Compare the2023 Infiniti Q50VS 2022 Volkswagen Passat

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

Safety

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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 Passat doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

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

The Q50 has a standard Around View® Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Passat only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

Both the Q50 and the Passat 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 Volkswagen Passat:

	Q50	Passat
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	24%	28.5%
Neck Stress	223 lbs.	263 lbs.
Neck Compression	45 lbs.	61 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	185/312 lbs.	166/453 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 Infiniti Q50 is safer than the Volkswagen Passat:

	Q50	Passat
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	79	87
Chest Movement	.9 inches	1 inches
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	196	249
Spine Acceleration	46 G’s	62 G’s
Hip Force	415 lbs.	713 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	190	359
Spine Acceleration	36 G’s	49 G’s
Hip Force	634 lbs.	720 lbs.

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

Warranty

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

The Q50’s 7 year corrosion warranty has no mileage limitations, but the corrosion warranty on the Passat runs out after 100,000 miles.

Reliability

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Q50 has a standard 150-amp alternator (170-amp - Q50 Red Sport 400). The Passat’s 140-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

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 43 points higher than the Passat.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Infiniti vehicles are better in initial quality than Volkswagen vehicles. With 26 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Infiniti higher than Volkswagen.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Infiniti vehicles are more reliable than Volkswagen vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Infiniti 13 places higher in reliability than Volkswagen.

Engine

The Q50’s standard 3.0 turbo V6 produces 126 more horsepower (300 vs. 174) and 89 lbs.-ft. more torque (295 vs. 206) than the Passat’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The Q50 Red Sport 400’s standard 3.0 turbo V6 produces 226 more horsepower (400 vs. 174) and 144 lbs.-ft. more torque (350 vs. 206) than the Passat’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Infiniti Q50 3.0 is faster than the Volkswagen Passat:

	Q50	Passat
Zero to 30 MPH	2.4 sec	3 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	5.7 sec	7.9 sec
45 to 65 MPH Passing	4.2 sec	5.5 sec
Quarter Mile	14.2 sec	16 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	103 MPH	91 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

The Q50 has 1.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the Passat (20 vs. 18.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Transmission

A seven-speed automatic is standard on the Infiniti Q50, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a six-speed automatic is available for the Passat.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Q50	Q50 Red Sport 400	Passat
Front Rotors	12.6 inches	14 inches	12.3 inches
Rear Rotors	12.1 inches	13.8 inches	10.7 inches

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 Passat are solid, not vented.

The Q50 stops much shorter than the Passat:

	Q50	Passat
70 to 0 MPH	165 feet	191 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	126 feet	136 feet	Consumer Reports
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	131 feet	147 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Q50 Red Sport 400’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Passat (F:245/40R19 & R:265/35R19 vs. 235/45R18).

The Q50 Red Sport 400’s 265/35R19 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 35 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Passat R-Line’s optional 40 series tires.

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 Passat 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 Passat doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

Suspension and Handling

The Q50 offers an available 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 Passat’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

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 Passat doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Q50’s wheelbase is 1.8 inches longer than on the Passat (112.2 inches vs. 110.4 inches).

The Q50 Red Sport 400 handles at .88 G’s, while the Passat pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

Chassis

The Q50 is 4 inches shorter than the Passat, 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 Passat uses conventional solid rubber engine mounts.

Passenger Space

The Q50 has 1.2 inches more front headroom and 2.1 inches more front legroom than the Passat.

Cargo Capacity

To allow full utilization of available cargo room, the Q50’s trunk lid uses gas strut supported hinges that don’t intrude into the trunk. The Passat’s useful trunk space is reduced by its intrusive beam hinge.

Servicing Ease

The Q50 uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Passat uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

The engine in the Q50 is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Passat. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Infiniti service is better than Volkswagen. J.D. Power ranks Infiniti 9th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 29% lower rating, Volkswagen is ranked 28th.

Ergonomics

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 Passat doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

If the windows are left open on the Q50 the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Passat can’t use the remote to operate the windows.

The Q50’s standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Passat has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

On extremely cold winter days, the Q50’s standard heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the car heater warms up. The Passat doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

Economic Advantages

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Q50 is less expensive to operate than the Passat because it costs $36 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Q50 than the Passat, including $208 less for a water pump, $108 less for a muffler, $4 less for front brake pads, $250 less for a starter and $207 less for a timing belt/chain.

Recommendations

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