Compare the2018 Infiniti Q50VS 2018 BMW 530e

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Infiniti Q50 are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The BMW 530e doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

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 530e doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

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 530e doesn’t offer a cross-path warning system.

Both the Q50 and the 530e have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, 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 and around view monitors.

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 530e’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 BMW covers the 530e. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the 530e ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

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 BMW vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Infiniti fourth in reliability, above the industry average. With 7 more problems per 100 vehicles, BMW is ranked 8th.

The Q50 3.0t’s standard 3.0 turbo V6 produces 52 more horsepower (300 vs. 248) than the 530e’s 2.0 turbo 4 cyl. hybrid. The Q50 Hybrid’s standard 3.5 DOHC V6 hybrid produces 112 more horsepower (360 vs. 248) than the 530e’s 2.0 turbo 4 cyl. hybrid. The Q50 Red Sport 400’s standard 3.0 turbo V6 produces 152 more horsepower (400 vs. 248) and 40 lbs.-ft. more torque (350 vs. 310) than the 530e’s 2.0 turbo 4 cyl. hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the Q50 Hybrid 3.5 DOHC V6 hybrid is faster than the BMW 530e:

The Q50 Hybrid’s standard fuel tank has 5.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the 530e (17.8 vs. 12.1 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Q50’s standard fuel tank has 7.9 gallons more fuel capacity than the 530e (20 vs. 12.1 gallons).

For better stopping power the Q50 Sport’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the 530e:

The Q50 stops much shorter than the 530e:

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 530e’s 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Q50 offers optional 19-inch wheels. The 530e’s largest wheels are only 18-inches.

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 530e doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

The Q50 handles at .90 G’s, while the 530e pulls only .85 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Q50 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.1 seconds quicker than the 530e (25.5 seconds @ .76 average G’s vs. 26.6 seconds @ .67 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Q50’s turning circle is 2.8 feet tighter than the 530e’s (36.7 feet vs. 39.5 feet). The Q50 AWD’s turning circle is 2.7 feet tighter than the 530e xDrive’s (37.4 feet vs. 40.1 feet).

The Infiniti Q50 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 200 to 600 pounds less than the BMW 530e.

The Q50 is 5 inches shorter than the 530e, making the Q50 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

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 530e doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Q50 has 2.7 cubic feet more passenger volume than the 530e (101.5 vs. 98.8).

The Q50 has 1.4 inches more front headroom, 3.1 inches more front legroom and .2 inches more rear shoulder room than the 530e.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Infiniti service is better than BMW. J.D. Power ranks Infiniti first in service department satisfaction. With a 19% lower rating, BMW is ranked 8th.

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 530e doesn’t offer extendable visors.