Compare the2023 Lexus RCVS 2022 Infiniti Q60

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Lexus RC have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision. The Infiniti Q60 doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

The Lexus RC 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 Q60 doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The RC 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. Only the Q60 Luxe/Red Sport 400 offers a blind spot warning system.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the RC 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. Only the Q60 Luxe/Red Sport 400 has a rear cross-path warning system.

The RC’s 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 Q60 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the RC and the Q60 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, collision warning systems, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive and rear parking sensors.

For its top level performance in all IIHS frontal, side, rear impact and roof-crush tests, and its standard front crash prevention system, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the RC the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2017, a rating granted to only 230 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Q60 has not been tested, yet.

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

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.

On the EPA test cycle the RC gets better mileage than the Q60:

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Lexus RC higher (5 out of 10) than the Infiniti Q60 (3). This means the RC produces up to 16.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Q60 every 15,000 miles.

An eight-speed automatic is standard on the Lexus RC, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a seven-speed automatic is available for the Q60.

For better stopping power the RC’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the Q60:

The RC stops shorter than the Q60:

The RC has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the Q60; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed. Some tire options on the Q60 don’t have a run-flat feature, either.

The RC has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Q60’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

For better maneuverability, the RC’s turning circle is 2.5 feet tighter than the Q60’s (34.2 feet vs. 36.7 feet). The RC AWD’s turning circle is 3.3 feet tighter than the Q60 AWD’s (34.8 feet vs. 38.1 feet).

The RC has 1.1 inches more front headroom, 2.3 inches more front legroom, .1 inches more front shoulder room and .3 inches more rear headroom than the Q60.

The RC has a much larger trunk than the Q60 (10.4 vs. 8.7 cubic feet).

A low lift-over trunk design makes loading and unloading the RC easier. The RC’s trunk lift-over height is 27.6 inches, while the Q60’s liftover is 33.4 inches.

The RC’s standard folding rear seats are split to accommodate bulky cargo. The Q60’s standard single piece folding rear seat is not as flexible; long cargo and a passenger can’t share the rear seat.

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.

The RC’s optional easy entry system 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 Q60 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The RC’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Q60 does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The RC’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Q60’s parking brake has to be released manually.

The power windows standard on both the RC and the Q60 have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the RC is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The Q60 prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

Smart Access standard on the RC allows you to unlock the driver’s door, trunk and start the engine all without removing a key from pocket or purse. This eliminates searching for keys before loading groceries, getting in the vehicle in bad weather or making a hurried start to your trip. The Infiniti Q60’s Infiniti Intelligent Key doesn’t unlock the trunk.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The RC offers available headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The Q60 doesn’t offer headlight washers.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the RC keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Q60 doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

Both the RC and the Q60 offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the RC has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Q60 doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

Insurance will cost less for the RC owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the RC will cost $1170 less than the Q60 over a five-year period.

The RC will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the RC will retain 51.63% to 53.31% of its original price after five years, while the Q60 only retains 43.6% to 44.67%.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Lexus RC will be $5997 to $16390 less than for the Infiniti Q60.

The Lexus RC outsold the Infiniti Q60 by 43% during 2022.