Compare the2018 Infiniti Q50VS 2018 Lincoln Continental

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 Continental 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 Continental doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

Both the Q50 and the Continental 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 Continental’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 10,000 miles sooner.

The Q50’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the Continental’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 Lincoln vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Infiniti fourth in reliability, above the industry average. With 13 more problems per 100 vehicles, Lincoln is ranked 10th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ April 2018 Auto Issue reports that Infiniti vehicles are more reliable than Lincoln vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Infiniti 15 places higher in reliability than Lincoln.

As tested in Motor Trend the Q50 Hybrid 3.5 DOHC V6 hybrid is faster than the Lincoln Continental twin turbo V6:

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

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

Regenerative brakes improve the Q50 Hybrid’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Continental doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The Q50’s standard fuel tank has 2 gallons more fuel capacity than the Continental (20 vs. 18 gallons).

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 Continental.

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 Continental are solid, not vented.

The Q50 stops much shorter than the Continental:

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 Continental Select/Reserve’s optional 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 Continental doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

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

The Q50 handles at .95 G’s, while the Continental Reserve AWD pulls only .84 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Q50 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.2 seconds quicker than the Continental Black Label AWD (25.5 seconds @ .76 average G’s vs. 26.7 seconds @ .68 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Q50’s turning circle is 5.1 feet tighter than the Continental’s (36.7 feet vs. 41.8 feet). The Q50 AWD’s turning circle is 4.4 feet tighter than the Continental’s (37.4 feet vs. 41.8 feet).

The Infiniti Q50 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 350 to 550 pounds less than the Lincoln Continental.

The Q50 is 11.8 inches shorter than the Continental, making the Q50 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Q50 has .9 inches more front headroom, .1 inches more front legroom and .2 inches more rear shoulder room than the Continental.

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

The engine in the Q50 is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Continental. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because there are no rear spark plugs and the accessory belts are in front.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Infiniti service is better than Lincoln. J.D. Power ranks Infiniti first in service department satisfaction. With a 16% lower rating, Lincoln is ranked 7th.

The Q50 has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent vandalism, such as sugar in the tank and fuel theft. The Continental doesn’t offer a locking fuel door.

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

When the Q50 with available tilt-down mirrors is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Continental’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Q50 is less expensive to operate than the Continental because it costs $18 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Q50 than the Continental, including $407 less for a water pump, $3 less for an alternator, $1 less for front brake pads and $73 less for a power steering pump.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Infiniti Q50 will be $340 to $5311 less than for the Lincoln Continental.

The Infiniti Q50 outsold the Lincoln Continental by over three to one during 2017.