Certified Benz & Beemer Compares 2015 Infiniti Q50 VS 2015 Mercedes E-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 E-Class Sedan doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

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 E-Class Sedan doesn’t offer a cross-path warning system.

Both the Q50 and the E-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.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Infiniti Q50 is safer than the Mercedes E-Class Sedan:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Infiniti Q50 is safer than the Mercedes E-Class Sedan:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

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 E-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 E-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 E-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 E-Class Sedan’s (7/unlimited vs. 4/50,000).

The Q50 has more powerful engines than the E-Class Sedan:

As tested in Car and Driver the Infiniti Q50 V6 is faster than the E350 Sedan:

On the EPA test cycle the Q50 Hybrid gets better fuel mileage than the E400 Hybrid:

On the EPA test cycle the Q50 RWD V6 gets better fuel mileage than the E350 Sedan RWD (20 city/30 hwy vs. 20 city/29 hwy).

The Q50 stops much shorter than the E-Class Sedan:

The Q50’s optional drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The E-Class Sedan doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

The 3.7 Q50S handles at .95 G’s, while the E350 Sedan pulls only .83 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The 3.7 Q50S executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.3 seconds quicker than the E250 BlueTEC Sedan 4MATIC (25.8 seconds @ .71 average G’s vs. 27.1 seconds @ .63 average G’s).

The Infiniti Q50 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 250 to 450 pounds less than the Mercedes E-Class Sedan.

The Q50 is 3.8 inches shorter than the E-Class Sedan, making the Q50 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

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 E-Class Sedan doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Q50 has 2.3 inches more front headroom and 3.2 inches more front legroom than the E-Class Sedan.

To allow full utilization of available cargo room, the Q50’s trunk lid uses gas strut supported hinges that don’t intrude into the trunk. The E-Class Sedan’s useful trunk space is reduced by its intrusive beam hinge.

Consumer Reports rated the Q50’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the E-Class Sedan’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

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 E-Class Sedan doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Insurance will cost less for the Q50 owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Q50 will cost $795 to $5190 less than the E-Class Sedan over a five-year period.

The Q50 will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The Intellichoice estimates that the Q50 will retain 49.48% to 53.59% of its original price after five years, while the E-Class Sedan only retains 45.04% to 49.28%.

Intellichoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Infiniti Q50 will be $11546 to $16135 less than for the Mercedes E-Class Sedan.

The Infiniti Q50 won the First for Safety award in Kiplinger’s 2014 car issue. The Mercedes E-Class Sedan didn't win any award.