Compare the2023 Infiniti Q50VS 2023 Acura TLX

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 TLX doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Q50 has standard Back-up Collision Intervention that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The TLX doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The Q50 has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them and moves the vehicle back into its lane. A system to reveal vehicles in the TLX’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Q50 has standard Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Back-up Collision Intervention automatically engages the brakes to help avoid a collision. Acura charges extra for Rear Cross Traffic Monitor on the TLX and the TLX’s Rear Cross Traffic Monitor does not include automatic braking.

Both the Q50 and the TLX 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, rearview cameras and available all wheel drive.

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

The Q50’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the TLX’s (7 vs. 5 years).

Infiniti pays for scheduled maintenance on the Q50 for 1 year and 12000 miles longer than Acura pays for maintenance for the TLX (3/36,000 vs. 2/24,000).

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 25 points higher than the TLX.

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 Acura With 16 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Infiniti higher than Acura.

The Q50’s standard 3.0 turbo V6 produces 28 more horsepower (300 vs. 272) and 15 lbs.-ft. more torque (295 vs. 280) than the TLX’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The Q50 Red Sport 400’s standard 3.0 turbo V6 produces 45 more horsepower (400 vs. 355) than the TLX Type S’ standard 3.0 turbo V6.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Infiniti Q50 3.0 is faster than the Acura TLX turbo 4 cyl.:

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

The Q50 has 4.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the TLX (20 vs. 15.9 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

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 TLX are solid, not vented.

The Q50 stops much shorter than the TLX:

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 TLX 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 TLX doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

The Q50 Red Sport 400 handles at .88 G’s, while the TLX A-Spec SH-AWD pulls only .87 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the Q50’s turning circle is 3.4 feet tighter than the TLX’s (36.7 feet vs. 40.1 feet). The Q50 AWD’s turning circle is 2.8 feet tighter than the TLX with 19/20-inch wheels’ (37.4 feet vs. 40.2 feet).

The Q50 is 5 inches shorter than the TLX, making the Q50 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the Q50 a Mid-size car, while the TLX is rated a Compact.

The Q50 has 6.6 cubic feet more passenger volume than the TLX (100 vs. 93.4).

The Q50 has 2.3 inches more front headroom, 2 inches more front legroom, .5 inches more rear headroom, .2 inches more rear legroom and 1.1 inches more rear shoulder room than the TLX.

The engine in the Q50 is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the TLX. 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 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 TLX’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 TLX doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The Q50’s standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The TLX has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

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 TLX.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Infiniti Q50, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Acura TLX isn't recommended.