Compare the2018 Infiniti Q50VS 2018 Volvo S60

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 S60 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 S60 doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

Both the Q50 and the S60 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, available all-wheel drive, crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, 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 Volvo S60:

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 S60’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 Volvo covers the S60. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the S60 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2017 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Infiniti vehicles are better in initial quality than Volvo vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Infiniti 23rd in initial quality. With 27 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volvo is ranked 30th.

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 Volvo vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Infiniti 13th in reliability, above the industry average. With 16 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volvo is ranked 16th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ April 2017 Auto Issue reports that Infiniti vehicles are more reliable than Volvo vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Infiniti 11 places higher in reliability than Volvo.

The Q50 has more powerful engines than the S60:

As tested in Car and Driver the Q50 Red Sport 400 3.0 turbo V6 is faster than the S60 T6:

As tested in Car and Driver the Q50 Red Sport 400 3.0 turbo V6 is faster than the S60 T5:

On the EPA test cycle the Q50 Hybrid AWD gets better city fuel mileage than the S60 T5 AWD (26 city vs. 22 city).

The Q50’s standard fuel tank has 2.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the S60 (20 vs. 17.8 gallons).

For better stopping power the Q50’s standard brake rotors are larger than those on the S60:

The Q50’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs standard on the S60 T5 are solid, not vented.

The Q50 stops much shorter than the S60:

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 S60 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 S60 (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 S60’s (61.7% to 38.3%). This gives the Q50 more stable handling and braking.

The Q50 handles at .95 G’s, while the S60 T6 pulls only .86 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the Q50’s turning circle is 2.3 feet tighter than the S60’s (36.7 feet vs. 39 feet). The Q50 AWD’s turning circle is 1.6 feet tighter than the S60’s (37.4 feet vs. 39 feet).

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 S60 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 S60 is rated a Compact.

The Q50 has 8.5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the S60 (101.5 vs. 93).

The Q50 has .9 inches more front headroom, 2.6 inches more front legroom, .1 inches more rear headroom, 1.6 inches more rear legroom and .9 inches more rear shoulder room than the S60.

The Q50 has a much larger trunk than the S60 (13.2 vs. 12 cubic feet).

The engine in the Q50 is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the S60. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

The Q50 (except 2.0t)’s optional easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The S60 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

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 S60 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 S60’s standard intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Q50 has standard extendable sun visors. The S60 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

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 S60 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 S60 because it costs $27 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Q50 than the S60, including $47 less for an alternator, $27 less for front brake pads and $307 less for a fuel pump.

The Infiniti Q50 outsold the Volvo 60 Series by 43% during the 2016 model year.