Compare the2018 Infiniti Q50VS 2018 Honda Accord

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 Accord 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 Accord 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 Accord 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 Accord 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 Accord 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 Q50 comes with a full 4-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Accord’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 Honda covers the Accord. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the Accord ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

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

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 Honda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Infiniti fourth in reliability, above the industry average. With 20 more problems per 100 vehicles, Honda is ranked 12th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ April 2018 Auto Issue reports that Infiniti vehicles are more reliable than Honda vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Infiniti 2 places higher in reliability than Honda.

The Q50 has more powerful engines than the Accord:

As tested in Consumer Reports the Q50 3.0t 3.0 turbo V6 is faster than the Honda Accord 1.5 turbo 4 cyl. (automatics tested):

As tested in Car and Driver the Q50 Red Sport 400 3.0 turbo V6 is faster than the Honda Accord 1.5 (automatics tested):

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

The Q50 Hybrid’s standard fuel tank has 3 gallons more fuel capacity than the Accord (17.8 vs. 14.8 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Q50’s standard fuel tank has 5.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the Accord (20 vs. 14.8 gallons).

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

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 Accord are solid, not vented.

The Q50 stops much shorter than the Accord:

For better traction, the Q50 Red Sport 400’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Accord (F:245/40R19 & R:265/35R19 vs. 235/40R19).

The Q50 Red Sport 400’s 265/35R19 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 35 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Accord Sport/Touring’s 40 series tires.

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 Accord 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 Accord doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

The Q50’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (53.5% to 46.5%) than the Accord’s (58.9% to 41.1%). This gives the Q50 more stable handling and braking.

The Q50 handles at .90 G’s, while the Accord EX pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Q50 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2.2 seconds quicker than the Accord EX (25.5 seconds @ .76 average G’s vs. 27.7 seconds @ .61 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Q50’s turning circle is 1.4 feet tighter than the Accord’s (36.7 feet vs. 38.1 feet). The Q50 AWD’s turning circle is 2 feet tighter than the Accord Sport Manual/Sport 2.0T/EX-L 2.0T/Touring 2.0T’s (37.4 feet vs. 39.4 feet).

The Q50 has .7 inches more front headroom, 2.2 inches more front legroom and .2 inches more rear headroom than the Accord.

To allow full utilization of available cargo room, the Q50’s trunk lid uses gas strut supported hinges that don’t intrude into the trunk. The Accord’s useful trunk space is reduced by its intrusive beam hinge.

The Q50’s optional folding rear seats are split to accommodate bulky cargo. The Accord’s standard single piece folding rear seat is not as flexible; long cargo and a passenger can’t share the rear seat.

The Q50 uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Accord uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

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

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Infiniti service is better than Honda. J.D. Power ranks Infiniti first in service department satisfaction. With a 67% lower rating, Honda is ranked 25th.

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

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

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 Accord doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The Q50’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Honda only offers heated mirrors on the Accord Sport 2.0T/EX/EX-L/Touring.

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 Accord offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

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 Accord doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

Both the Q50 and the Accord offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Q50 has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Accord doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.