Compare the2018 Infiniti Q50VS 2018 Mercedes C-Class Sedan

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 C-Class Sedan 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 C-Class Sedan doesn’t offer a cross-path warning system.

Both the Q50 and the C-Class Sedan 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 around view monitors.

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 Mercedes C-Class Sedan:

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 C-Class Sedan’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 Mercedes covers the C-Class Sedan. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the C-Class Sedan ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

The Q50’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the C-Class Sedan’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 Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Infiniti fourth in reliability, above the industry average. With 27 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes is ranked 15th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ April 2018 Auto Issue reports that Infiniti vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Infiniti 7 places higher in reliability than Mercedes.

The Q50 has more powerful engines than the C-Class Sedan:

As tested in Motor Trend the Q50 Hybrid 3.5 DOHC V6 hybrid is faster than the C 300 Sedan 2.0 turbo 4 cyl.:

On the EPA test cycle the Q50 Hybrid gets better fuel mileage than the C-Class Sedan:

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

The Q50’s standard fuel tank has 2.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the C-Class Sedan (20 vs. 17.4 gallons).

The Q50 stops shorter than the C-Class Sedan:

For better traction, the Q50 Red Sport 400’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the C-Class Sedan (F:245/40R19 & R:265/35R19 vs. F:225/40R19 & R:255/35R19).

The Q50 Red Sport 400 RWD offers an optional space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the C-Class Sedan; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed. Some models of the C-Class Sedan don’t even offer run-flats.

The Q50 handles at .90 G’s, while the C 300 Sedan 4MATIC pulls only .87 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Q50 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the C 300 Sedan 4MATIC (25.5 seconds @ .76 average G’s vs. 26.3 seconds @ .7 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Q50’s turning circle is .1 feet tighter than the C-Class Sedan’s (36.7 feet vs. 36.8 feet). The Q50 AWD’s turning circle is 1 foot tighter than the AMG C 43 Sedan’s (37.4 feet vs. 38.4 feet).

The design of the Infiniti Q50 amounts to more than styling. The Q50 offers aerodynamic coefficients of drag from .26 to .29 Cd (depending on bodystyle and options). That is lower than the C-Class Sedan (.3 to .32) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the Q50 get better fuel mileage.

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 C-Class Sedan doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the Q50 is rated a Mid-size car by the EPA, while the C-Class Sedan is rated a Compact.

The Q50 has 11.5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the C-Class Sedan (101.5 vs. 90).

The Q50 has 3.1 inches more front headroom, 2.8 inches more front legroom, 2 inches more front shoulder room, .4 inches more rear headroom and 1.1 inches more rear shoulder room than the C-Class Sedan.

The Q50 has a larger trunk than the C-Class Sedan (13.2 vs. 12.6 cubic feet).

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Infiniti service is better than Mercedes. J.D. Power ranks Infiniti first in service department satisfaction. With a 8% lower rating, Mercedes is ranked 6th.

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 C-Class Sedan’s headlights are rated “Poor.”

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Q50 is less expensive to operate than the C-Class Sedan because it costs $405 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Q50 than the C-Class Sedan, including $41 less for a water pump, $299 less for an alternator, $14 less for front brake pads, $264 less for a starter and $566 less for a fuel pump.