Compare the2022 Chrysler 300VS 2022 Infiniti Q50

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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The Chrysler 300 has a standard driver’s side knee airbag mounted low on the dashboard. The knee airbag helps prevent the driver from sliding under the seatbelts or the main frontal airbag; this keeps the driver better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. A knee airbag also helps keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Q50 doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The 300 has standard Active Head Restraints, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Head Restraints system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Q50 doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

Both the 300 and the Q50 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, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Chrysler 300 is safer than the Infiniti Q50:

	300	Q50
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	131	225
Neck Compression	10 lbs.	45 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	3 Stars
Chest Compression	.9 inches	1 inches
Neck Injury Risk	33%	48%
Neck Stress	143 lbs.	145 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

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 Chrysler 300 is safer than the Infiniti Q50:

	300	Q50
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	134	196
Hip Force	350 lbs.	415 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	14 inches	19 inches

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The Chrysler 300 has a better fatality history. The 300 was involved in fatal accidents at a rate 13.6% lower per vehicle registered than the Q50, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Warranty

There are almost 12 times as many Chrysler dealers as there are Infiniti dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the 300’s warranty.

Reliability

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the 300 has larger alternators than the Q50:

	300	Q50
Standard Alternator	160 amps	150 amps
Optional Alternator	180 amps	170 amps

The battery on the 300 is in the trunk, which protects it from hot underhood temperatures that can degrade battery life. By keeping the 300’s battery 20 to 30 degrees cooler, its life is increased by years. The Q50’s battery is in the hot engine compartment.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the 300 second among large cars in their 2021 Initial Quality Study. The Q50 isn’t in the top three in its category.

Engine

The 300’s optional 5.7 V8 produces 44 lbs.-ft. more torque (394 vs. 350) than the Q50 Red Sport 400’s optional 3.0 turbo V6.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the 300 3.6 DOHC V6 RWD gets better fuel mileage than the Q50 Red Sport 400 3.0 turbo V6 RWD (19 city/30 hwy vs. 20 city/26 hwy).

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the 300 V8’s fuel efficiency. The Q50 doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Chrysler 300 uses regular unleaded gasoline (mid-grade octane recommended with the 5.7 V8 engine for maximum performance). The Q50 requires premium, which can cost 5 to 40 cents more per gallon.

The 300 has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Q50 doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Transmission

An eight-speed automatic is standard on the Chrysler 300, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a seven-speed automatic is available for the Q50.

Tires and Wheels

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the 300 offers optional 20-inch wheels. The Q50’s largest wheels are only 19-inches.

The 300 has a standard 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 Q50; 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.

Suspension and Handling

The 300 has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Q50’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the 300’s wheelbase is 7.8 inches longer than on the Q50 (120 inches vs. 112.2 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the 300 is 2.9 inches wider in the front and 2.3 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Q50.

The 300’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (52% to 48%) than the Q50’s (55.8% to 44.2%). This gives the 300 more stable handling and braking.

Passenger Space

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the 300 a Large car, while the Q50 is rated a Mid-size.

The 300 has 6.3 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Q50 (106.3 vs. 100).

The 300 has 3 inches more front hip room, 2.8 inches more front shoulder room, 1.1 inches more rear headroom, 5 inches more rear legroom, 3.6 inches more rear hip room and 1.6 inches more rear shoulder room than the Q50.

Cargo Capacity

The 300 has a much larger trunk than the Q50 (16.3 vs. 13.5 cubic feet).

Towing

The 300 has a 1000 lbs. towing capacity. The Q50 has no towing capacity.

Standard Trailer Sway Mitigation on the 300 uses the Electronic Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The Q50 doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Servicing Ease

The 300 has a maintenance free battery for long life without checking the battery’s water level. The Q50 doesn’t have a maintenance free battery, so the water level in the battery’s cells must be checked often to prevent damage.

Ergonomics

The power windows standard on both the 300 and the Q50 have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the 300 is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The Q50 prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the 300 to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The Q50 doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

A power rear sunshade is optional in the 300 Touring L/S to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Q50 doesn’t offer a rear sunshade.

Both the 300 and the Q50 offer available heated front seats. The 300 Touring L/S also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Q50.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the 300 Touring L/S keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Q50 doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Chrysler 300 offers an optional wireless phone charging system (Qi) for the front seat. The Q50 doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the 300 owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the 300 will cost $2235 to $12930 less than the Q50 over a five-year period.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the 300 is less expensive to operate than the Q50 because it costs $255 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the 300 than the Q50, including $270 less for a starter, $189 less for fuel injection, $71 less for a fuel pump and $210 less for a power steering pump.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Chrysler 300 will be $9266 to $22589 less than for the Infiniti Q50.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Chrysler 300 and the Infiniti Q50, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Chrysler 300 outsold the Infiniti Q50 by 33% during the 2021 model year.