The 2023 Infiniti Q50 luxury compact sedan is hardly at the cutting edge of car-dom, but the combination of power and generous standard equipment does have its upsides. Prices start at $42,650. Quite a lot of things happened in 2014, like the term “manspreading” making it into the English language, and the debut of the Q50. Allow us to mansplain for a moment, but that was an eternity ago in the accelerated time of the automotive world. For this trip around the sun, the 2023 Q50 comes with only a few minor changes. In common with virtually every other car company, Infiniti is putting most of its resources into SUVs. Yet the Q50 still has something special going on. It’s the classic front-engine/rear-drive layout with a choice of powerful engines. This can appeal to virtually any enthusiast. There’s also the option of all-wheel drive, for those who live in areas that have all four seasons. And naturally, the Q50 comes with many luxury touches, such as leather upholstery as standard, plus a 16-speaker Bose audio system. The coupe variant, the Q60, is reviewed separately.
2023 INFINITI Q50 Pricing
The 2023 INFINITI Q50 has a starting sticker price of $43,800, with the range-topping Q50 RED SPORT 400 kicking off at $57,650. But Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Pricing currently suggests paying $3,702 to $5,010 less than MSRP, depending on trim and equipment. These prices are updated weekly.
MSRP | KBB Fair Purchase Price (nat'l average) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
LUXE | $43,800 | $40,098 | ||
SENSORY | $49,500 | $45,213 | ||
RED SPORT 400 | $57,650 | $52,640 |
Driving the INFINITI Q50
It’s not just rare to find a twin-turbocharged V6 in the entry level model of a compact luxury sedan, it’s unheard of outside the Infiniti Q50. When rival cars are offering 252 or even (yawn) 201 horsepower, the 300 horsepower in the Luxe and Sensory trims is remarkable. And the 295 lb-ft of torque coming in at just 1,500 rpm provides a nice low-end punch. With 400 horsepower, the Red Sport 400 is noticeably more energetic, able to sprint from standstill to 60 mph in a brief 4.5 seconds. This variant also has an adaptive suspension as standard, so it can be as comfortable or as poised as a driver would like, just by selecting the appropriate mode. Our only complaints are that the steering could use more feel and feedback to improve the driving experience, and the run-flat tires become noisy on the freeway — which shouldn’t really happen in a luxury car.
Interior Comfort
Illuminated USB ports (one type-A, one type-C) add a little tech-y sparkle to an otherwise dated cabin. There are no real issues with the accommodations up front, though. Space is ample, the seats are comfortable and other touch points are nicely padded. It’s just that the design is showing its age. Take the dual screens in the center console, for example. They’re small, relative to rival offerings, and the infotainment system itself isn’t as user-friendly as some others. At least leather seating surfaces are standard. The front seats are heated and 8-way power-adjustable. The steering wheel is heated as well. Rear legroom of 35.1 inches is OK for the class. So is trunk space of 13.5 cubic feet. This year, the most affordable Luxe trim now offers the Saddle Brown color scheme, which was previously available only in the two higher trims.
Exterior Styling
Since it’s been around for such a long time, we’ve probably all seen the Q50 and formed our own opinions regarding its exterior design. We’re now at that point where we’d describe the looks as wearing the years well. The main story of this section is the introduction of the Black Opal Edition, a limited run of 400 units, based on the Red Sport 400 model. It comes with the exclusive Black Opal Metallic paint, black badges, and a carbon-fiber rear spoiler. Also, Sensory trim gains the same black-finished grille, window surrounds, and trunk lid accent as the regular Red Sport 400. Luxe trim has 18-inch alloy wheels, the other two models have 19-inch rims. In case anyone was wondering, the Red Sport 400 is available in colors other than red. Slate Gray is exclusive to that variant.
Favorite Features
1. Engines 2. Wireless Apple CarPlay 3. All-wheel drive 4. Intelligent Cruise Control 5. Power-adjustable steering column 6. Bose audio system
Most rivals have turbocharged 4-cylinder engines for their entry level models. This is the Q50’s specialty, starting with a 300-horsepower turbocharged V6. Then Infiniti tops it off with a 400-horsepower unit. Good luck finding something German with the same kind of muscle for similar money.
Apple iPhone users can integrate their devices into the 2023 Q50’s infotainment system without having to plug them in. This is a standard feature in every 2023 Q50. Android users are not ignored completely, but they’re going to need a cable.
Into each driver’s life a little snow must fall. Unless they never leave Arizona or Southern California or Florida. Even in those especially sunny places, all-wheel drive can still be a great asset, if only to help apply engine power to the road in an efficient manner. This is optional in every version of the 2023 Q50 luxury sedan.
Sometimes known as adaptive cruise control, it maintains a safe distance to the vehicle in front, then resumes the preset speed when conditions allow. The system here works at all speeds and is standard equipment.
It raises automatically to make exits easier. There are memory settings that incorporate this, the driver’s seat, and the side mirrors. It’s standard, which is unusual.
Third-party audio systems tend to be optional upgrades, but Infiniti puts this in every 2023 Q50. It’s a 16-speaker setup with “simulated” surround sound.
Engine & Transmission
Luxe and Sensory versions of the 2023 Q50 compact luxury sedan have a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 developing 300 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. That’s a considerable amount of muscle for what is the introductory engine. Red Sport 400 models also deploy a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6. This one cooks up 400 horsepower and 350 lb-ft of torque. Both require premium gasoline. With either engine, a 7-speed automatic transmission handles shifting duties. Rear-wheel drive (RWD) is standard throughout, and all-wheel drive (AWD) is optional. 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 (Red Sport 400)
300 horsepower @ 6,400 rpm
295 lb-ft of torque @ 1,500-5,200 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 20/29 mpg (RWD), 19/27 mpg (AWD)
400 horsepower @ 6,400 rpm
350 lb-ft of torque @ 1,600-5,200 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 20/26 mpg (RWD), 19/26 mpg (AWD)
What did you think of this review?
KBB Vehicle Review and Rating Methodology
Our Expert Ratings come from hours of both driving and number crunching to make sure that you choose the best car for you. We comprehensively experience and analyze every new SUV, car, truck, or minivan for sale in the U.S. and compare it to its competitors. When all that dust settles, we have our ratings. We require new ratings every time an all-new vehicle or a new generation of an existing vehicle comes out. Additionally, we reassess those ratings when a new-generation vehicle receives a mid-cycle refresh — basically, sprucing up a car in the middle of its product cycle (typically, around the 2-3 years mark) with a minor facelift, often with updates to features and technology. Rather than pulling random numbers out of the air or off some meaningless checklist, KBB’s editors rank a vehicle to where it belongs in its class. Before any car earns its KBB rating, it must prove itself to be better (or worse) than the other cars it’s competing against as it tries to get you to spend your money buying or leasing. Our editors drive and live with a given vehicle. We ask all the right questions about the interior, the exterior, the engine and powertrain, the ride and handling, the features, the comfort, and of course, about the price. Does it serve the purpose for which it was built? (Whether that purpose is commuting efficiently to and from work in the city, keeping your family safe, making you feel like you’ve made it to the top — or that you’re on your way — or making you feel like you’ve finally found just the right partner for your lifestyle.) We take each vehicle we test through the mundane — parking, lane-changing, backing up, cargo space and loading — as well as the essential — acceleration, braking, handling, interior quiet and comfort, build quality, materials quality, reliability.
