Compare the2024 Infiniti Q50VS 2023 Tesla Model 3

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 Model 3 doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The Q50 has a standard Around View® Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Model 3 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.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Q50’s standard Rear Cross Traffic Alert uses sensors in the rear to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side and Back-up Collision Intervention automatically engages the brakes to help avoid a collision. The Model 3 doesn’t offer a rear cross-path warning system.

The Q50 has standard Emergency Call with Automatic Collision Notification, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to get turn-by-turn driving directions, remotely unlock your doors if you lock your keys in, help track down your vehicle if it’s stolen or send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The Model 3 doesn’t offer a GPS response system, only a navigation computer with no live response for emergencies, so if you’re involved in an accident and you’re incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

Both the Q50 and the Model 3 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, blind spot 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 Model 3’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 10,000 miles sooner.

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. Tesla doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Model 3.

There are over 32 percent more Infiniti dealers than there are Tesla dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Q50’s warranty.

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 Tesla vehicles. With 45 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Infiniti higher than Tesla.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Infiniti vehicles are more reliable than Tesla vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Infiniti 1 place higher in reliability than Tesla.

The Q50 stops much shorter than the Model 3:

For better traction, the Q50 Red Sport 400’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Model 3 (F:245/40R19 & R:265/35R19 vs. 235/45R18).

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 Model 3 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. The Model 3 doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

The Q50 offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads. The Model 3’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The Q50 Red Sport 400 handles at .88 G’s, while the Model 3 pulls only .84 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the Q50’s turning circle is 1.3 feet tighter than the Model 3’s (36.7 feet vs. 38 feet). The Q50 AWD’s turning circle is .6 feet tighter than the Model 3’s (37.4 feet vs. 38 feet).

The Q50 has 3 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Model 3 (100 vs. 97).

The Q50 has 1.8 inches more front legroom, .4 inches more front shoulder room, .1 inches more rear hip room and 2.1 inches more rear shoulder room than the Model 3.

With its sedan body style, valet key, locking rear seatbacks and remote trunk release lockout, the Q50 offers cargo security. The Model 3’s non-lockable folding seat defeats cargo security.

A maintenance reminder system is standard on the Q50 to save the owner time and money by calculating maintenance intervals for oil changes and tire rotation based on odometer mileage. This takes the guesswork out of keeping your vehicle in top condition and helps it last longer. Tesla doesn’t offer a maintenance reminder on the Model 3.

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 Model 3 doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The Q50’s standard side window demisters help clear frost or condensation from the side windows in the winter. The Model 3 doesn’t even offer side window demisters, so the driver may have to wipe the windows from the outside to gain side vision.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Q50 has standard extendable sun visors. The Model 3 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Insurance will cost less for the Q50 owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the Q50 with a number “1” insurance rate while the Model 3 is rated higher at a number “5” rate.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Q50 is less expensive to operate than the Model 3 because typical repairs cost much less on the Q50 than the Model 3, including $645 less for a water pump and $23 less for front brake pads.