To be competitive in the luxury compact premium sedan segment, automakers constantly look to innovate technology and do something that sets them apart. However, that was the hard part for Infiniti for some time. Nothing explains this problem more than the Infiniti Q50. While it does look solid on paper, when experienced in person, the highs and lows are quickly made apparent. Infiniti’s potent engine makes it a solid power player, especially it's top trim, the Red Sport, which generates over 400 HP.
The Infiniti Q50 has a sinewy bodywork and sporty stance. Making things even better is that the stout twin-turbo V-6 is standard, and the car generally offers decent value compared to other sports sedans. It has loads of tech on offer, backed by clean styling in the exterior, and even in terms of its pricing proves to be an intriguing option.
Best Feature of the Infiniti Q50: A Solid Powertrain
The entire line-up of the Infiniti Q50 comes with a twin-turbo V6 engine, although with different tuning. In the lower trims, the vehicle makes 300 HP, while on the top performance-oriented Red Sport trim, the vehicle produces over 400 HP. The engine returns a fuel efficiency of 22 MPG combined. All the trims come equipped with a seven-speed automatic transmission and the power being sent to the rear wheels with an option of AWD on all the trim levels. The Red Sport can accelerate from 0 to 60 MPH in under five seconds which is commendable for a vehicle that weighs above 4000 lbs. The gear shifts are crisp and precise and barely detectable even when the driver takes manual control using the paddle shifters.
The ride quality is a bit jittery on the 19-inch optional wheels, but it improves on the lower 18-inch wheels to a fair extent. An optional set of adaptive dampers on the Q50 Red Sport 400 try to tame the ride impacts generated by big 19-inch wheels to a decent extent. Steering is relatively light, and the car feels nimble on its feet but does not feel quick and lacks feedback. Infiniti has an optional drive-by-wire steering setup called Direct Adaptive Steering, a much-touted feature. Still, none of its many available modes offers the feedback or the progressive effort during cornering that the best helms provide.
2022 Infiniti Q50: Quirky Styling
The Q50 is a fine-looking machine, and the nose sets a great stance. The grille is well-designed, too, with a fair bit of muscularity around the fenders. The red paint looks stunning against the blacked-out bits. The car is 189.6 inches long while sitting on a wheelbase of 112.2 inches. It’s inside the cabin where things start to feel a bit different. Infiniti still uses the oddball dual-screen setup, where the lower screen has a much better resolution than the one up top. Apple CarPlay is available on both screens and is standard across all trims. The upper screen is mainly used for navigation, while the lower screen houses most multimedia functions.
The Q50 has above-average front-seat legroom, but that advantage disappears for back-seat passengers. The seats are well-placed and comfortable. The steering wheel also has a good tactile feel to it. Other features like a power-adjustable steering column, memory settings for the driver's seat, and leather upholstery are standard. Even in terms of safety, the Q50 is respectable, as every Q50 rolls out of the factory with automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitors, and a surround-view camera system, along with adaptive cruise control.
2022 Infiniti Q50: Well Sorted Trims
The biggest update for the 2022 Infiniti Q50 is sorting out the trims on offer. Infiniti has dropped the previous base-level Pure trim and mid-trim Signature Edition. That leaves the Q50 with three broad trims: the Luxe, Sensory, and Red Sport 400. The entry-level ‘Luxe’ trim comes with more standard luxuries, including a 16-speaker Bose stereo system, leather upholstery, a power-adjustable steering column, and a full suite of active safety features.
The mid ‘Sensory’ trim has features from the discontinued Signature trim, and the bump in price is nominal. The trim has added features like a Saddle Brown leather-upholstery option, open-pore-wood interior trim, and a more advanced HVAC system with an air purifier. All trims of the Infiniti Q50 also provide standard wireless CarPlay. The top-of-the-line ‘Red Sport’ trim comes with all the bells and whistles along with the biggest upgrade of all, which is 400 HP going straight to the rear wheels.
The Infiniti Q50 Luxe starts at $43,125, a $5,400 increase over the last year’s base price. The Sensory trim is priced at $48, 825 and the fully loaded Red Sport comes in at $56,975, making it value for money considering the features and power it packs. All trims of the Infiniti Q50 have the standard rear-wheel drive, but it can be changed to AWD for a price of $2000.
The 2022 Infiniti Q50 competes in a tough segment. It's not quite a full-on luxury machine, but it is a premium sporty compact sedan and thus needs to fill its role well. It gets parts of the equation correct and does it pretty well by offering many features as standard, with AWD on all trims and a standard host of safety features. The Infiniti Q5 could be termed a well-rounded package, offering pretty good value for money.