Compare the2023 Infiniti Q50VS 2023 Nissan Maxima

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 Maxima doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

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

Both the Q50 and the Maxima 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 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 Nissan Maxima:

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

The Infiniti Q50 has a better fatality history. The Q50 was involved in fatal accidents at a rate 18.6% lower per vehicle registered than the Maxima, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

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 Maxima’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 Nissan covers the Maxima. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the Maxima ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The Q50’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the Maxima’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 27 points higher than the Maxima.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Infiniti vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Infiniti 2 places higher in reliability than Nissan.

The Q50’s standard 3.0 turbo V6 produces 34 lbs.-ft. more torque (295 vs. 261) than the Maxima’s 3.5 DOHC V6. The Q50 Red Sport 400’s standard 3.0 turbo V6 produces 100 more horsepower (400 vs. 300) and 89 lbs.-ft. more torque (350 vs. 261) than the Maxima’s 3.5 DOHC V6.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Infiniti Q50 3.0 is faster than the Nissan Maxima:

The Q50 has 2 gallons more fuel capacity than the Maxima (20 vs. 18 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 Maxima:

The Q50 stops shorter than the Maxima:

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 Maxima SR/Platinum’s 40 series tires.

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 Maxima doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

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 Maxima’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 Maxima doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Q50’s wheelbase is 2.9 inches longer than on the Maxima (112.2 inches vs. 109.3 inches).

The Q50’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (55.8% to 44.2%) than the Maxima’s (60.8% to 39.2%). This gives the Q50 more stable handling and braking.

The Q50 Red Sport 400 handles at .88 G’s, while the Maxima SR pulls only .87 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the Q50’s turning circle is 1.4 feet tighter than the Maxima’s (36.7 feet vs. 38.1 feet). The Q50 AWD’s turning circle is .7 feet tighter than the Maxima’s (37.4 feet vs. 38.1 feet).

The Q50 is 3.2 inches shorter than the Maxima, making the Q50 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The design of the Infiniti Q50 amounts to more than styling. The Q50 offers aerodynamic coefficients of drag from .26 to .29 Cd (depending on bodystyle and options). That is lower than the Maxima (.29 to .3) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the Q50 get better fuel mileage.

The Q50 has .1 inches more front headroom, .1 inches more rear headroom, .9 inches more rear legroom and .4 inches more rear shoulder room than the Maxima.

The engine in the Q50 is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Maxima. 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 Nissan. J.D. Power ranks Infiniti 9th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 13% lower rating, Nissan is ranked 18th.

The Q50’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Maxima’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

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

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Q50 Red Sport 400 offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Maxima doesn’t offer cornering lights.

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 Maxima SR/Platinum.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Q50 is less expensive to operate than the Maxima because typical repairs cost less on the Q50 than the Maxima, including $155 less for a water pump, $50 less for a muffler, $6 less for front brake pads, $13 less for fuel injection and $146 less for a timing belt/chain.

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