Compare the2019 BMW 4 Series Gran CoupeVS 2018 Infiniti Q70

Compared to metal, the 4 Series Gran Coupe’s plastic fuel tank can withstand harder, more intrusive impacts without leaking; this decreases the possibility of fire. The Infiniti Q70 has a metal gas tank.

Both the 4 Series Gran Coupe and the Q70 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, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive, crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems and around view monitors.

The 4 Series Gran Coupe’s corrosion warranty is 5 years longer than the Q70’s (12 vs. 7 years).

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the 4 Series Gran Coupe for 3 years and 36,000 miles. BMW will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Infiniti doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Q70.

There are over 60 percent more BMW dealers than there are Infiniti dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the 4 Series Gran Coupe’s warranty.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the 4 Series Gran Coupe has a standard 170-amp alternator. The Q70’s standard 130-amp alternator and largest (optional) 150-amp alternator aren’t as powerful.

The battery on the 4 Series Gran Coupe is in the trunk, which protects it from hot underhood temperatures which can degrade battery life. By keeping the 4 Series Gran Coupe’s battery 20 to 30 degrees cooler, its life is increased by years. The Q70’s battery is in the hot engine compartment.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the 4 Series Gran Coupe first among compact premium cars in their 2017 Initial Quality Study. The Q70 isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2017 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that BMW vehicles are better in initial quality than Infiniti vehicles. J.D. Power ranks BMW 6th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 19 more problems per 100 vehicles, Infiniti is ranked 23rd, below the industry average.

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

On the EPA test cycle the 4 Series Gran Coupe gets better fuel mileage than the Q70:

Regardless of its engine, regenerative brakes improve the 4 Series Gran Coupe’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. Infiniti only offers a regenerative brake system on the Q70 Hybrid.

Regardless of its engine, the 4 Series Gran Coupe’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. (Start/Stop isn’t accounted in present EPA fuel mileage tests.) Infiniti only offers an automatic engine start/stop system on the Q70 Hybrid.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) certifies the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe as a “Super Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle” (SULEV). The Infiniti Q70 is only certified to “Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle” (ULEV) standards.

An eight-speed automatic is standard on the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a seven-speed automatic is available for the Q70.

The 4 Series Gran Coupe stops shorter than the Q70:

The 4 Series Gran Coupe’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Q70’s standard 50 series tires. The 4 Series Gran Coupe’s optional 255/35R19 rear tires have a lower 35 series profile than the Q70’s optional 40 series tires.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires available on the 4 Series Gran Coupe can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The Q70 doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

The 4 Series Gran Coupe has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Q70’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

The 4 Series Gran Coupe offers an optional driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads. The Q70’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the 4 Series Gran Coupe is 1.1 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Q70.

The 430i Gran Coupe handles at .89 G’s, while the Q70 3.7 LUXE pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The 4 Series Gran Coupe is 1 foot, 1.4 inches shorter than the Q70, making the 4 Series Gran Coupe easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the 430i Gran Coupe xDrive is quieter than the Q70 3.7 LUXE:

The 4 Series Gran Coupe has a larger trunk with its rear seat up than the Q70 (17 vs. 14.9 cubic feet).

The 4 Series Gran Coupe’s standard rear seats fold to accommodate long and bulky cargo. The Q70 doesn’t offer folding rear seats, only a ski pass-through.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the 4 Series Gran Coupe’s power liftgate can be opened or closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Q70 doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening trunk.

The 4 Series Gran Coupe has a maintenance free battery for long life without checking the battery’s water level. The Q70 doesn’t have a maintenance free battery, so the water level in the battery’s cells must be checked often to prevent damage.

The 4 Series Gran Coupe offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed and other key instrumentation readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Q70 doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The power windows standard on both the 4 Series Gran Coupe and the Q70 have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the 4 Series Gran Coupe is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The Q70 prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

The 4 Series Gran Coupe’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 Q70’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The 4 Series Gran Coupe offers available headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The Q70 doesn’t offer headlight washers.

While driving with high beams on, sensitive light sensors available for the 4 Series Gran Coupe detect other vehicles which could be blinded and automatically switch to low beams. The Q70 doesn’t offer automatic dimming high beams.

Standard BMW Apps for the 4 Series Gran Coupe allows the driver and passengers access to select programs on their smartphones, including reading text messages aloud, playing internet radio stations, tagging songs to buy them later, following twitter accounts and other connected activities without taking their eyes off the road or their hands from the wheel. The Q70 doesn’t offer factory integrated smartphone program access.

The 4 Series Gran Coupe’s optional Parking Assistant can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The Q70 doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

The BMW 4 Series comes in coupe, convertible and four door hatchback bodystyles; the Infiniti Q70 isn’t available as a coupe or convertible.

Insurance will cost less for the 4 Series Gran Coupe owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the 4 Series Gran Coupe with a number “1” insurance rate while the Q70 is rated higher at a number “5” rate.

The 4 Series Gran Coupe will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the 4 Series Gran Coupe will retain 44.99% to 47.5% of its original price after five years, while the Q70 only retains 33.61% to 37.74%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the 4 Series Gran Coupe is less expensive to operate than the Q70 because typical repairs cost much less on the 4 Series Gran Coupe than the Q70, including $5 less for front brake pads, $153 less for fuel injection, $458 less for front struts, $279 less for a timing belt/chain and $346 less for a power steering pump.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe will be $15164 to $23761 less than for the Infiniti Q70.

The 4 Series was chosen as one of Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” in 2014. The Q70 has never been a Car and Driver “Top Ten” pick.

The 4 Series was chosen as one of Automobile Magazine’s “All Stars” in 2014. The Q70 has never been an “All Star.”

The BMW 4 Series outsold the Infiniti Q70 by almost seven to one during 2017.