2023 Infiniti Q50

The current Infiniti Q50 has been around for the past decade in one form or another, and soldiers into 2023 with few changes. Whether that's a vote of confidence or a sign of resignation is debatable, but one thing's for sure; the Infiniti Q50 compact executive sedan desperately needs a redesign and a good sprinkling of updated tech. This is especially the case in the cabin, which feels tighter at the back than competitors and lacks a truly user-friendly infotainment system. One area in which all Q50 models shine is in the engine department; all Q50s feature a twin-turbo V6 engine that produces up to 400 horsepower. This stands in contrast to the Infiniti Q50's competitors such as the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class, which use capable but smaller four-cylinder engines, unless you spend more on the BMW M340i. If it's affordable power you're after, the Q50 is a good bet, but it's showing its age everywhere else.

The 2023 Q50 price range starts with the Luxe, a model that costs $42,650 before a shipping & handling fee of $1,075. Next up in the range is the Sensory model with a base price of $48,350. The Red Sport 400 finishes off the range and starts at $56,500. AWD is a $2,000 option on all trims.

Cars in this class have the daunting task of needing to be both comfortable over long distances and on the daily grind but sporty and exciting to drive when hitting a set of twisty roads. The 2023 Infiniti Q50 sedan surely looks the part with its stylish exterior, and under the hood, the twin-turbo V6 delivers at least 300 horses, which is another boon for sporty driving, but unfortunately, the chassis and suspension do not follow suit. The Q50 sedan has a firm suspension setup, but that doesn't translate into a characterful driving experience; in fact, it's rather bland. Steering is light and devoid of feel, and the brakes feel underwhelming. The Red Sport model with its 400 horses adds a bit of excitement and driving pleasure, but it's still not close to what cars like the Audi S4 or BMW M340i can offer. To top it off, overall refinement is hampered by lots of road and tire noise. Unless you absolutely must have a V6 engine in your sedan, the Q50's dynamic compromises will be difficult to accept alongside its more modern rivals.

This Infiniti Q50 review proves that throwing a bunch of parts at a car does not necessarily make it good. The Q50 goes up against traditional class leaders from Mercedes-Benz and BMW, and we're sad to say that it falls short. This comes as a big disappointment considering that Infiniti has had over a decade to get this recipe right, but there lies the problem - the Q50 is fundamentally a decade-old car and feels it. The styling is on point, but unfortunately, the chassis and suspension setup can't match its sporty looks, and road noise is an issue on the highway. Thankfully, the twin-turbo V6 engine makes up for a bit of that lost personality and we expect the new Infiniti Q50 sedan to be a reliable proposition. You'll have to get to grips with the dated, clunky infotainment system though. Quite simply, the time has come for a new Q50 that can better compete against the best. Until that happens, this is a merely average sedan in a segment where the standards are exceedingly high.

The Infiniti Q50 range comes with the same powertrain regardless of which trim you opt for, and although it would be nice to have the maximum output available, 300 hp in all but the top trim is plenty. Thus, we'd recommend going for the base Luxe spec. This gets you 18-inch wheels, a power moonroof, leather upholstery, a premium 16-speaker audio system, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, and lane-departure warning. We feel this is the best mix of features and price, with this trim arriving at a cost of $42,650.