Compare the2018 Infiniti Q50VS 2018 Toyota Avalon

Safety
Warranty
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

Safety

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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 Avalon 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 Avalon doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

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 Avalon only offers a rear monitor.

Both the Q50 and the Avalon 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, 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 Toyota Avalon:

	Q50	Avalon
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	24%	33%
Neck Stress	223 lbs.	354 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	185/312 lbs.	492/592 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 flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Infiniti Q50 is safer than the Toyota Avalon:

	Q50	Avalon
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	79	178
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	415 lbs.	436 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	190	365
Spine Acceleration	36 G’s	45 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 Avalon’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 Toyota covers the Avalon. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the Avalon ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

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

Engine

The Q50 2.0t’s standard 2.0 turbo 4 cyl. produces 10 lbs.-ft. more torque (258 vs. 248) than the Avalon’s 3.5 DOHC V6. The Q50 3.0t’s standard 3.0 turbo V6 produces 32 more horsepower (300 vs. 268) and 47 lbs.-ft. more torque (295 vs. 248) than the Avalon’s 3.5 DOHC V6. The Q50 Hybrid’s standard 3.5 DOHC V6 hybrid produces 92 more horsepower (360 vs. 268) than the Avalon’s 3.5 DOHC V6. The Q50 Red Sport 400’s standard 3.0 turbo V6 produces 132 more horsepower (400 vs. 268) and 102 lbs.-ft. more torque (350 vs. 248) than the Avalon’s 3.5 DOHC V6.

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

	Q50	Avalon
Zero to 60 MPH	4.9 sec	6.3 sec
Quarter Mile	13.6 sec	14.7 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	103.6 MPH	97.4 MPH

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

	Q50	Avalon
Zero to 60 MPH	4.5 sec	6.1 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	10.5 sec	14.8 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	5 sec	6.2 sec
Quarter Mile	13 sec	14.5 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	112 MPH	99 MPH
Top Speed	153 MPH	153 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Q50 Hybrid RWD gets better fuel mileage than the Avalon (27 city/32 hwy vs. 21 city/30 hwy).

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

The Q50’s standard fuel tank has 3 gallons more fuel capacity than the Avalon (20 vs. 17 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 Avalon.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Q50	Q50 Sport	Avalon
Front Rotors	12.6 inches	14 inches	11.7 inches
Rear Rotors	12.1 inches	13.8 inches	11.1 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 Avalon are solid, not vented.

The Q50 stops much shorter than the Avalon:

	Q50	Avalon
70 to 0 MPH	156 feet	178 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	108 feet	122 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	135 feet	148 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Q50 has larger standard tires than the Avalon (225/55R17 vs. 215/55R17). The Q50 Red Sport 400’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Avalon (F:245/40R19 & R:265/35R19 vs. 225/45R18).

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 Avalon Touring/Limited’s 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Q50 offers optional 19-inch wheels. The Avalon’s largest wheels are only 18-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 Avalon doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

Suspension and Handling

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 Avalon’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 Avalon doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Q50’s wheelbase is 1.2 inches longer than on the Avalon (112.2 inches vs. 111 inches).

The Q50 handles at .95 G’s, while the Avalon XLE pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Q50 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2.2 seconds quicker than the Avalon Limited (25.5 seconds @ .76 average G’s vs. 27.7 seconds @ .64 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Q50’s turning circle is 3.3 feet tighter than the Avalon’s (36.7 feet vs. 40 feet). The Q50 AWD’s turning circle is 2.6 feet tighter than the Avalon’s (37.4 feet vs. 40 feet).

Chassis

The Q50 is 5.7 inches shorter than the Avalon, making the Q50 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

To almost totally eliminate engine vibration in the passenger area, the Q50 has liquid-filled engine mounts. The liquid helps further dampen engine harshness. The Avalon uses conventional solid rubber engine mounts.

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 Avalon doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Passenger Space

The Q50 has 1.7 inches more front headroom and 2.4 inches more front legroom than the Avalon.

Cargo Capacity

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

Servicing Ease

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

Ergonomics

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 Avalon 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 Avalon XLE/Touring’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 Avalon’s headlights are rated “Marginal” to “Poor.”

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 Avalon 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 Avalon doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Q50 owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the Q50 with a number “5” insurance rate while the Avalon is rated higher at a number “8” rate.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Q50 is less expensive to operate than the Avalon because typical repairs cost much less on the Q50 than the Avalon, including $20 less for a starter and $510 less for a timing belt/chain.

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