2018 INFINITI Q50 Review

Name: 2018 INFINITI Q50 Review
Brand: INFINITI
Price: 20998 USD
Rating: 4.3 (42 reviews)

2018 INFINITI Q50 2.0t LUXE Sedan Exterior

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INFINITI Q50 model years

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Edmunds' Expert Review

byDan Frio^{Reviews Editor
Dan spent many years covering the go-fast, look-good, get-loud corners of the automotive universe. First, he served as editor of enthusiast magazines AutoSound and Honda Tuning, then as executive editor at SEMA News, the publishing arm of the trade group that produces the annual SEMA Show (yes, that show). As a contributor to Edmunds, he now likes to keep the volume low and the speed limit legal, providing expert car-shopping advice to drivers looking for the perfect match.}

Pros

Turbocharged V6 engines pack plenty of power and excitement
Many high-tech entertainment and safety features come standard
For a small luxury sedan, offers a pretty roomy trunk

Cons

Infotainment system isn't as user-friendly as many others
Interior design is showing its age in the face of more modern rivals

What’s new

For 2018, Infiniti has simplified the Q50's trim level names and shuffled some features and options. The front and rear ends also receive subtle exterior styling and interior trim changes.

Vehicle overview

Strong performance, plenty of premium features and a competitive price give the 2018 Infiniti Q50 a well-earned seat at the table with other refined and accomplished luxury sport sedans.

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2018 INFINITI Q50 2.0t PURE 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 7A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $4.45 per gallon for premium unleaded in Ohio.}

Monthly estimates based on costs in Ohio

$213/mo

$181/mo

Avg. Midsize Car

Calculate my fuel costs

The Q50's interior design continues to age gracefully, but age it does. It's the same basic design used since 2014, and it feels a bit behind the more modern, elegant environments in Audi and Mercedes rivals. But don't let that end your consideration. The Q50 is still a joy to drive. If you're looking for power, consider one of the Q50's turbocharged V6 engines. They deliver a jolt of pony car-esque thrill each time you dig into the pedal, especially in the Red Sport top trim. Infiniti also packs in plenty of standard features for you money.

Overall, the 2018 Infiniti Q50 isn't quite as polished as some rival sedans, but it stands as a desirable and stylish alternative to the status quo.

Edmunds' Expert Rating

Strong performance, plenty of premium features and a competitive price give the 2018 Infiniti Q50 a well-earned seat at the table with other refined and accomplished luxury sport sedans. Though better in some ways and inferior in others, the Q50 nonetheless is a desirable alternative.

Trim tested

Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The ratings in this review are based on our first drive of the 2018 Infiniti Q50 Red Sport 400 Sedan (turbo 3.0L V6 | 7-speed automatic | RWD).

Driving

The Q50 is a highly competent luxury sedan that's enjoyable to drive. It drives like a smaller, sportier car. The Q50 Sport trim demonstrates its true capability thanks to additional grip, while the Red Sport 400 is nothing short of a refined road hooligan.

Acceleration

The turbocharged four-cylinder engine's 208-hp output is subpar for the class, but real-world acceleration is certainly adequate. Both of the Q50's turbocharged V6 engines offer strong and satisfying power.

Braking

The brakes have a good feel and are easy to modulate, delivering consistent distances at the track. Panic-stopping distances are about average for summer-tire-equipped cars in this class.

Steering

The steering feels quick and precise and builds effort well, though it's a bit light for our tastes. The adaptive steering option on some Q50s is less impressive.

Handling

The Q50 3.0t Sport is a capable sport sedan. It inspires confidence with high levels of grip and composure. The Red Sport 400 amplifies these qualities considerably.

Drivability

The Q50 is a very pleasant sedan to drive. It exhibits good manners in typical driving and a natural sporting demeanor.

Comfort

The Q50 is comfortable and generally quiet, though road noise is still noticeable. The 2018 Red Sport 400 is a superbly comfortable touring car with excellent seats.

Interior

The Q50's cabin makes use of high-quality materials and sturdy construction, but the design hasn't changed much in nearly a decade. Conventional controls are within easy reach, but the touchscreen has some drawbacks. Still, it remains a pleasant and spacious place for driver or passenger.

Ease of use

Most systems are controlled via the split touchscreens, which can sometimes be confusing. Input reactions are quick and menus are intuitive, but the displays are often obscured by glare and fingerprints, especially with the newer protective glass.

Getting in/getting out

The Q50's low step-in height and wide seats facilitate easy entry and exit. As an added bonus, the doors swing open with surprising ease.

Roominess

The airy cabin and the contoured dashboard provide plenty of room up front. Six-footers can occupy the back seat with headroom to spare.

Visibility

The forward view is expansive through the windshield, but the higher beltline and relatively high rear decklid reduce the view over your shoulder and out the rear window. The optional surround-view monitor eliminates any guesswork in tight spaces.

Quality

Even though it's showing its age, the Q50 maintains high standards for materials and craftsmanship. Compared to newer luxury sport sedans, the Infiniti looks and feels about average for the class.

Utility

The Q50's cargo capacity is decent for the class, but interior storage for your personal items is somewhat lacking by contemporary standards. The trunk space is adequate, though the wide opening makes for easier loading.

Technology

It takes a little time to get used to the dual touchscreens, but most users will find the menus intuitive. Reactions to inputs are quick, and updates to the Infiniti InTouch system have kept it relevant.

2018 INFINITI Q50 models

The Infiniti Q50 luxury sport sedan is available in five main trim levels: 2.0t, 3.0t, Red Sport 400 and Q50 Hybrid trim levels. Infiniti also offers three subtrims, Luxe, Pure and Sport.

The Q50 2.0t starts with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (208 horsepower, 258 pound-feet of torque) paired to a seven-speed automatic transmission and rear-wheel drive. All-wheel drive is optional. From there, the 2.0t Pure come with 17-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights and foglights, automatic wipers, selectable drive modes, keyless entry and ignition, power-adjustable front seats, simulated leather upholstery, automatic dual-zone climate control, Bluetooth, a rearview camera, dual touchscreen displays (8-inch upper and 7-inch lower), and a six-speaker CD player with two USB ports and satellite radio. The 2.0t Luxe variant adds 18-inch wheels, a sunroof and maple wood interior accents.

Moving up to the 3.0t brings a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 (300 hp, 295 lb-ft of torque). all-wheel drive is again optional. The 3.0t Luxe is equipped similarly to the 2.0t Luxe trim while the 3.0t Sport adds 19-inch wheels, performance tires, leather upholstery and additional front seat adjustments.

The Red Sport 400 picks up where the 3.0t leaves off and adds a more powerful V6 (400 hp, 350 lb-ft of torque), unique 19-inch wheels (slightly wider in the rear), adjustable suspension settings, transmission paddle shifters, quilted leather upholstery, dark chrome and red stitching interior accents, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, remote engine start, a 60/40-split folding rear seat and a navigation system. The Red Sport 400 also offers a host of driver aids, including a top-down parking camera system, front and rear parking sensors, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking.

The Q50 Hybrid Luxe comes in one trim level similarly equipped to the 3.0t Luxe, but it also borrows from the Sport and Red Sport 400 features. Some extra features, including adaptive cruise control and a premium Bose audio system, are also standard on the Hybrid.

Many of the extra features found on the Red Sport are available as options on the lower trims. Depending on the trim level, other key options an adjustable suspension, additional driver aids and a premium audio system.

Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

4/5Above Average

#16 out of 68 among Luxury Midsize Cars

RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.

Cost

^{The average total annual cost for unscheduled repairs and maintenance across all model years of the INFINITI Q50 from 2008-2022.}

$589/yr

vs. $607/yr
for Average Luxury Midsize Car

Frequency

^{The average number of times this model is brought into the shop for unscheduled repairs and maintenance in a single year. RepairPal calculates this metric by tracking millions of unique vehicles over multiple years to determine an average number of visits per year (omitting small routine visits, e.g., oil changes).}

0.9x/yr

vs. 1.36x/yr
for Average Luxury Midsize Car

Severity

^{The probability that a repair will be a major issue, meaning the repair costs 3x the average annual repair cost for all models. This threshold will be higher for vehicles that have higher labor rates and parts costs (such as a premium brand).}

8.7%

vs. 10.5%
for Average Luxury Midsize Car

powered by RepairPal ^{Based on RepairPal reliability data as of 8/23/2023. Ratings are provided by RepairPal and Edmunds is not responsible for their accuracy.}

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the Used 2018 INFINITI Q50.

5 (64%)

4 (14%)

3 (14%)

2 (5%)

1 (3%)

4.3

42 reviews

Write a vehicle review See all 42 reviews

Most helpful consumer reviews

great car with best overall value in its class

Jon, 02/25/2018

2018 INFINITI Q50 3.0t LUXE 4dr Sedan (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 7A)

My original lease for the 2014 Infiniti Q50 is reaching the end. Based on my past 3+ years experience driving the Q50 on a daily basis, I have decided Q50 is worthwhile to own for the long term. After reviewing the Q50 2014 vs 2018 model, I decided to purchase the 2018 Q50 due to a newer engine, improved onscreen response time, updated SOS communication module, etc.). For someone that …

Fun to drive

JOHN, 05/20/2018

2018 INFINITI Q50 RED SPORT 400 4dr Sedan (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 7A)

Coming from a 2015 gs350 fsport. This ride is definitely louder but feels much sportier. You can hear the tires on the road. That being said I love everything else about the car. The technology and the dual screens i actually love. The steering with 1 button adjustment feels just as good as any car I have owned. It is fast I haven't even needed to cross 3000 RPMs yet to get to 80. I …

Reasonable luxury sport sedan

Hisham Taher, 12/30/2017

2018 INFINITI Q50 3.0t LUXE 4dr Sedan AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 7A)

I was in the market for a luxury sedan. I need this for my personal use, as I do own a minivan used for kids and errands. I wanted to keep my expenses within a reasonable range, and hence eliminated the German cars from my search. From the Japanese luxury sedans, the Infiniti was more fun to drive and engaging. Infiniti then gave me a good deal, which settled the matter for me. There is …

Stupid Fast!

Scott, 02/13/2018

2017 INFINITI Q50 Red Sport 400 4dr Sedan AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 7A)

I have almost 10,000 miles on my 2017 Q50 Red Sport so I figured it was about time to write a review. I have had it for 10 months and driven in snow, rain and dry conditions. Mountains and flat ground. The thing has been great in all conditions, even in a mini blizzard! You have to watch the throttle in bad weather, or use the economy or snow modes but otherwise it handles great. I … find myself going over the limit a bit more often when accelerating on an on-ramp, it just gets to speed so quickly if you aren't paying attention, even faster if you have it in sport or sport+ mode. I typically drive around in standard mode. I initially used the economy mode but realized it didn't seem to make a big difference in fuel economy. Speaking of, I average 22-24 MPG with a good mix of city and highway. I play with the speed a bit but I'm not racing every car I pull up next to at a stop light either. I have had it back to the dealer three times. First was for the Bluetooth system. It would not connect properly to my old LG G4 even though they advertised it would. They went through the Bluetooth system and couldn't find anything and finally told me to go away that there wasn't anything they could do for me. Now with my new (Samsung S8) there haven't been any issues. Second trip was for the first oil change. Third trip was due to a notice I got in the mail about a computer re-programming (no big deal). Otherwise I haven't had any issues. I was a littler nervous about the run flat tires and no spare. I got a nail in one of the tires and saw that it was $465/tire for the OEM tires. Luckily the nail didn't puncture the air chamber and I didn't have to replace the tire. There are cheaper run flats but I have been impressed with the tires, not sure I want to spend that for replacement tires when that time comes. Overall for being a fairly large car, it handles well and has a stupid amount of acceleration, even at highway speeds. I love the flat torque curve. I was a little worried about having some buyers remorse but so far I have been super happy with the car! October 2002 Update: Have around 55,000 miles on the car now. Nothing has really changed from my initial thoughts. Few sets of tires (Bridgestone Driveguard seem to work well on it and get good mileage). Have take a couple trips and driven in a lot of snow/ice with no issues. It does take a little getting used to the handling in the snow but once you get the feel for it there aren't really any issues. Still very happy with the purchase.

We have a limited number of reviews for the 2018 INFINITI Q50, so we've included reviews for other years of the Q50 since its last redesign.

See all 42 reviews of the INFINITI Q50

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2018 Q50 Highlights

Type:

Sedan

Trim:

2.0t PURE

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$35,200
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	25 MPG
Cost to Drive	$213/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	13.2 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	rear wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 60,000 miles

See all features & specs

Safety

Our experts like the Q50 models:

Backup Collision Intervention: Automatically hits the brakes if an object enters the path or if an approaching car is detected when the vehicle is backing up.
Around View Monitor: Takes the guesswork out of maneuvering in tight spaces by giving you a view of the car from above.
Forward Emergency Braking: Warns if traffic ahead is slowing, even two cars ahead, and will apply the brakes if you don't act in time.

NHTSA Overall Rating

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
OverallNot Rated
DriverNot Rated
PassengerNot Rated
Side Crash Rating
OverallNot Rated
Side Barrier Rating
OverallNot Rated
DriverNot Rated
PassengerNot Rated
Combined Side Barrier & Pole Ratings
Front SeatNot Rated
Back SeatNot Rated
Rollover
Rollover5 / 5
Dynamic Test ResultNo Tip
Risk Of Rollover9.7%

IIHS Rating

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.

Small Overlap Front Driver-Side Test
Not Tested
Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side Test
Not Tested
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Original
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Updated
Not Tested
Side Impact Test – Original
Good
Side Impact Test – Updated
Not Tested
Roof Strength Test
Good
Rear Crash Protection / Head Restraint
Good

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