Compare the2024 Infiniti Q50VS 2024 Audi S3

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 S3 doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

The Q50 has a standard Around View® Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The S3 only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

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 S3’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. Audi charges extra for Rear Cross-Traffic Assist on the S3.

Both the Q50 and the S3 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 S3’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 10,000 miles sooner.

Infiniti’s powertrain warranty covers the Q50 2 years and 20,000 miles longer than Audi covers the S3. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the S3 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

Infiniti pays for scheduled maintenance on the Q50 for 3 years and 36,000 miles. Infiniti will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Audi only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the S3.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 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 9 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 2024 Auto Issue reports that Infiniti vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Infiniti 6 places higher in reliability than Audi.

The Q50 Red Sport 400’s standard 3.0 turbo V6 produces 94 more horsepower (400 vs. 306) and 55 lbs.-ft. more torque (350 vs. 295) than the S3’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

The Q50 has 5.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the S3 (20 vs. 14.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

For better traction, the Q50 Red Sport 400’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the S3 (F:245/40R19 & R:265/35R19 vs. 235/35R19).

The Q50 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 S3 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 Q50 can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. Run-flat tires aren’t available on some tire packages on the S3.

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 S3 doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Q50’s wheelbase is 8.6 inches longer than on the S3 (112.2 inches vs. 103.6 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Q50 is 1.8 inches wider in the rear than the track on the S3.

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the Q50 a Mid-size car, while the S3 is rated a Subcompact.

The Q50 has 14 cubic feet more passenger volume than the S3 (100 vs. 86).

The Q50 has 2.7 inches more front headroom, 3.3 inches more front legroom, 1.9 inches more front shoulder room, .2 inches more rear headroom and 3.1 inches more rear shoulder room than the S3.

The Q50 has a much larger trunk than the S3 (13.5 vs. 8.3 cubic feet).

With its sedan body style, valet key, locking rear seatbacks and remote trunk release lockout, the Q50 offers cargo security. The S3’s non-lockable folding seat and non-lockable remote release defeat cargo security.

The engine in the Q50 is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the S3. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

The Q50’s standard Entry/Exit Assist raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The S3 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The S3’s cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The Q50 Red Sport 400’s optional 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.

The Q50’s sun-visors swivel front-to-side to block glare from the side windows. The S3’s visors are fixed into the windshield header.

On extremely cold winter days, the Q50’s standard heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the car heater warms up. The S3 doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

The Q50 is available in both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations. The S3 doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

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