima’s 3-year/36,000 mile basic warranty expires 1 year and 24,000 miles sooner.

Infiniti’s powertrain warranty covers the Q50 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Nissan covers the Maxima. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the Maxima ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

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

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 Nissan vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Infiniti 13th in reliability, above the industry average. With 37 more problems per 100 vehicles, Nissan is ranked 27th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ April 2017 Auto Issue reports that Infiniti vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Infiniti 5 places higher in reliability than Nissan.

The Q50 3.0t’s standard 3.0 turbo V6 produces 34 lbs.-ft. more torque (295 vs. 261) than the Maxima’s 3.5 DOHC V6. The Q50 Hybrid’s standard 3.5 DOHC V6 hybrid produces 60 more horsepower (360 vs. 300) than the Maxima’s 3.5 DOHC V6. The Q50 Red Sport 400’s standard 3.0 turbo V6 produces 100 more horsepower (400 vs. 300) and 89 lbs.-ft. more torque (350 vs. 261) than the Maxima’s 3.5 DOHC V6.

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

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

On the EPA test cycle the Q50 Hybrid RWD gets better city fuel mileage than the Maxima (27 city vs. 21 city).

On the EPA test cycle the Q50 2.0t RWD gets better city fuel mileage than the Maxima (23 city/30 hwy vs. 21 city/30 hwy).

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

The Q50’s standard fuel tank has 2 gallons more fuel capacity than the Maxima (20 vs. 18 gallons).

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

The Q50 stops much shorter than the Maxima:

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 Maxima 3.5 SR’s 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 Maxima 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 Maxima’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 Maxima doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Q50’s wheelbase is 2.9 inches longer than on the Maxima (112.2 inches vs. 109.3 inches).

The Q50’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (53.5% to 46.5%) than the Maxima’s (60.8% to 39.2%). This gives the Q50 more stable handling and braking.

The Q50 handles at .90 G’s, while the Maxima Platinum pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Q50 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.5 seconds quicker than the Maxima Platinum (25.5 seconds @ .76 average G’s vs. 27 seconds @ .67 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Q50’s turning circle is 1.4 feet tighter than the Maxima’s (36.7 feet vs. 38.1 feet). The Q50 AWD’s turning circle is .7 feet tighter than the Maxima’s (37.4 feet vs. 38.1 feet).

The Q50 is 3.2 inches shorter than the Maxima, making the Q50 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The design of the Infiniti Q50 amounts to more than styling. The Q50 offers aerodynamic coefficients of drag from .26 to .29 Cd (depending on bodystyle and options). That is lower than the Maxima (.29 to .3) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the Q50 get better fuel mileage.

The Q50 has 2.9 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Maxima (101.5 vs. 98.6).

The Q50 has .8 inches more front headroom, .8 inches more rear headroom, .9 inches more rear legroom and .4 inches more rear shoulder room than the Maxima.

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

The Q50’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Maxima’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

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

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 Maxima 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 Maxima doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The Q50’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Nissan only offers heated mirrors on the Maxima SV/SL/SR/Platinum.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Q50 is less expensive to operate than the Maxima because typical repairs cost less on the Q50 than the Maxima, including $33 less for an alternator and $4 less for fuel injection.

The Infiniti Q50 outsold the Nissan Maxima by 9% during 2015.