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2021 Infiniti Q50 Red Sport 400 Review - Is It Worth $55,000?

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Nissan’s luxury division Infiniti created the Q50 back in 2014 to compete with the likes of the BMW 3 Series and the Mercedes-Benz C-class sedans. From the outset, it appears that Infiniti did a good job of creating an executive style that is also surprisingly affordable with a starting price well under $40,000 —- $37,625 if you want to be precise. The 2021 Infiniti Q50 comes in four trim levels: Pure, Luxe, Sensory and Red Sport 400. The Sensory trim is all new for the 2021 model year. The top-end Red Sport 400 carries a heftier starting price tag of $56,775 and this trim is the focus of our piece today.

Exterior - In Need Of Refresh

The bold lines, 19-inch alloy wheels, angular headlamp and rear light design and enlarged grille give a stately yet dynamic feel to the Q50 Red Sport 400. Two new colors were also added for the new model year, namely Slate Gray and Grand Blue. It is worth mentioning the Q50 hasn’t seen a major redesign, ever. Even though it’s still a nice car to look at, it’s definitely in need of a full update.

Interior - Unique But Needs An Update

What you first notice when you get into any of the trim levels is the generous front-seat legroom, but rear seating is not quite as comfortable, unfortunately. The standard features on the Red Sport 400 are impressive, especially ADAS features (more below), but it’s a shame not to see more of an update on the Q50’s interior. It’s starting to feel a little bit dated, even on the higher trim levels. The materials and fit and finish could also use improvement if they want to compete with the Audi A4, Mercedes-Benz C-Class and BMW 3 Series.

On the inside you get a dual-screen infotainment system, operated from the steering wheel controls, touch or  control knob. It supports both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which is handy, but while it is responsive and nicely presented, it is not the easiest infotainment system to use. Some nice additional features in the Red Sport, however, include a 16-speaker Bose sound system and power-adjustable seats with memory function.

Powertrain and Performance

One area in which Infiniti has definitely got right is the 3.0L V6 engine on the Q50. This standard unit outputs 300 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque paired with a 7-speed automatic transmission. The top-end Red Sport 400 has twin turbochargers, giving a horsepower boost up to 400hp, as well as 350 lb-ft of torque, allowing it to get from 0 to 60 in just 4.5 seconds, which is very impressive for a sedan of this size. The Q50 is available in both RWD and AWD.

It’s a solid engine and the Q50 feels good to drive and performs well, but it has to be said that it’s not the most economical sedan out there. The AWD performs less well at 19 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway. If you compare that to the competition it doesn’t look great. Even the AWD BMW M340i manages 33 mpg, and that is the higher-end variant like the Red Sport 400.

Safety

While not the most efficient, Infiniti has spent a great deal of time and attention on providing you with a safe sedan. Regardless of which trim you might consider, you do have to go above the base-level Pure trim to get the best features, but from the Luxe model up the package is quite generous. The mid-level Luxe comes with a 360-degree camera, adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, blind spot monitoring and lane departure warning. In the Red Sport 400, you also get rear cross traffic alert and forward emergency braking, too.

Verdict: Solid, But Missing Key Elements

The Red Sport 400 is a big step up in price but it comes with a lot of additional features plus a major power boost from the base model. While it’s a good performer, there’s really nothing drawing us to the Q50 Red Sport over a BMW M340i or Audi S4. However, where a Q50 could make a lot of sense for the right buyer is on the used side of things. Since the Q50 hasn’t seen any major updates in its entire lifespan, you can get a 2018 or even 2019 Q50 at a significant discount.