Used Infiniti Q50 2014-present review

If you were shopping for a premium executive saloon, an Infiniti might not be at the top of your list.

In a hotly contested class of some supremely good cars, whose badges proudly proclaim Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz, not to mention Jaguar, the Japanese firm’s name might not be the first one that springs to mind. Worse, if you poke around underneath this Q50, you’ll discover that at heart it’s a Nissan – not a premium badge at all.

However, the Q50 has distinctive and curvy styling; good as those other cars are, they are rather sober to look at, and the sheer volume of them on the roads means they’re never likely to stand out in a crowd.

An executive car needs a great deal more than just to look good, of course, and the Q50 starts with a 2.1-litre diesel engine derived from a Mercedes-Benz unit. There’s also an on-trend petrol-electric hybrid engine, where a 3.5-litre V6 and a small 67bhp electric motor join together to give the Q50 some sparkling performance without compromising its efficiency, as well as two regular petrol engines in 2.0-litre and 3.0-litre forms.

Opt for the entry-level SE trim and you'll find a reversing camera, 17in alloy wheels, parking sensors, dual-zone climate control and dual touchscreens as standard. Sport adds larger wheels and a sportier look. Upgrade to Premium and you get leather upholstery, heated front seats, auto-dimming rear-view mirror and an engine start-stop function, while Premium Tech models throw in Infiniti's Safety Shield technology, a Bose stereo, a 360deg camera and the InTouch infotainment system complete with sat-nav. Later models added Sport Tech, S Sport and S Sport Tech trims, with increasing opulence and added confusion for the poor salesmen.

On the road, the Q50 performs well with the 2.0 petrol engine, even if it lacks the sort of flexibility you might expect from a turbocharged engine. The hybrid, on the other hand, is seriously rapid and reasonably economical. The range-topping 3.0 petrol is the smoothest and most powerful in the range, although its standard-fit seven-speed automatic gearbox is slow to respond at times.

The sole diesel in the range is unrefined by class standards. The engine’s clatter resonates around the interior and there’s a lot of mechanical vibration, even at low speeds. The standard manual gearbox is notchy and unpleasant to use, so we would try to seek out the optional automatic.

Dynamically, the Q50 also falls behind the best in class. The Direct Adaptive Steering system of the more expensive models allows you to alter the weight and responsiveness of the steering, but it feels fake and disconcerting. The standard set-up is better, but it still feels rather artificial. The diesel Q50 rides well, remaining settled much of the time, but the hybrid has an uncomfortably firm, jarring ride.

Inside is a good driving position and a dashboard that sticks out for its dual screens: one 7.0in and the other 8.0in. By default, the top screen deals mostly with sat-nav and parking cameras, while the lower one controls other functions, including the Infiniti Drive Mode Selector. The rest of the interior is a bit clunky, though, with too many buttons dotted around and not enough flair to its design.

There’s plenty of room in the front, but rear passengers don't have much leg room. The middle perch, blighted by an intrusive transmission tunnel, is particularly uncomfortable. Infiniti claims a boot capacity of 500 litres, but with a floor that slopes upwards to make room for the battery beneath and a bootlid reluctant to offer any hydraulic assistance whatsoever, the boot hardly seems more convenient than that of a rival such as the BMW 3 Series.

Find a used Infiniti Q50 in the What Car? Classifieds here

Prices start from around £10,000 for a 2014 Q50 with an average mileage for the year and a full service history, bought from an independent dealer. Up the ante to between £11,000 and £13,000 and a 2015 model with the same criteria could be yours, while upwards of £15,000 is needed for a newer car.

Not surprisingly, the diesel is the most economical, with an average claimed fuel consumption figure of up to 65.7mpg and CO2 emissions of 114g/km in certain trims. The hybrid suffers from having a 3.5-litre V6, which provides swift performance but in some trims returns a claimed 45.6mpg, where the 2.0 petrol model claims 44.8mpg.

Tax for for all models (except the diesel) registered before April 2017 was fairly steep. Those registered after that date will be charged at a flat rate that's currently at £140 per year, unless the car's on-the-road price exceeds £40,000 (that's the case with several models in the range), in which case they’ll attract a supplementary tax on top.

The Infiniti Plus Service offers the chance to plan ahead when it comes to servicing costs, with the option to pay by direct debit.

The diesel is certainly the most economical and the best bet if you’re intending to do a high mileage, but it’s a noisy engine. We prefer the smoothness of the 2.0 petrol, even though you’ll spend more on fuel. As far as trims go, we’d seek out one of the higher-spec cars that come with sat-nav as standard. It’s lacking from the otherwise well-equipped Premium trim, so if it hasn’t been specified as an option look for a Sport Tech car.

Our favourite Infiniti Q50: 2.0T Sport Tech

The Audi A4 comes with a range of strong and refined engines. It’s impressively quiet, has plenty of pulling power and a wonderfully classy interior, and delivers good fuel economy, too.

The BMW 3 Series is almost the defining compact executive car. It’s great to drive, has strong performance from a wide range of excellent engines and comes with a great infotainment system.

Find a used Infiniti Q50 in the What Car? Classifieds here

For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? Newsletter here