Compare the2023 Infiniti QX50VS 2023 Audi Q3

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

Safety

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In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the QX50 are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Q3 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The QX50 has standard Rear Automatic Braking that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The Q3 doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

Both the QX50 and the Q3 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee 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, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Infiniti QX50 is safer than the Audi Q3:

	QX50	Q3
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	236	326
Neck Injury Risk	26%	39%
Neck Stress	245 lbs.	343 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	155/130 lbs.	235/363 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	333	346
Chest Compression	.6 inches	.6 inches
Neck Injury Risk	31%	35%
Neck Stress	161 lbs.	186 lbs.
Neck Compression	48 lbs.	83 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 QX50 is safer than the Audi Q3:

	QX50	Q3
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	306 lbs.	333 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	73	159
Spine Acceleration	25 G’s	43 G’s
Hip Force	227 lbs.	632 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	333	504
Spine Acceleration	39 G’s	47 G’s
Hip Force	339 lbs.	485 lbs.

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

Warranty

The QX50 comes with a full 4-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Q3’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 10,000 miles sooner.

Infiniti’s powertrain warranty covers the QX50 2 years and 20,000 miles longer than Audi covers the Q3. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the Q3 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

Infiniti pays for scheduled maintenance on the QX50 for 3 years and 36,000 miles. Infiniti will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Audi only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the Q3.

Reliability

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the QX50 has a standard 720-amp battery. The Q3’s 680-amp battery 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 QX50’s reliability 14 points higher than the Q3.

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.

Engine

The QX50’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 40 more horsepower (268 vs. 228) and 22 lbs.-ft. more torque (280 vs. 258) than the Q3’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Infiniti QX50 is faster than the Audi Q3:

	QX50	Q3
Zero to 60 MPH	6.3 sec	8.5 sec
Quarter Mile	14.8 sec	16.5 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	93.6 MPH	85.4 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the QX50 gets better mileage than the Q3:

			MPG
QX50
	FWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	23 city/29 hwy
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/28 hwy
Q3
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	21 city/28 hwy

Transmission

The QX50 has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Q3 doesn’t offer a CVT.

Brakes and Stopping

The QX50 stops shorter than the Q3:

	QX50	Q3
60 to 0 MPH	121 feet	125 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	130 feet	135 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the QX50 has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Q3.

The QX50 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 Q3 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 QX50 can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The Q3 doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the QX50’s wheelbase is 4.7 inches longer than on the Q3 (110.2 inches vs. 105.5 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the QX50 is 2.2 inches wider in the front and 2.1 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Q3.

The QX50 AWD handles at .84 G’s, while the Q3 pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The QX50 AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.7 seconds quicker than the Q3 (26.7 seconds @ .66 average G’s vs. 28.4 seconds @ .65 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the QX50’s turning circle is 2 feet tighter than the Q3’s (36.4 feet vs. 38.4 feet).

For greater off-road capability the QX50 has a 3.1 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Q3 (8.6 vs. 5.5 inches), allowing the QX50 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

The design of the Infiniti QX50 amounts to more than styling. The QX50 has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .32 Cd. That is significantly lower than the Q3 (.37) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the QX50 get better fuel mileage.

The QX50 uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Q3 doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Passenger Space

The QX50 has 20.4 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Q3 (104.4 vs. 84).

The QX50 has 1.4 inches more front headroom, 1.2 inches more front shoulder room, 1.5 inches more rear headroom, 2.6 inches more rear legroom and 2 inches more rear shoulder room than the Q3.

Cargo Capacity

The QX50 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Q3 with its rear seat up (31.4 vs. 23.7 cubic feet). The QX50 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Q3 with its rear seat folded (65.1 vs. 48 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the QX50 easier. The QX50’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 26.6 inches, while the Q3’s liftover is 27.8 inches.

The QX50’s cargo area is larger than the Q3’s in every dimension:

	QX50	Q3
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	39”/71.7”	34”/65”
Max Width	54.5”	54”
Min Width	41.5”	39”
Height	31.2”	28”

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the QX50’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Q3 doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

Towing

Maximum trailer towing in the Audi Q3 is limited to 1500 pounds. The QX50 AWD offers up to a 3000 lbs. towing capacity.

Ergonomics

The QX50 has a standard 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 Q3 doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The QX50 Luxe/Sport/Sensory/Autograph’s standard Entry/Exit Assist raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Q3 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The QX50 Sensory/Autograph has a standard heads-up display that projects speed and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Q3 doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The QX50’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Q3’s cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the QX50 has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the Q3 only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

Consumer Reports rated the QX50’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the Q3’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

The Q3 Premium Plus’ cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The QX50 Sensory/Autograph’s standard 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.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the QX50 to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Q3 doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

When the QX50 Luxe/Sport/Sensory/Autograph is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Q3’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

Both the QX50 and the Q3 offer available heated front seats. The QX50 Sport/Sensory/Autograph also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Q3.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the QX50 Sport/Sensory/Autograph keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Q3 doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

On extremely cold winter days, the QX50 Sport/Sensory/Autograph’s standard heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the vehicle heater warms up. The Q3 doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Infiniti QX50 has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) for the front seat. Only the Q3 Premium Plus offers wireless charging.

Model Availability

The QX50 is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Q3 doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Economic Advantages

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the QX50 is less expensive to operate than the Q3 because it costs $382 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the QX50 than the Q3, including $19 less for front brake pads, $166 less for a starter, $90 less for fuel injection and $366 less for front struts.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Infiniti QX50, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Audi Q3 isn't recommended.