Infiniti Q50

Infiniti Q50: which version to buy

If you are choosing an Infiniti Q50, the decision is not “sedan or not” — every record is a Sedan — and it is not “which generation number.” The catalogue lists two generation records that are both first generation: 1st generation (April 2014–January 2018, 12 versions) and 1st generation, restyling (from March 2017, 9 versions, one of them ended February 2023). Body type does not change.

If you are choosing an Infiniti Q50, the decision is not “sedan or not” — every record is a Sedan — and it is not “which generation number.” The catalogue lists two generation records that are both first generation: 1st generation (April 2014–January 2018, 12 versions) and 1st generation, restyling (from March 2017, 9 versions, one of them ended February 2023). Body type does not change. What changes is engine, power, drive, gearbox, weight, tank size, ground clearance, and, on a few rows, whether fuel use and CO2 were measured. Buy on those numbers.

The fastest 0–100 km/h figure in the set is 5.1 s, shared by four cars: restyling 3.0 AT 405 hp RWD, restyling 3.5 AT 364 hp RWD, pre-facelift 3.0 AT 405 hp RWD, and pre-facelift 3.5 AT 306 hp RWD. The lowest mixed consumption that was measured is 4.3 L/100 km on restyling 2.1 MT 170 hp. The lightest kerb weight is 1621 kg on pre-facelift 3.7 AT 328 hp RWD. The densest power is restyling 3.0 AT 405 hp: 405 hp / 2.997 L ≈ 135 hp per litre. Those four extremes rarely sit on the same car. The rest of this page is the arithmetic that puts them in order.

Generations: what the facelift actually changed

1st generation (April 2014–January 2018) is the only window in which 3.7 AT exists: 328 hp, 366 Nm, 3696 cm³, Gasoline, 6 cylinders, V-shaped, boost No, Distributed injection (multi-point). It is also the only window for 3.5 AT at 306 hp / 350 Nm. Tank is 74 L on every version. Ground clearance is 130 mm on most rows and 126 mm on 3.0 AT 304 hp (both RWD and AWD) and on 3.0 AT 405 hp RWD. Diesel is Euro 5. Compression ratio and bore × stroke on 2.1 MT and 2.1 AT are not measured. City / highway / mixed use on 3.7 AT RWD are not measured. CO2 is not measured on all Gasoline 3.0 AT and 2.0 AT rows except 3.0 AT 405 hp RWD (206 g/km, Euro 6).

1st generation, restyling (from March 2017; 3.0 AT 405 hp RWD stop February 2023) drops 3.7 AT entirely. 3.5 AT Hybrid rises from 306 hp / 350 Nm to 364 hp / 546 Nm — +58 hp and +196 Nm on the same 3498 cm³, 6 cylinders, V-shaped, boost No. 2.0 AT RWD torque rises from 320 Nm to 350 Nm; 0–100 km/h stays 7.3 s. Diesel moves to Euro 6; compression 16.2 and bore × stroke 83 × 99 are now measured. Tank is 80 L on every version (+6 L versus the 74 L tank). Ground clearance is 126 mm on every version. 2.0 AT is RWD only; the pre-facelift 2.0 AT AWD (7.7 s, 9.8 L/100 km mixed) has no restyling counterpart in these data.

Overlap: a car built from March 2017 through January 2018 can sit in either record. Distinguish it by the spec sheet (74 L vs 80 L tank; 306 vs 364 hp on 3.5 AT; presence of 3.7 AT), not by a model-year nickname.

Engine specs (all versions)

Version names below are the catalogue names. Identical names are split by power and drive.

1st generation, restyling (from March 2017)

1st generation (April 2014–January 2018)

Power per litre (hp ÷ displacement in litres): 3.0 AT 405 hp ≈ 135 hp/L; 2.0 AT 211 hp ≈ 106 hp/L; restyling 3.5 AT 364 hp ≈ 104 hp/L; 3.0 AT 304 hp ≈ 101 hp/L; 3.7 AT 328 hp ≈ 89 hp/L; pre-facelift 3.5 AT 306 hp ≈ 87 hp/L; 2.1 170 hp ≈ 79 hp/L. Turbo on 2997 cm³ is the density story; the 3696 cm³ engine with boost No is the opposite: more cubic centimetres, less hp per litre, and 366 Nm versus 400 Nm already on the 304 hp 3.0 AT.

Performance, mpg (L/100 km), and 0–100

0–100 km/h, 5.1 s: restyling 3.0 AT 405 hp RWD (1799 kg); restyling 3.5 AT 364 hp RWD (1812 kg); pre-facelift 3.0 AT 405 hp RWD (1787 kg); pre-facelift 3.5 AT 306 hp RWD (1825 kg). The 405 hp cars carry 475 Nm from 1600–5200 rpm. The 364 hp Hybrid carries 546 Nm at 5000 rpm — more peak torque, later in the rev range. The 306 hp Hybrid matches 5.1 s with only 350 Nm.

5.4 s: restyling 3.0 AT 405 hp AWD (1878 kg); restyling 3.5 AT 364 hp AWD (1888 kg); pre-facelift 3.0 AT 405 hp AWD (1801 kg); pre-facelift 3.5 AT 306 hp AWD (1901 kg). AWD costs 0.3 s versus the matching RWD 405 hp pair on both generations. On restyling Hybrid it is also 0.3 s (5.1 vs 5.4). On pre-facelift Hybrid it is 0.3 s as well.

3.0 AT 304 hp: pre-facelift RWD 5.7 s / AWD 6.1 s; restyling RWD 5.8 s / AWD 6.0 s. Facelift RWD is 0.1 s slower and 29 kg heavier (1663 → 1692 kg). Facelift AWD is 0.1 s quicker and 22 kg lighter (1764 → 1742 kg).

3.7 AT (pre-facelift only): RWD 5.5 s at 1621 kg; AWD 5.8 s at 1700 kg. Versus 3.0 AT 304 hp RWD in the same generation: +24 hp, −34 Nm, −42 kg, −0.2 s. Versus 3.0 AT 405 hp RWD: −77 hp, −109 Nm, −166 kg, +0.4 s. The naturally aspirated 3.7 buys lightness, not torque.

2.0 AT 211 hp: restyling RWD 7.3 s, mixed 7.0 L/100 km; pre-facelift RWD 7.3 s, mixed 7.0 L/100 km (city/highway the same 9.3 / 5.7); pre-facelift AWD 7.7 s, mixed 9.8 L/100 km. AWD on the four-cylinder costs 0.4 s and 2.8 L/100 km mixed versus RWD in the same generation. Restyling RWD adds 30 Nm (320 → 350) without changing 0–100.

Diesel 2.1: pre-facelift 2.1 AT 8.5 s, mixed 4.8 L/100 km, 124 g/km CO2, Euro 5; restyling 2.1 AT 8.7 s, mixed 4.5, 119 g/km, Euro 6. Pre-facelift 2.1 MT 8.7 s, mixed 4.4, 114 g/km, Euro 5; restyling 2.1 MT 8.9 s, mixed 4.3, 114 g/km, Euro 6. Manual is 0.2 s slower than Automatic on the facelift and 0.2 s slower than the pre-facelift Automatic; it is the lowest mixed figure in the whole catalogue (4.3). Top speed: diesel Automatic 230 km/h, Manual 231 km/h; 2.0 AT 245 km/h; every 3.0 / 3.5 / 3.7 listed 250 km/h.

Mixed fuel use that was measured, restyling Gasoline/Hybrid: 3.5 AT RWD 5.9; 3.5 AT AWD 6.6; 2.0 AT 7.0; 3.0 AT 405 hp RWD 9.1; 3.0 AT 405 hp AWD 9.3; 3.0 AT 304 hp RWD 10.2; 3.0 AT 304 hp AWD 10.7. The 304 hp V-shaped six uses more mixed fuel than the 405 hp tune on the same 2997 cm³ in this generation. Pre-facelift 3.7 AT RWD city/highway/mixed are not measured; 3.7 AT AWD mixed is 10.7, matching restyling 3.0 AT 304 hp AWD.

CO2 not measured on: restyling 3.0 AT 405 hp AWD, both restyling 3.0 AT 304 hp rows, pre-facelift 3.0 AT 405 hp AWD, both pre-facelift 3.0 AT 304 hp rows, both 3.7 AT rows, both pre-facelift 2.0 AT rows, restyling 2.0 AT has 146 g/km (Euro 6). Eco class not measured wherever CO2 is not measured, except the pattern already listed.

Dimensions, weight, tank, wheels

Ground clearance: 126 mm on the entire restyling set. Pre-facelift 130 mm except 3.0 AT 304 hp RWD, 3.0 AT 304 hp AWD, and 3.0 AT 405 hp RWD at 126 mm. If you want the extra 4 mm, you are looking at pre-facelift cars that are not those three 3.0 AT rows.

Tank: 74 L (1st generation) vs 80 L (restyling). Range arithmetic on measured mixed use, restyling: 2.1 MT 80 / 4.3 ≈ 1860 km; 3.5 AT RWD 80 / 5.9 ≈ 1356 km; 2.0 AT 80 / 7.0 ≈ 1143 km; 3.0 AT 405 hp RWD 80 / 9.1 ≈ 879 km; 3.0 AT 304 hp AWD 80 / 10.7 ≈ 748 km. Pre-facelift 2.1 MT 74 / 4.4 ≈ 1682 km. The 6 L extra tank is the facelift’s one universal hardware delta.

Kerb weight range: 1621 kg (pre-facelift 3.7 AT RWD) to 1901 kg (pre-facelift 3.5 AT 306 hp AWD) — 280 kg. Gross weight is measured only on restyling 3.0 AT 304 hp RWD and AWD: 2259 kg both; every other gross figure is not measured.

kg per hp (kerb / hp), selected: restyling 3.0 AT 405 hp RWD 4.44; pre-facelift 3.0 AT 405 hp RWD 4.41; restyling 3.0 AT 405 hp AWD 4.64; pre-facelift 3.7 AT RWD 4.94; restyling 3.5 AT 364 hp RWD 4.98; restyling 3.0 AT 304 hp RWD 5.57; restyling 2.0 AT 8.14; restyling 2.1 MT 9.81. Diesel is the heaviest per horsepower; 405 hp RWD is the lightest per horsepower.

Wheels: most versions list 225/55 R17, 225/50 R18, 245/40 R19. Restyling 3.0 AT 304 hp RWD and AWD drop the 17-inch size (225/50 R18, 245/40 R19 only). Restyling 3.0 AT 405 hp RWD wheels are not measured. Front/rear suspension on every version: Independent, spring. Brakes: Ventilated disc / Disc ventilated. Engine placement: Front, longitudinal. Direct injection (direct) on Gasoline Turbo and Hybrid; diesel injection system not measured; 3.7 AT uses Distributed injection (multi-point).

Which version to choose

Want the shortest 0–100 and do not need AWD. Four cars hit 5.1 s. Rank them by what else you pay in mass and fuel: pre-facelift 3.0 AT 405 hp RWD (1787 kg, mixed 9.1, 74 L, 126 mm); restyling 3.0 AT 405 hp RWD (1799 kg, mixed 9.1, 80 L, 126 mm, production of this row ends February 2023, wheels not measured, CO2 206 g/km Euro 6); restyling 3.5 AT 364 hp RWD (1812 kg, mixed 5.9, 80 L, CO2 139 g/km Euro 6, 546 Nm); pre-facelift 3.5 AT 306 hp RWD (1825 kg, mixed 6.2, 74 L, 144 g/km Euro 5, only 350 Nm). Same sprint, Hybrid RWD after the facelift is the one that also cuts mixed use by 3.2 L/100 km versus the 405 hp RWD (5.9 vs 9.1).

Want 405 hp and AWD. Restyling 3.0 AT 405 hp AWD: 5.4 s, 1878 kg, mixed 9.3, 80 L, CO2 not measured. Pre-facelift same name: 5.4 s, 1801 kg (77 kg lighter), mixed 9.3, 74 L, CO2 not measured. Sprint is identical; the older AWD 405 is the lighter car.

Want AWD without the 405 hp tune. Restyling 3.5 AT 364 hp AWD: 5.4 s (same as 405 AWD), 1888 kg, mixed 6.6 versus 9.3 on 405 AWD — 2.7 L/100 km less — and 546 Nm versus 475 Nm. Pre-facelift 3.5 AT 306 hp AWD: same 5.4 s, heavier at 1901 kg, mixed 6.8, Euro 5. 3.0 AT 304 hp AWD is slower (6.0 s restyling / 6.1 s pre) and thirstier (mixed 10.7 both generations). 3.7 AT AWD is 5.8 s, 1700 kg, mixed 10.7, boost No, and does not exist after the facelift. 2.0 AT AWD exists only pre-facelift: 7.7 s, mixed 9.8.

Want the naturally aspirated six. Only 3.7 AT, only April 2014–January 2018. RWD is the lightest Q50 in the data (1621 kg) and 5.5 s; fuel use not measured. AWD is 5.8 s, 1700 kg, mixed 10.7. You give up Turbo, Direct injection (direct), and the 405/304 hp 2997 cm³ pair. You gain displacement (3696 vs 2997) and lose 109 Nm versus 405 hp and 34 Nm versus 304 hp.

Want diesel / lowest L/100 km. Restyling 2.1 MT: 4.3 mixed, 8.9 s, 1667 kg, Euro 6, 114 g/km — only Manual 6 in the facelift. Restyling 2.1 AT: 4.5 mixed, 8.7 s, 1688 kg. Pre-facelift manuals/automatics are close (4.4 / 4.8 mixed) but Euro 5, 74 L, and compression not measured. None of the diesels is AWD. Torque is 400 Nm — equal to 3.0 AT 304 hp — from 1600–2800 rpm, with 170 hp.

Want the four-cylinder Gasoline. Restyling 2.0 AT RWD: 211 hp, 350 Nm, 7.3 s, mixed 7.0, 1717 kg, 146 g/km Euro 6, 80 L. Pre-facelift RWD is the same 7.3 s and 7.0 mixed at 1640 kg (77 kg lighter) and 74 L; CO2 not measured. Pre-facelift AWD if you must have four driven wheels on 1991 cm³: 7.7 s, 9.8 mixed, 1682 kg. Specific output ≈ 106 hp/L, second only to the 405 hp 3.0.

304 hp versus 405 hp on the same 3.0 AT name. Restyling RWD: 5.8 s vs 5.1 s (0.7 s), 1692 vs 1799 kg (the 304 is 107 kg lighter), mixed 10.2 vs 9.1 (the 304 uses more fuel). Restyling AWD: 6.0 s vs 5.4 s, 1742 vs 1878 kg, mixed 10.7 vs 9.3. The 304 hp row is not the economy 3.0; it is the lighter, slower 3.0. Gross 2259 kg is measured only here.

Facelift or not, same engine family. Hybrid is the clear mechanical upgrade: 306 → 364 hp, 350 → 546 Nm, Euro 5 → Euro 6, 74 → 80 L. Diesel is a certification and documentation upgrade (Euro 6, compression 16.2 measured) with mixed use slightly better and 0–100 slightly worse. 2.0 AT RWD is a torque bump with unchanged sprint. 3.0 AT 405 hp RWD is nearly a copy (5.1 s, 9.1 mixed) with +12 kg and +6 L. 3.7 AT is a generation-bound choice: if you want it, the facelift cannot supply it.

There are no prices in these data, so “extra money” is extra kilograms, extra litres per 100 km, extra or missing driven wheels, and whether the 3696 cm³ engine still exists on the car in front of you. Match the row: name 3.0 AT / 3.5 AT / 3.7 AT / 2.0 AT / 2.1 AT / 2.1 MT, then horsepower, then RWD or AWD.