DecodedCars2018 Infiniti Q50
Trims, performance, features, fuel economy, safety and known problems — with the pros and cons against similar 2018 models.
- Class
- Compact Cars
- Body styles
- 4dr Sedan 2.0 AWD, 4dr Sedan 3.0 AWD, 4dr Sedan Redsport 400 AWD, Hybrid AWD 4dr Sedan
- Engines
- 3.5L 6-cyl, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, 3.0L 6-cyl turbo
- Drivetrain
- Rear-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive
- Fuel
- Hybrid, Premium Gasoline
- MPG (best)
- 29 combined · 27 city / 32 hwy
- Length
- 189 in
- Curb weight
- 3,845–4,213 lb
- NHTSA rating
- Not rated
- Recalls
- 3 campaigns
Pros & cons
What's good
- Hybrid version availableOffered as a hybrid as well as gas.
- AWD / 4WD available
Watch out for
- Premium fuel requiredEvery gasoline version is rated for premium, which raises running costs.
Calculated from EPA, NHTSA and vPIC data against 42 similar 2018 models — not a review. How we calculate this →
Overview
The 2018 Infiniti Q50 is a compact car offered with 3 engines (3.5L 6-cyl, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo and 3.0L 6-cyl turbo), including a hybrid version and rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive.
It measures about 189 inches long and 72 inches wide on a 112-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 3,845 lb (4dr Sedan 2.0 AWD).
EPA rates its most efficient version at 29 MPG combined (27 city / 32 highway), 7% better than the 2018 compact car average of 27 MPG, for an estimated $2,850 a year in fuel.
NHTSA has not published a 5-Star overall rating for this model year.
It has 3 recall campaigns on file and owners have filed 44 complaints with NHTSA since 2015, most often about the engine.
What changed for 2018
- Lightest version 234 lb heavier
Compared with 2017; trim, feature and price changes aren't covered. See the 2017 Q50 →
Dimensions & weight
| Body | Length | Width | Height | Wheelbase | Track F / R | Curb weight | Weight F/R |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4dr Sedan 2.0 AWD | 189 in | 71.7 in | 57.5 in | 112.2 in | 60.6 / 62.6 in | 3,845 lb | 55/45 |
| 4dr Sedan 3.0 AWD | 189 in | 71.7 in | 57.5 in | 112.2 in | 60.6 / 62.6 in | 3,885 lb | 57/43 |
| 4dr Sedan Redsport 400 AWD | 189 in | 71.7 in | 57.5 in | 112.2 in | 60.6 / 62.6 in | 4,023 lb | 57/43 |
| Hybrid AWD 4dr Sedan | 189 in | 71.7 in | 57.5 in | 112.2 in | 60.6 / 62.6 in | 4,213 lb | 55/45 |
Transport Canada CVS (Open Government Licence – Canada), Canadian-market figures.
Will it fit your garage? Check with your measurements →Engines, MPG & running costs
| Version | Engine | Transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | vs. class | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q50 Hybrid Hybrid | 3.5L 6-cyl | Automatic (S7) | Rear-Wheel Drive | 27 / 32 / 29 | +7% | $2,850 | 308 |
| Q50 Hybrid AWD Hybrid | 3.5L 6-cyl | Automatic (S7) | All-Wheel Drive | 26 / 30 / 28 | +4% | $2,950 | 321 |
| Q50 | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (S7) | Rear-Wheel Drive | 23 / 30 / 25 | -8% | $3,300 | 349 |
| Q50 AWD | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (S7) | All-Wheel Drive | 22 / 28 / 24 | -12% | $3,400 | 368 |
| Q50 | 3.0L 6-cyl turbo | Automatic (S7) | Rear-Wheel Drive | 20 / 29 / 23 | -15% | $3,550 | 387 |
| Q50 AWD | 3.0L 6-cyl turbo | Automatic (S7) | All-Wheel Drive | 19 / 27 / 22 | -19% | $3,750 | 408 |
| Q50 Red Sport | 3.0L 6-cyl turbo | Automatic (S7) | Rear-Wheel Drive | 20 / 26 / 22 | -19% | $3,750 | 404 |
| Q50 Red Sport AWD | 3.0L 6-cyl turbo | Automatic (S7) | All-Wheel Drive | 19 / 26 / 22 | -19% | $3,750 | 405 |
EPA estimates; "vs. class" is combined MPG against the 2018 EPA class average. How we calculate this →
Safety ratings & technology
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Driver / passenger | Side | Side pole | Rollover | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Infiniti Q50 4 DR AWD | Not rated | Not rated | –★ / –★ | Not rated | Not rated | ★★★★★ | 9.7% |
| 2018 Infiniti Q50 4 DR RWD | Not rated | Not rated | –★ / –★ | Not rated | Not rated | ★★★★★ | 9.7% |
Similar 2018 compact cars
| Model | Best MPG / range | NHTSA overall | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Infiniti Q50 (this car) | 29 MPG | Not rated | 3 |
| 2018 BMW 3 Series | 36 MPG | ★★★★★ | 0 |
| 2018 BMW 5 Series | 30 MPG | Not rated | 0 |
| 2018 Mercedes-Benz E-Class | 25 MPG | ★★★★★ | 0 |
| 2018 Lexus IS | 26 MPG | Not rated | 1 |
| 2018 Audi A4 | 31 MPG | Not rated | 4 |
| 2018 Mercedes-Benz C-Class | 30 MPG | Not rated | 0 |
Recalls (3)
Power Train › Driveline › Driveshaft · Jun 21, 2024
NHTSA campaign 24V470000 · 7,222 vehicles
- Problem
- Nissan North America, Inc. (INFINITI) is recalling certain 2011-2013 M56, 2012-2013 M35 Hybrid, 2014-2018 Q50, Q70 Hybrid, 2014-2019 Q70, and 2015-2019 Q70L two-wheel drive vehicles. The driveshaft can fatigue and break.
- Risk
- A broken driveshaft can result in a loss of drive power, or a vehicle roll away when the vehicle is in park without the parking brake applied. Both scenarios can increase the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- Dealers will replace the driveshaft, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 13, 2024. Owners may contact INFINITI's customer service at 1-800-662-6200. INFINITI's numbers for this recall are R24A5 and R24A7.
Back Over Prevention › Sensing System › Camera · Sep 12, 2019
NHTSA campaign 19V654000 · 1,228,830 vehicles
- Problem
- Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Nissan Altima, Armada, Frontier, Kicks, Leaf, Maxima, Murano, NV, NV200, Pathfinder, Rogue, Rogue Sport, Sentra, Titan, Titan Diesel, Versa Note and Versa Sedan vehicles, as well as Infiniti Q50, Q60, QX30 and QX80 vehicles. Additionally included are 2019 Nissan GT-R and Taxi and Infiniti QX50, QX60, Q70, Q70L vehicles. The back-up camera and display settings can be adjusted such that the rear view image is no longer visible and the system will retain that setting the next time the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."
- Risk
- The lack of an image in the back-up camera display increases the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- Nissan will notify owners in phases, having dealers update the back-up camera settings software, free of charge. The recall began November 11, 2019 and all affected VINs should be activated. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669 or INFINITI customer service at 1-800-662-6200.
Electrical System › Software · Jul 27, 2017
NHTSA campaign 17V476000 · 14,192 vehicles
- Problem
- Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Infiniti Q50 and 2017 Infiniti Q60 vehicles equipped with a 2.0L engine. Incorrect Fuel Pump Control Module (FPCM) software may allow the fuel level in the main tank to be too low to supply fuel to the engine, causing the engine to stall while driving.
- Risk
- An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- Nissan will notify owners, and Infiniti dealers will reprogram the Fuel Pump Control Module (FPCM) with corrected software, free of charge. The recall began August 29, 2017. Owners may contact Infiniti customer service at 1-800-662-6200.
Not every 2018 Infiniti Q50 is affected — only a VIN check confirms your car.
Owner-reported problems
Unverified owner reports; best-sellers collect more.
Used 2018 Infiniti Q50 buyer's checklist
- Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 3 recalls this year — ask for proof of repairs.
- Engine — 17 owner reports. Cold-start the engine, listen for knocking, and watch for warning lights or hesitation on acceleration.
- Air Bags — 9 owner reports. Confirm the airbag warning light turns off after start-up and any airbag recall was completed.
- Fuel/Propulsion System — 6 owner reports. Smell for fuel around the car and in the cabin, check that it starts easily when warm, and look at the oil dipstick for a fuel smell or rising level.
- Mileage to watch. Owners typically reported problems around 25,800 miles; ask what was repaired near that point.
- Hybrid system. Check for hybrid-system warning lights and ask whether the high-voltage battery has been replaced or is still under warranty.
- Before you pay: service records, a history report and an independent inspection.
Generated by DecodedCars from NHTSA recalls and owner complaints for the 2018 Infiniti Q50. Not a substitute for a professional inspection.
Other Q50 years
Compare all years →| Year | MPG (best) | Length | Overall | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Q50 | 23 | 189 in | Not rated | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 Q50 | 23 | 189 in | Not rated | 0 | 8 |
| 2022 Q50 | 23 | 189 in | Not rated | 0 | 1 |
| 2021 Q50 | 23 | 189 in | Not rated | 3 | 6 |
| 2020 Q50 | 23 | 189 in | Not rated | 0 | 3 |
| 2019 Q50 | 25 | 189 in | Not rated | 1 | 30 |
| 2017 Q50 | 29 | 189 in | Not rated | 4 | 63 |
| 2016 Q50 | 30 | 189 in | Not rated | 4 | 39 |
| 2015 Q50 | 31 | 189 in | Not rated | 3 | 130 |
| 2014 Q50 | 31 | 189.4 in | Not rated | 8 | 138 |
Sources: EPA, NHTSA, Transport Canada, Wikimedia Commons. Not affiliated with NHTSA, the EPA or Infiniti. How we calculate this →