Compare the2023 Infiniti Q50VS 2022 Toyota Avalon

The Q50 Red Sport 400’s optional pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Avalon doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The Q50 offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Avalon doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

Both the Q50 and the Avalon 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, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras 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 Infiniti Q50 is safer than the Toyota Avalon:

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 Infiniti Q50 is safer than the Toyota Avalon:

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 Avalon’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 24,000 miles sooner.

Infiniti’s powertrain warranty covers the Q50 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Toyota covers the Avalon. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the Avalon ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The Q50’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the Avalon’s (7 vs. 5 years).

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 23 points higher than the Avalon.

The Q50’s standard 3.0 turbo V6 produces 28 lbs.-ft. more torque (295 vs. 267) than the Avalon’s 3.5 DOHC V6. The Q50 Red Sport 400’s standard 3.0 turbo V6 produces 99 more horsepower (400 vs. 301) and 83 lbs.-ft. more torque (350 vs. 267) than the Avalon’s 3.5 DOHC V6.

As tested in Car and Driver the Q50 Red Sport 400 is faster than the Toyota Avalon:

The Q50 has 5.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the Avalon XLE’s standard fuel tank (20 vs. 14.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Q50 has 4.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the Avalon Limited/Touring’s standard fuel tank (20 vs. 15.8 gallons).

For better stopping power the Q50’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Avalon:

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 Avalon are solid, not vented.

The Q50 stops shorter than the Avalon:

For better traction, the Q50 has larger standard tires than the Avalon (225/50R18 vs. 215/55R17). The Q50 Red Sport 400’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Avalon (F:245/40R19 & R:265/35R19 vs. 235/45R18).

The Q50 Luxe’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Avalon XLE’s standard 55 series tires. The Q50 Red Sport 400’s 265/35R19 rear tires have a lower 35 series profile than the Avalon Touring’s 40 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Q50 Luxe has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Avalon XLE.

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 Avalon 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. The Avalon doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

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 Avalon doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

The Q50 Red Sport 400 handles at .88 G’s, while the Avalon Touring pulls only .85 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the Q50’s turning circle is 1 foot tighter than the Avalon XLE’s (36.7 feet vs. 37.7 feet). The Q50 AWD’s turning circle is 1.3 feet tighter than the Avalon Limited/Touring’s (37.4 feet vs. 38.7 feet).

The Q50 is 6.3 inches shorter than the Avalon, making the Q50 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

To almost totally eliminate engine vibration in the passenger area, the Q50 has liquid-filled engine mounts. The liquid helps further dampen engine harshness. The Avalon uses conventional solid rubber engine mounts.

The Q50 has 2.1 inches more front headroom and 2.4 inches more front legroom than the Avalon.

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

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Q50. The Avalon doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The engine in the Q50 is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Avalon. 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 Toyota. J.D. Power ranks Infiniti 9th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 14% lower rating, Toyota is ranked 20th.

The Q50 offers a remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The Avalon doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The Q50’s power window and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Avalon’s passenger power window switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

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 Avalon’s intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

The Avalon Limited/Touring’s cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The Q50 Red Sport 400’s optional adaptive cornering lights turn the actual headlight unit up to several degrees, depending on steering wheel angle and vehicle speed. This lights a significant distance into corners at any speed.

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 is only available on the Avalon Limited/Touring.

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 Avalon is rated higher at a number “5” rate.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Q50 is less expensive to operate than the Avalon because typical repairs cost much less on the Q50 than the Avalon, including $146 less for a water pump, $36 less for front brake pads, $45 less for a starter, $23 less for fuel injection and $809 less for a timing belt/chain.

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