Introduction

The 2020 Infiniti Q50 promises sporty handling and strong acceleration, as it takes on prestige rivals from the BMW 3-Series to the Audi A4. 

Shoppers won't find any stylistic differences between the 2019 and 2020 Infiniti Q50, but under the hood the frugal turbo-4 engine that was formerly standard has been axed in favor of a twin-turbo V-6. This engine gives the Infiniti Q50, a compact luxury sport sedan, bragging rights as the most powerful car in its class. 

Aside from the bigger engine, all 2020 Q50s get Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A new Edition 30 trim celebrates Infiniti's 30th anniversary with special badging and trim. Otherwise the Q50 remains unchanged. 

As with last year, four trims are available: Pure, Luxe, Sport, and the top-spec Red Sport. The three lower trims wrestle 300 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque out of the 3.0-liter twin-turbo V-6. The Red Sport boasts 400 hp and 350 lb-ft of torque. 

A 7-speed automatic mates with both engines. Rear-wheel drive is standard, but all-wheel drive is available. 

The newly standard V-6 power and smartphone connectivity make the 2020 Q50 a better value than in years past and more enticing for shoppers looking for a luxury sport sedan. 

The Q50 has undergone some crash testing, but the government data is lacking, with a five-star rollover rating being the only federal score currently on the books. The IIHS has put the Q50 through its entire battery of tests, and in four of their categories the Q50 has earned a 'good'? rating, the institute's highest award. The optional headlights earned an 'Acceptable'? score. 

Automatic emergency braking is the only driver-assist function that comes standard. Other popular active-safety features, such as blind-spot monitors, audible parking sensors, and a surround-view camera system, are standard on the Sport and Red Sport. Adaptive cruise control, active lane control, and lane-departure warnings are optional. 

Lineup

Prices include $1,025 destination charge. 

The base Q50 Pure ($37,425 with RWD; $39,425 with AWD) includes LED lighting, 17-inch wheels, keyless entry, and push-button start. There's also leatherette upholstery, dual-zone automatic climate control, 8-way power front seats, and a dual-screen infotainment system. 

The Q50 Luxe ($39,875 with RWD; $41,875 with AWD) adds 18-inch wheels, more chrome on the front end, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, and a power moonroof. 

The Q50 Edition 30 ($44,725 with RWD; $46,725 with AWD) celebrates 30 years of Infiniti with special exterior badging, 19-inch wheels, dark chrome trim, and embossed sill plates. Additional standard features include blind-spot monitors, a surround-view camera system, parking sensors, navigation, heated front seats and heated steering wheel, remote start, and SiriusXM radio. 

The Sport trim ($$49,525 with RWD; $51,525 with AWD) justifies its price with a host of performance upgrades. These include 19-inch wheels with performance summer tires, bigger brakes, an adaptive suspension, and paddle shifters. Comfort and convenience features include 16-speaker Bose audio and genuine leather upholstery. 

At the top of the lineup is the Red Sport ($55,275 with RWD; $57,275 with AWD). Along with the 400-hp V-6 it includes semi-aniline leather with contrast stitching, metal petals, unique exhaust, and dark chrome trim. 

Walkaround

The Q50 is all about the art of the curved line. There's plenty of arcs, swooshes, and parabolas decorating the flanks and fascias of the Infiniti. The look is in line with the Infiniti design language and sets the Q50 apart in a crowded segment. 

Despite being an older design, the Q50 has held up well. It continues to look contemporary among recent redesigns such as the BMW 3-Series and new products like the Genesis G70. 

Interior

Where the Q50 shows its age is in the interior. The general design, with its large instrument binnacle and an upright center stack with dual touchscreens, comes off feeling more 2015 than 2020. However, the infotainment software works well enough that buyers may overlook the aging design. 

Seats in both rows provides all-day comfort. The fronts are especially impressive, offering plenty of support and bolstering as well as a good range of adjustment. High-zoot models with their genuine leather (semi-aniline on Red Sport) spoil occupants with even more soft, supple seating surfaces. 

The back seat has 35.1 inches of legroom, and that should be enough to provide adequate stretch-out space for two riders. The rear-wheel-drive architecture, though, results in a large hump passing through the middle seat. That eats into rear legroom and makes seating three people across an uncomfortable proposition at best. 

Even in top-shelf Red Sport trim, there's no rear-seat USB port to be found. The two standard-equipment USB ports up front should keep the driver and front passenger happily charged up, though. 

Driving Impression

With the old turbo-4 put out to pasture, all Q50 models enjoy at least 300 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque from a twin-turbo 3.0-liter V-6. The power from this boosted six delivers strong acceleration that is well managed by the 7-speed automatic transmission. 

For entry-level luxury sport sedans under $40,000, the output from this V-6 is enough to put the Q50 at the head of its segment in terms of horsepower and torque. Nothing, be it from Germany or elsewhere, can top it at that price point. 

The power here works well with the chassis, which is composed and willing to play. It doesn't have the immediacy or eagerness as some of the more sport-oriented models, but it can corner with confidence and poise that should be just fine for most drivers. 

Sport models use an adaptive suspension for even better handling, but the average buyer would be hard-pressed to tell the difference between this setup and the coil springs found in the Pure and Luxe models. 

It's a similar story with the novel steer-by-wire system found in models equipped with active lane control. We found this steering system to be devoid of character and feel, a sensation that is out of place in a sport sedan. Those who prioritize feedback from the steering wheel will want to skip this option. 

Fuel economy for the Q50's V-6 varies based on output and drivetrain. The Q50 300-hp editions with RWD are rated at 20 mpg city, 29 mpg highway, 23 mpg combined; adding AWD drops those numbers to 19/27/22 mpg. Red Sport models are rated at 20/26/22 mpg in RWD form and 19/26/22 mpg with AWD. 

Summary

With the gutsy V-6 now standard, the 2020 Infiniti Q50 should entice customers on the basis of value and performance, especially the lower two trims. It's why our choice here is the Pure, which can be had for under $40,000 even when equipped with AWD. 

 

-by Anthony Sophinos, with driving impressions from The Car Connection.