Compare the2024 Infiniti Q50VS 2024 Volkswagen Arteon

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 Arteon doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

Both the Q50 and the Arteon 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, rear cross-path warning 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 Arteon’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 Volkswagen covers the Arteon. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the Arteon ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

The Q50’s 7 year corrosion warranty has no mileage limitations, but the corrosion warranty on the Arteon runs out after 100,000 miles.

Infiniti pays for scheduled maintenance on the Q50 for 1 year and 16000 miles longer than Volkswagen pays for maintenance for the Arteon (3/36,000 vs. 2/20,000).

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 Volkswagen vehicles. With 37 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Infiniti higher than Volkswagen.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Infiniti vehicles are more reliable than Volkswagen vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Infiniti 14 places higher in reliability than Volkswagen.

The Q50 Red Sport 400’s standard 3.0 turbo V6 produces 100 more horsepower (400 vs. 300) and 55 lbs.-ft. more torque (350 vs. 295) than the Arteon’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

The Q50 has 2.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the Arteon (20 vs. 17.4 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

For better stopping power the Q50 Red Sport 400’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the Arteon:

The Q50 stops shorter than the Arteon:

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 Arteon 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 Arteon 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 Arteon doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For better maneuverability, the Q50’s turning circle is 2.3 feet tighter than the Arteon’s (36.7 feet vs. 39 feet). The Q50 AWD’s turning circle is 1.6 feet tighter than the Arteon’s (37.4 feet vs. 39 feet).

To almost totally eliminate engine vibration in the passenger area, the Q50 has liquid-filled engine mounts. The liquid helps further dampen engine harshness. The Arteon uses conventional solid rubber engine mounts.

The Q50 has 3.5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Arteon (100 vs. 96.5).

The Q50 has 1.6 inches more front headroom, 3.3 inches more front legroom, .2 inches more front shoulder room, 6 inches more rear hip room and 1.4 inches more rear shoulder room than the Arteon.

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

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

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Infiniti service is better than Volkswagen. J.D. Power ranks Infiniti 9th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 29% lower rating, Volkswagen is ranked 28th.

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

The Q50 will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Q50 will retain 45.32% to 45.77% of its original price after five years, while the Arteon only retains 35.76% to 36.38%.

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

The Infiniti Q50 outsold the Volkswagen Arteon by almost three to one during 2023.