Compare the2023 Infiniti Q50VS 2023 Audi A6

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 A6’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 A6.

Both the Q50 and the A6 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, 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 Audi A6:

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 A6’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 Audi covers the A6. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the A6 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 21 points higher than the A6.

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 Audi vehicles. With 35 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Infiniti higher than Audi.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Infiniti vehicles are more reliable than Audi With 4 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Infiniti higher than Audi.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Infiniti vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Infiniti 3 places higher in reliability than Audi.

The Q50’s standard 3.0 turbo V6 produces 39 more horsepower (300 vs. 261) and 22 lbs.-ft. more torque (295 vs. 273) than the A6 45 TFSI’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid. The Q50 Red Sport 400’s standard 3.0 turbo V6 produces 65 more horsepower (400 vs. 335) than the A6 55 TFSI’s standard 3.0 turbo V6 hybrid.

For better stopping power the Q50 Red Sport 400’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the A6:

The Q50 stops shorter than the A6:

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 A6’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 A6 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 A6 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 A6 doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For better maneuverability, the Q50’s turning circle is 3 feet tighter than the A6’s (36.7 feet vs. 39.7 feet). The Q50 AWD’s turning circle is 2.3 feet tighter than the A6’s (37.4 feet vs. 39.7 feet).

The Infiniti Q50 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 250 to 350 pounds less than the Audi A6.

The Q50 is 4.8 inches shorter than the A6, making the Q50 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Q50 has 1.5 inches more front headroom and 3.2 inches more front legroom than the A6.

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 A6 doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

Consumer Reports rated the Q50’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the A6’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 A6.

The Q50 is available in both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations. The A6 doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

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 A6 is rated higher at a number “3” rate.

The Q50 will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Q50 will retain 43.31% to 44.42% of its original price after five years, while the A6 only retains 39.58% to 41.37%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Q50 is less expensive to operate than the A6 because it costs $91 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Q50 than the A6, including $416 less for a water pump, $71 less for a muffler, $92 less for front brake pads, $423 less for a starter, $1279 less for fuel injection and $83 less for a fuel pump.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Infiniti Q50 will be $3171 to $9499 less than for the Audi A6.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Infiniti Q50 and the Audi A6, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Infiniti Q50 outsold the Audi A6/S6/RS 6 by 29% during the 2022 model year.