Compare the2018 Infiniti Q50VS 2018 Audi A5 Sportback

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 A5 Sportback doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

Both the Q50 and the A5 Sportback 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, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

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 A5 Sportback’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 Audi covers the A5 Sportback. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the A5 Sportback ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Q50 has larger alternators than the A5 Sportback:

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 Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Infiniti 23rd in initial quality. With 8 more problems per 100 vehicles, Audi is ranked 26th.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2018 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Infiniti vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Infiniti fourth in reliability, above the industry average. With 21 more problems per 100 vehicles, Audi is ranked 13th.

The Q50 3.0t’s standard 3.0 turbo V6 produces 48 more horsepower (300 vs. 252) and 22 lbs.-ft. more torque (295 vs. 273) than the A5 Sportback’s 2.0 turbo 4 cyl. The Q50 Hybrid’s standard 3.5 DOHC V6 hybrid produces 108 more horsepower (360 vs. 252) than the A5 Sportback’s 2.0 turbo 4 cyl. The Q50 Red Sport 400’s standard 3.0 turbo V6 produces 148 more horsepower (400 vs. 252) and 77 lbs.-ft. more torque (350 vs. 273) than the A5 Sportback’s 2.0 turbo 4 cyl.

As tested in Car and Driver the Q50 Red Sport 400 3.0 turbo V6 is faster than the Audi A5 Sportback:

On the EPA test cycle the Q50 Hybrid AWD gets better fuel mileage than the A5 Sportback SMG (26 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 A5 Sportback doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The Q50 Hybrid’s standard fuel tank has 2.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the A5 Sportback (17.8 vs. 15.3 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Q50’s standard fuel tank has 4.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the A5 Sportback (20 vs. 15.3 gallons).

For better stopping power the Q50 Sport’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the A5 Sportback:

The Q50 stops shorter than the A5 Sportback:

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 A5 Sportback doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

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 A5 Sportback doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

The Q50 handles at .95 G’s, while the A5 Sportback Prestige pulls only .93 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the Q50’s turning circle is 1 foot tighter than the A5 Sportback’s (36.7 feet vs. 37.7 feet). The Q50 AWD’s turning circle is .3 feet tighter than the A5 Sportback’s (37.4 feet vs. 37.7 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 A5 Sportback doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Q50 has .8 inches more front headroom, 3.2 inches more front legroom, 1 inch more front shoulder room, .5 inches more rear headroom and 1.6 inches more rear shoulder room than the A5 Sportback.

With its sedan body style, valet key, locking rear seatbacks and remote trunk release lockout, the Q50 offers cargo security. The A5 Sportback’s hatchback body style defeats cargo security.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Infiniti service is better than Audi. J.D. Power ranks Infiniti first in service department satisfaction. With a 5% lower rating, Audi is ranked third.

The Q50 3.0t offers a remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The A5 Sportback doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

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 A5 Sportback doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

If the windows are left open on the Q50 the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the A5 Sportback can’t use the remote to operate the windows.

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 A5 Sportback’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 A5 Sportback doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The Q50 is available in both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations. The A5 Sportback doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

The Infiniti Q50 outsold the Audi A5/S5 by almost two to one during 2017.