Compare the2018 Infiniti Q50VS 2017 Buick Regal

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 Regal doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

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 Regal only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

Both the Q50 and the Regal 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 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 Buick Regal:

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 Regal’s 4-year/50,000 mile basic warranty expires 10,000 miles sooner.

The Q50’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Regal’s (7 vs. 6 years).

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

The Q50 has more powerful engines than the Regal:

As tested in Motor Trend the Q50 Hybrid 3.5 DOHC V6 hybrid is faster than the Regal Turbo/GS 2.0 turbo 4 cyl.:

As tested in Car and Driver the Q50 Red Sport 400 3.0 turbo V6 is faster than the Regal Turbo/GS 2.0 turbo 4 cyl.:

On the EPA test cycle the Q50 Hybrid gets better fuel mileage than the Regal:

On the EPA test cycle the Q50 gets better fuel mileage than the Regal:

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

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 Regal.

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

The Q50 stops much shorter than the Regal:

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 Regal 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 Regal doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Q50’s wheelbase is 4.4 inches longer than on the Regal (112.2 inches vs. 107.8 inches).

The Q50 handles at .95 G’s, while the Regal Turbo pulls only .85 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Q50 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.3 seconds quicker than the Regal Turbo (25.5 seconds @ .76 average G’s vs. 26.8 seconds @ .64 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Q50’s turning circle is 1.4 feet tighter than the Regal’s (36.7 feet vs. 38.1 feet). The Q50 AWD’s turning circle is .7 feet tighter than the Regal’s (37.4 feet vs. 38.1 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 Regal doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Q50 has 4.7 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Regal (101.5 vs. 96.8).

The Q50 has 1.4 inches more front headroom, 2.4 inches more front legroom, .7 inches more rear headroom, .2 inches more rear hip room and 1.7 inches more rear shoulder room than the Regal.

With its sedan body style, valet key, locking rear seatbacks and remote trunk release lockout, the Q50 offers cargo security. The Regal’s non-lockable folding seat and non-lockable remote release defeat cargo security.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Q50. The Regal doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The engine in the Q50 is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Regal. 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 Regal doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

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

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 Regal 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 Regal’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

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 Regal 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 Regal doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The Q50 offers optional automatic dimming rear and side view mirrors which automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Regal has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Q50 is less expensive to operate than the Regal because it costs $369 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Q50 than the Regal, including $433 less for an alternator, $113 less for front brake pads and $189 less for front struts.

The Infiniti Q50 outsold the Buick Regal by over two to one during the 2016 model year.