2022 Infiniti Q50 Review: Almost Good Enough

The days of limited choice in just about any segment are long gone, and the Infiniti Q50 offers a compelling alternative to the traditional choices in the luxury sedan segment. The brand itself has come a long way from its relatively humble beginnings, but while the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class continue to take things to the next level with every new generation, we've felt that the Infiniti Q50 has been somewhat lacking when compared to these trendsetters. Still, with a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 in every model, it's a relatively affordable way to get some enthusiastic performance out of a luxury car. As standard, you get 300 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque in every version except the top-tier Red Sport 400. Here, you get 400 hp and 350 lb-ft of torque, and as with every other version, power is sent to the rear wheels by default with all-wheel-drive as an option. Is the Q50 more enticing, or are its German rivals still the better choice?

2022 Q50 Exterior

Dimensions

2022 Q50 Performance

Handling and Driving Impressions

The Infiniti Q50 is an attractive proposition, but it's also a bit confusing. On the one hand, you'd expect a luxury sedan in this price bracket to have a supremely comfortable ride, but with a turbocharged V6 under the hood and sharp styling, you may also expect it to be exciting in the corners. While the Q50 does have firm suspension, it's not set up well enough to be considered alongside the likes of the M340i and S4. In addition, that suspension borders on the stiff side and can't hold a candle to what you get in a Mercedes. Nevertheless, we can report that the Q50 is a little more enjoyable to drive in Red Sport 400 guise, where sportier steering is a little more communicative. On all other models, there's still a reasonable amount of feedback, but you won't ever feel like this is a performance-enhanced sedan. The brakes, similarly, are responsive but a little underpowered. There's also a lot of noise from the tires and wind, making it less than ideal for long-distance road trips. Overall, the Q50 is a car that tries to blend performance with comfort without getting either one a hundred percent right. As with the 2021 model, we have to say that the Infiniti Q50 misses the mark, even if only just.

2022 Q50 Interior

2022 Q50 Trunk and Cargo Space

Warranty

US NHTSA Crash Test Result

Verdict: Is the 2022 Infiniti Q50 A Good Car?

The Infiniti Q50 is an interesting proposition. It's not quite as technologically advanced as many of its German rivals but has a large trunk and plenty of power. It's not as good to drive as those rivals either, but at least you don't have to spend extra money to get a strong motor. It also has plenty of space for front passengers but is lacking in terms of some features that you'd expect to find standard. Nevertheless, the understated yet attractive styling makes it an enticing choice for those who don't want to try the class-leaders. With that said, a strong engine and an attractive aesthetic don't do enough to make us forget that its rivals are better built, offer more standard and optional equipment, and are much more enjoyable to drive. For these reasons, we'd skip past the Q50.

2022 Infiniti Q50 Comparisons

2022 Infiniti Q50 vs Audi A4 Sedan

The Audi A4 is one of the less exciting offerings from Germany's premium sedan market, but what it lacks in outright power (its 2.0-liter turbo-four only produces 201 hp), it makes up for in efficiency. Despite a smaller, 15.3-gallon gas tank, it offers a longer range than the Q50 with over 440 miles of mixed driving. However, the real reason that we'd choose this car is its superior build quality, beautiful and modern interior, and numerous features. Even the base variant has a power sunroof, heated front seats, ambient lighting, and tri-zone climate control. It's also a lot more comfortable thanks to a compliant chassis setup, yet is not incompetent in the bends either. Thanks to a base price of $39,900, it's cheaper too. Sorry, Infiniti, but you've got some work to do.

2022 Infiniti Q50 vs Acura TLX

The Acura TLX also starts more cheaply than the Infiniti Q50, with the base model asking for $37,500. Based on looks alone, the latest TLX is far more attractive, with a modern yet attractive design that looks a little too manga to be as classy as the Germans but just restrained enough to be welcome on the red carpet. The interior is far better than that of the Q50 too, thanks to clear evidence of ergonomic design when it comes to the driver's controls for the infotainment system. Furthermore, this car handles brilliantly and its 2.0-liter turbo-four is no slouch either. Coupled with more standard features, we can't help but deny the Infiniti a win here. Hopefully, next year's version will fare better but for now, the Q50 is beaten by most competitors.