Compare the2023 Lexus LSVS 2023 Infiniti Q50

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

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Lexus LS have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Infiniti Q50 doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

The Lexus LS has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Q50 doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The LS has standard Secondary Collision Brake, which automatically apply the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Q50 doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

The LS’ driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Q50 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the LS and the Q50 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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 Lexus LS weighs 698 to 1361 pounds more than the Infiniti Q50. The NHTSA advises that heavier cars are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

Warranty

There are over 20 percent more Lexus dealers than there are Infiniti dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the LS’ warranty.

Reliability

The battery on the LS is in the trunk, which protects it from hot underhood temperatures that can degrade battery life. By keeping the LS’ battery 20 to 30 degrees cooler, its life is increased by years. The Q50’s battery is in the hot engine compartment.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are better in initial quality than Infiniti vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus above average in initial quality. With 47 more problems per 100 vehicles, Infiniti is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Infiniti vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus above average in long-term dependability. With 33 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Infiniti is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Infiniti vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Lexus third in overall reliability. Infiniti is ranked 11th.

Engine

The LS 500h’s standard 3.5 DOHC V6 hybrid produces 54 more horsepower (354 vs. 300) and 55 lbs.-ft. more torque (350 vs. 295) than the Q50’s standard 3.0 turbo V6. The LS 500’s standard 3.4 turbo V6 produces 16 more horsepower (416 vs. 400) and 92 lbs.-ft. more torque (442 vs. 350) than the Q50 Red Sport 400’s standard 3.0 turbo V6.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the LS gets better mileage than the Q50:

			MPG
LS
	RWD	500 3.4 turbo V6	18 city/29 hwy
	AWD	500h 3.5 V6 Hybrid	22 city/29 hwy
Q50
	RWD	Red Sport 400 3.0 turbo V6	20 city/26 hwy
	AWD	3.0 turbo V6	19 city/27 hwy
		Red Sport 400 3.0 turbo V6	19 city/26 hwy

The LS can travel with zero emissions on a full charge for .6 miles. The Q50 can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

Regenerative brakes improve the LS 500h’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Q50 doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the LS Hybrid’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. The Q50 doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The LS’ standard fuel tank has 1.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the Q50 (21.7 vs. 20 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The LS Hybrid’s standard fuel tank has 2.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the Q50 (22.2 vs. 20 gallons).

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Lexus LS higher (5 to 7 out of 10) than the Infiniti Q50 (3). This means the LS produces up to 24.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Q50 every 15,000 miles.

Transmission

A 10-speed automatic is standard on the Lexus LS, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a seven-speed automatic is available for the Q50.

The LS 500h 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 Q50 doesn’t offer a CVT.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	LS	LS 500 F Sport	Q50	Q50 Red Sport 400
Front Rotors	14 inches	15.7 inches	12.6 inches	14 inches
Rear Rotors	13.1 inches	14.1 inches	12.1 inches	13.8 inches

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the LS has larger standard tires than the Q50 (245/50R19 vs. 225/50R18).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the LS has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Q50 Luxe. The LS’ optional 20-inch wheels are larger than the 19-inch wheels on the Q50 Sensory/Red Sport 400 AWD.

Suspension and Handling

The LS has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Q50’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

The LS F-Sport offers active sway bars, which help keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnect at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The Q50 doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The LS has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The LS’ height leveling suspension allows the driver to raise ride height for better off-road clearance and then lower it again for easier entering and exiting and better on-road handling. The Q50 doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the LS’ wheelbase is 10.8 inches longer than on the Q50 (123 inches vs. 112.2 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the LS is 3.7 inches wider in the front and 2.7 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Q50.

The LS’ front to rear weight distribution is more even (53% to 47%) than the Q50’s (55.8% to 44.2%). This gives the LS more stable handling and braking.

Chassis

The LS uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Q50 doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Passenger Space

The LS has 2.3 inches more front hip room, 2.1 inches more front shoulder room, .5 inches more rear headroom, 3.8 inches more rear legroom, 2.6 inches more rear hip room and .3 inches more rear shoulder room than the Q50.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the LS’ available rear seats recline. The Q50’s rear seats don’t recline.

Cargo Capacity

The LS has a much larger trunk than the Q50 (17 vs. 13.5 cubic feet).

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the LS’ power trunk can be opened or closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Q50 doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening trunk.

Servicing Ease

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Lexus service is better than Infiniti. J.D. Power ranks Lexus first in service department satisfaction. With a 35% lower rating, Infiniti is ranked 9th.

Ergonomics

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the Q50, the LS has standard driver and passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position, outside mirror angle and climate settings and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The LS offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed, tachometer 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 Q50 doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The LS’ power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Q50’s parking brake has to be released manually.

The power windows standard on both the LS and the Q50 have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the LS is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The Q50 prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

Consumer Reports rated the LS’ headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the Q50’s headlights, which were rated “Good.”

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The LS offers available headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The Q50 doesn’t offer headlight washers.

A power rear sunshade is standard in the LS and power rear side window sunshades are optional to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Q50 doesn’t offer a rear or rear side window sunshades.

Both the LS and the Q50 have standard heated front seats. The LS also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Q50.

The LS has standard front air conditioned seats and offers them optionally in the rear. This keeps the passengers comfortable and takes the sting out of hot seats in summer. The Q50 doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The LS offers optional massaging front and rear seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Q50.

The LS offers an optional 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Q50 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

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