Compare the2023 Infiniti Q50VS 2023 Lexus ES

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 ES doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

Both the Q50 and the ES 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, rear cross-path warning 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 Lexus ES:

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 ES’ 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 10,000 miles sooner.

The Q50’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the ES’ (7 vs. 6 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 22 points higher than the ES.

The Q50 has more powerful engines than the ES:

As tested in Consumer Reports the Infiniti Q50 3.0 is faster than the ES 350 3.5 DOHC V6:

The Q50 has 6.8 gallons more fuel capacity than the ES Hybrid’s standard fuel tank (20 vs. 13.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Q50 has 4.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the ES’ standard fuel tank (20 vs. 15.9 gallons).

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

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 ES are solid, not vented.

The Q50 stops shorter than the ES:

For better traction, the Q50 has larger standard tires than the ES (225/50R18 vs. 215/55R17). The Q50 Red Sport 400’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the ES (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 ES’ standard 55 series tires. The Q50 Red Sport 400’s 265/35R19 rear tires have a lower 35 series profile than the ES F Sport’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 ES.

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 ES 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 ES 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 ES doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For better maneuverability, the Q50’s turning circle is 1.3 feet tighter than the ES’ (36.7 feet vs. 38 feet). The Q50 AWD’s turning circle is .6 feet tighter than the ES’ (37.4 feet vs. 38 feet).

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

The Q50 has 2 inches more front headroom, 2.1 inches more front legroom, .8 inches more front shoulder room and 1.8 inches more rear shoulder room than the ES.

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 ES’ useful trunk space is reduced by its intrusive beam hinge.

The Q50’s standard rear seats fold to accommodate long and bulky cargo. The ES doesn’t offer folding rear seats, only a ski pass-through.

The engine in the Q50 is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the ES. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because there are no rear spark plugs and the accessory belts are in front.

The Q50’s standard Entry/Exit Assist raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. An easy entry system costs extra on the ES.

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 ES’ standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

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

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Q50 is less expensive to operate than the ES because typical repairs cost much less on the Q50 than the ES, including $146 less for a water pump, $24 less for front brake pads, $45 less for a starter, $23 less for fuel injection and $781 less for a timing belt/chain.

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