2020 Infiniti Q50

There are very cars in the segment that blend in luxury and sportiness, as well as the Q50, does. Sure, it is no sports car but it captures the essence of one very efficiently. The 2020 Infiniti Q50 is a powerful, well-equipped luxury sedan. The Red Sport 400 gets a more powerful V-6 engine accelerating at 400-hp and a 3.5-litre V-6 is standard on the Hybrid. The Q5 may not be the fastest and does not offer everything that everyone wants but it offers a better value for money that every shopper need.

2020  Infiniti Q50 trims are divided into Luxe, Pure and Sport.  There is also the bonkers Red Sport trim, which we have reviewed separately. The base Pure comes standard with a 2.0-litre 4-cylinder engine, while the others are equipped with a 3.0 litre V6. All the trims of the 2020  Q50 can be bundled with the optional all-wheel-drive system. 

Every trim is not available with every engine option, the Q50 Pure is only available with the 2.0-litre turbocharged inline-4. While you get to choose between the engines in the Luxe as it is available with all the three-engine option, a 2.0-litre turbocharged, 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V-6 or the V-6 powered hybrid.

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Do not go for the base trim as it does not offer much apart from standard features. The Luxe available with all the three powertrains and optional packages adds many features providing more flexibility. The 300-horsepower 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V-6 engine delivers a strong performance in the Luxe trim. If you feel 300-horses are not enough the Red Sport with a stronger V-6 that delivers 400-horsepower should be your answer but it does come at a price.

Infiniti comes with 208 horses under the hood, it doesn’t set any performance standards for its segment. The base 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine with 208 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque outguns the base BMW 320i while the 300-horsepower 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V-6 with 295 pound-feet of torque makes for strong competition in the mid-range trims. The turbocharged inline-4 is very gentle in its power delivery, with plenty of pokes low down. It, however, runs out of steam once you put your foot down.

The power reaches the wheels via a 7-speed automatic gearbox. Both Rear-wheel and All wheel drive options are available. The gearbox isn’t a dual-clutch though, but that hardly is a problem. You get an electronic shift assist, which reduces stress while negotiating traffic. Meanwhile, the Hybrid Q50 is the most fuel-efficient in the roster and is powerful too. It is also mated to a V-6 engine and an electric motor that together produce 360-horsepower. Infiniti has offered three powertrains in the 2018 Q50 to choose from and they are powerful enough to take on the rivals. 

All the cars in this segment currently offer more power than the Q50. Maybe once the A4 is introduced for 2019, there could be a sub 200 Hp engine in here. Alfa Romeo sports the most powerful engine here, which does proud to its racing heritage.

Acceleration

Acceleration on the 2.0L variants feels rather dull at times. The car pulls up to 60 mph from a standstill in under 7 seconds and goes to a complete quarter of a mile in 15.4  seconds. The stats are decent for a car in its segment but a little bit of theatrics like an improved exhaust note would have certainly improved the experience. The closest rival Volvo S60 and the Mercedes C300 takes good 6.5 seconds in going from 0-60. However, there is a catch, the Q50 impresses with early acceleration but it fails to hold its ground when it comes to covering a quarter-mile. From being the fastest it drops to be the slowest by taking 15.9 seconds for a quarter-mile.

While the Q50 is still at the start line, Giulia and C-class have already crossed the finish line. Both these cars take 14 seconds to run a standing quarter-mile. 0 to 60 comes up in a blinding 5 and a half-second. Rest of the cars here take 6 seconds or over.

Ride and Handling

While most luxury cars come with front-wheel drive, the 2020  Infiniti Q50 like others in the competition offers a standard rear-wheel drive (AWD optional). It gets an updated suspension and improved steering which feels light and quick to respond. Handling is agile and there is not much body roll while cornering. The available Direct Adaptive steering system, however, (allows you to adjust the amount of energy required to turn the wheel) feels restive in normal condition.  The little 2-litre is a bit underpowered though, not only compared to the 3-litre V6 but other 2 litres in the segment. All variants can be had with either a Rear-wheel drive or an all-wheel drive. The latter is extremely smooth and has sharp handling characteristics. Higher trims (3.0t Sport and Red Sport) get adaptive dampers, but the standard suspension offers a great ride quality as well.

The ride and handling on the Infiniti Q50 come as a surprise since the car handles like a much smaller car than it actually is in reality. This allows the car to approach corners at fairly high speed. The positive feedback from the steering and ample amounts of grip inspire great confidence and allow the driver to push the car to its limit safely. There is an optional steer-by-wire system, which is a lighter electronic steering system. Although the system sounds good in theory, it robs the driver of any feel and feedback, which makes it a feature you should opt-out of.

Braking

The brakes on the Infiniti Q50 feature a 12.6-inch rotor on the front and a 12.1-inch rotor on the rear. The brakes pedals provide nimbly and almost immediate feedback which allows the driver to brake efficiently.  Braking statistics for the 2019 Q50 Infiniti haven’t been declared yet, but it gets a decent braking system that should perform well under panic braking situations.

It would be unfair to talk about braking performance when braking figures aren’t available for a majority of this chunk. What we do have are brake disc sizes and curb weights. The Jag has the lightest body here, and so does the Merc (expected). Genesis offers the largest disc in the G70 (front), which should see it shed speed with urgency.

Fuel economy has become a deciding factor for buyers of the present due to the rising fuel costs. The Infiniti Q50 is able to return a modest mileage of 25 mpg combined. But, in comparison with rivals, it acquires the bottom spot. The same amount of fuel can stretch to 30 miles on the highway. Well, you can’t have everything and the Q50 scores poorly in terms of fuel efficiency which is the lowest in the class.

Alfa Giulia is the best engine in this segment, offering the best power output with great efficiency figures. The little turbocharged mill was made by a race of advanced aliens who are clearly superior to humans and then infused with some dark magic we shouldn’t ask about. While this isn’t true, sadly, it could very well be. The engines would happily run for 33 miles on the freeway while sipping on a gallon of gasoline. Jaguar’s less powerful engine can stretch the gallon a mile more.

The seating and comfort levels on the Q50 allow it to give tough competition to its rivals. The car features seating for up to 5 occupants. The seats are draped in leather and offer the optimum amount of thigh support and padding. The coloured stitching on the seats further adds to the overall appeal of the car. The 2020 Infiniti Q50 is very quiet even at highway speed. Wind noise is minimal but the rumbling engine and tire will also not bother you. Suspensions are strong and do a good job in isolating the driver and passenger from bumpy roads. Getting in and out of the car is easy. The Q50 is the longest in the segment ensures that even the tallest person can be at ease in the back seat.

The 2020 Infiniti Q50 weighs the same as the 2019 model, 2671 pounds. It is also moderately long, just a smidge under 190 inches. Infiniti has stuck to its design which is almost a decade old now, however superior material has been used in the cabin of 2020 Q50. It feels robust from inside and all the controls are within reach. The touchscreen infotainment system has some drawback as the display is often concealed by glares and fingerprints.

Kia Stinger is the longest car here, at just over 190 inches. It also has the longest wheelbase, at 114 inches. Consequently, it is the hardest to squeeze into a tight parking spot. The nimble Giulia is the smallest, at 182 inches. In typical Italian fashion, it is also one of the prettiest here, alongside the handsome British Jaguar. 

Infotainment System

The infotainment setup on the 2020  Infiniti Q50 features a dual-screen setup. The screens are mounted one on top of the other on the dash top. The upper screen is 8 inch in size while the lower one is 7 inch in size. The overall setup feels a little dated when compared with rivals. The response times are modest, to say the least. The system does require a little getting used to in order to be used efficiently. Both the screens perform different functions, the upper one is the viewer for a rearview camera and navigation system while the lower one displays audio, climate and other systems.

An uncommon feature that the car boasts is that its upgraded climate control system includes an air purifier which is not found in most luxury cars. It supports voice commands too. Other standard features on offer are:

• 6-speaker audio system with high-definition AM/FM radio
• CD with MP3 playback capability
• Radio Data System
• Speed-sensitive volume control
• USB Connectivity with 2 ports
• Bluetooth Audio Streaming

Apart from these, you get SiriusXM services for a limited time, like SiriusXM radio for 3 months, and SiriusXM Travel Link services for 4-years with trial access to weather, news, sports, etc.

Cargo Capacity

The loading bay is placed at an optimum height to allow cargo to be loaded easily. The overall config makes the boot smaller than it actually is. Airport runs and long-distance journeys shouldn't because of concern on this vehicle.  Space is plenty for groceries and similar cargo. Anything more than two briefcases, and the rear passengers will have to scoot over to make space.

Kia Stinger decimates the competition with its class-leading figure of 23 cubic feet. None of the cars in this segment come close in terms of trunk space. If you frequent the airport with considerable luggage, then all others would be a compromise.

The 2020  Infiniti Q50 gets an enhanced look with some visual updates. There are no changes made in the hood and the headlights but the front grille has been modified.  A bolder and wider bumper differentiate the 3.0t Sport and the Q50 Red Sport 400 trim. Overall, the Sports Sedan looks stylish and more aggressive than its predecessors. Visual gaps within the trims are quite prominent.  The Pure and the Luxe trim gets a 17 or 18-inch alloy wheel, a smaller fog light and a body-colour exhaust while the Sport and the Red Sport 400 comes with a dark chrome, larger wheel size, and fog light.  It also distinguishes itself further with a black lower-bumper section and a distinct body colour diffuser.

The engine resides under a very long and low hood. This lends to this already muscular car a visually striking front quarter. The headlights and taillights are uniquely shaped and complement each other. The roofline slopes gently, and the C-pillar increases in thickness around the shoulder line. The front grille is unique too and quite large with honeycomb mesh. It isn’t Overall, the car feels more premium than it actually is. 

Exterior Features

Some of the exterior features of the Infiniti Q50 include

• Hexagonal front grille
• LED headlamps
• LED DRLs
• the alloy wheels 
• Hexagonal front grille
• LED headlamps
• LED DRLs
• Multi-spoke alloy wheels 

Standard safety features on the 2020 Q50 Infinity are as follows:

• INFINITI Advanced Air Bag System includes dual-stage front supplemental airbags with an occupant classification sensor. Airbag inflation rate is adjusted depending on crash severity. If the front-passenger’s seat is empty, a sensor will deactivate the airbag
• Driver's and front passenger's side-impact supplemental airbags 
• Roof-mounted curtain side-impact supplemental airbags for front and rear-seat outboard occupant's head protection
• Front seat belts with pretensioners and load limiters, driver’s and passenger's seat Emergency Locking Retractor and passenger’s seat ELR and Automatic Locking Retractor
• Second-row 3-point seat belts with Emergency Locking Retractor and Automatic Locking Retractor
• Zone Body construction with reinforced passenger compartment and front and rear crumple zones
• LATCH system (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren) helps simplify proper installation of compatible child restraint seats
• Slide-away brake pedal assembly
• Emergency inside trunk release
• Predictive Forward Collision Warning 
• Forward Emergency Braking

 Infiniti Q50 vs Kia Stinger

Kia Stinger is the new kid on the block. Introduced to the US shores in 2018, it ticks almost all the correct boxes a premium compact sedan should. Power and performance figures are great, looks are, well, striking to say the least. Cargo volume is excellent, nearly double the segment average.

Sales figures though, tell a different story. The Stinger hasn’t caught the fancy of the youth as Kia hoped it would. With excitement as its USP, the Stinger would be a great gift for your adrenaline powered teen. If you are looking for one yourself, then better stick to the comfy Infiniti.

Infiniti Q50 vs Lexus IS 300

Lexus has been the segment benchmark since forever. The 2020 IS300 model is a great allrounder even today. It isn’t the most exciting, or the best handler, and even with your foot down you wouldn’t feel the power surge. But it is a handsome car with a very comfortable ride. In essence, both the Q50 and IS 300 have the same strengths and weaknesses. The Infinity offers a little more cabin space though.

Infiniti Q50 vs Alfa Romeo Giulia

Alfa excels where the Infiniti doesn’t set foot. With the highest power rating, quickest acceleration and Italian suave, it is the exact opposite of the slow and comfy. Giulia’s steering and pedal responses are urgent, and the car loves to be ridden hard. Practicality takes a big hit, with small passenger space and trunk. It is the perfect car for enthusiasts who love to hang around the track during their day off. Consequently, it is not the car for people who are primarily looking for a commuter.

The Infiniti Q50 makes for a great alternative to the boring looking German sedans that rule the segment at present. It is however not a class leader in any area along with some notable shortcomings, like the fuel efficiency. It is well equipped and relatively cheaper than other luxury cars in the segment but doesn’t match up to Germany’s finest yet. The efficiency is great as well in the base engine, the 2-litre inline-4.

If you can buy the performance variant, the Red Sport, then it is a practical yet exciting car, a winning combination.  It is well equipped and relatively cheaper than other luxury cars in the segment but doesn’t match up to Germany’s finest yet. With so many better options available in the market it is hard for us to recommend the Infiniti Q50 to the buyers.