Certified Benz & Beemer Compares 2015 Infiniti Q50 VS 2015 Mercedes C-Class Near Scottsdale, AZ

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Q50 Premium/Sport offers optional Back-up Collision Intervention which use rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The C-Class Sedan doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The Q50 Premium/Sport offers an optional Around View ® Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The C-Class Sedan only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

To help make backing safer, the Q50 Premium/Sport’s optional cross-path warning system uses wide-angle radar in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. The C-Class Sedan doesn’t offer a cross-path warning system.

Both the Q50 and the C-Class Sedan have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height-adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding and available all wheel drive.

For its top level performance in the IIHS moderate overlap frontal impact, side impact, rear impact, roof-crush crash tests, an “Acceptable” rating in the newer small overlap frontal crash test, and with its optional front crash prevention system, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Q50 its highest rating: “Top Pick Plus” for 2015, a rating granted to only 46 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The C-Class Sedan has not been tested, yet.

The Q50 comes with a full 4 year/60,000 mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car and includes 24 hour roadside assistance. The C-Class Sedan’s 4 year/50,000 mile basic warranty expires 10,000 miles sooner.

Infiniti’s powertrain warranty covers the Q50 2 years and 20,000 miles longer than Mercedes covers the C-Class Sedan. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the C-Class Sedan ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

The Q50’s corrosion warranty is 3 years and unlimited miles longer than the C-Class Sedan’s (7/unlimited vs. 4/50,000).

The Q50’s standard 3.7 DOHC V6 produces 87 more horsepower (328 vs. 241) than the C300 Sedan’s standard 2.0 turbo 4 cyl. The Q50 Hybrid’s standard 3.5 DOHC V6 hybrid produces 31 more horsepower (360 vs. 329) than the C400 Sedan’s standard 3.0 turbo V6.

As tested in Motor Trend the Infiniti Q50 V6 is faster than the C300 Sedan:

On the EPA test cycle the Q50 Hybrid gets better fuel mileage than the C-Class Sedan:

Regenerative brakes improve the Q50 Hybrid’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The C-Class Sedan doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The Q50’s standard fuel tank has 2 gallons more fuel capacity than the C-Class Sedan (20 vs. 18 gallons).

The Q50’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs standard on the C-Class Sedan are solid, not vented.

The Q50 stops shorter than the C-Class Sedan:

For better traction, the Q50’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the C-Class Sedan (F:245/40R19 & R:265/35R19 vs. F:225/40R19 & R:245/35R19).

The Q50 has a standard space-saver spare (not available on Hybrid) so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the C-Class Sedan, it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed. Some models of the C-Class Sedan don’t even offer run-flats.

The 3.7 Q50S handles at .95 G’s, while the C400 Sedan 4MATIC pulls only .88 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The 3.7 Q50S executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the C300 Sedan 4MATIC (25.8 seconds @ .71 average G’s vs. 26.3 seconds @ .7 average G’s).

The Q50 offers available computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The C-Class Sedan doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Q50 has 3.1 inches more front headroom, 2.8 inches more front legroom and .4 inches more rear headroom than the C-Class Sedan.

The Q50 has a larger trunk than the C-Class Sedan (13.5 vs. 12.8 cubic feet).

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Q50 has standard extendable sun visors. The C-Class Sedan doesn’t offer extendable visors.

On extremely cold Winter days, the Q50 AWD’s standard heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the car heater warms up. The C-Class Sedan doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

The Infiniti Q50 won the First for Safety award in Kiplinger’s 2014 car issue.