Compare the2023 Infiniti Q50VS 2023 BMW 3 Series Sedan

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Infiniti Q50 are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The BMW 3 Series Sedan doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

The Q50’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the 3 Series Sedan.

The Q50 has a standard blind spot warning system which uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them and moves the vehicle back into its lane. A system to reveal vehicles in the 3 Series Sedan’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Q50 has a standard rear cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Rear cross-path warning costs extra on the 3 Series Sedan.

Both the Q50 and the 3 Series Sedan 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, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, rearview cameras and available all wheel drive.

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 BMW 3 Series 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 3 Series 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 BMW covers the 3 Series 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 3 Series Sedan ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Q50’s reliability 32 points higher than the 3 Series Sedan.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Infiniti vehicles are more reliable than BMW vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Infiniti 1 place higher in reliability than BMW.

The Q50’s standard 3.0 turbo V6 produces 45 more horsepower (300 vs. 255) and 1 lbs.-ft. more torque (295 vs. 294) than the 330i’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The Q50 Red Sport 400’s standard 3.0 turbo V6 produces 18 more horsepower (400 vs. 382) than the M340i’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Infiniti Q50 3.0 is faster than the 330i 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder:

The Q50 has 4.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the 3 Series Sedan (20 vs. 15.6 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

For better stopping power the Q50 Red Sport 400’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the 3 Series Sedan:

The Q50 stops shorter than the 3 Series Sedan:

For better traction, the Q50 Red Sport 400’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the 3 Series Sedan (F:245/40R19 & R:265/35R19 vs. F:225/40R19 & R:255/35R19).

The Q50 has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The 3 Series Sedan doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires standard 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. Run-flat tires aren’t available on some tire packages on the 3 Series Sedan.

The Q50 Sport’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 3 Series Sedan doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For better maneuverability, the Q50’s turning circle is 2.7 feet tighter than the 3 Series Sedan’s (36.7 feet vs. 39.4 feet). The Q50 AWD’s turning circle is 2 feet tighter than the 3 Series Sedan’s (37.4 feet vs. 39.4 feet).

The Q50 has .8 inches more front headroom, 2.5 inches more front legroom, .7 inches more front shoulder room and 1.5 inches more rear shoulder room than the 3 Series Sedan.

The Q50 has a larger trunk than the 3 Series Sedan (13.5 vs. 13 cubic feet).

The Q50’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The 3 Series Sedan doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

Consumer Reports rated the Q50’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the 3 Series Sedan’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

The Q50 has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the car heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the 3 Series Sedan.

Insurance will cost less for the Q50 owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the Q50 with a number “1” insurance rate while the 3 Series Sedan is rated higher at a number “3” rate.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Q50 is less expensive to operate than the 3 Series Sedan because it costs $63 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Q50 than the 3 Series Sedan, including $510 less for a water pump, $294 less for a muffler, $91 less for front brake pads, $136 less for a starter, $89 less for fuel injection, $41 less for front struts and $470 less for a timing belt/chain.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Infiniti Q50 and the BMW 3 Series Sedan, based on reliability, safety and performance.