If you’re looking forward to purchasing a small SUV, then these two brands of cars might have crossed your mind at some point. Infiniti, a Japanese division of Nissan, started selling back in 1989 while their rival today, the Audi brand, from the Volkswagen family, became known in 1921.
Now, the problem comes in deciding which one is better since they have some striking similarities like all are luxury cars. We did some research comparing these two brands in various categories to help you in your decision-making process.
Read on to see how Audi and Infiniti stack up against each other in each category and determine which one emerges as the ultimate winner from our conclusion section.
Engines and Transmissions
Audi
Apart from the Audi SQ5, all other Audi models use a turbocharged 2-liter 4-cylinder engine. This type of engine generates up to 252 horsepower and 273 lb-ft torque. Its 7-speed dual auto transmission clutch sends this power to all its four wheels.
Infiniti
Though this brand also uses the same engine as the Audio cars, there is a difference in variable compression. To improve this brand’s efficiency and performance, the turbo engine compression ratio can change from the normal 8:1 to 14:1. The torque it generates is also impressive; 268 horsepower and 280 lb-ft, which either gets to the front wheels alone or all four wheels through the variable compression that is continuous.
For this category, Infiniti is the winner.
Reliability
The first thing most buyers look for in a car is its reliability. You want to ask yourself several questions before the actual purchase; how safe is it, how long can it last, or how much will it cost to maintain and repair it. That’s how much reliability index can influence your buying decision. So now, let’s see how much these two brands are in terms of their reliability status.
Audi
From the ReliabilityIndex reports, Audi is ranked 34 out of a possible 40 brands with 195 as its reliability score. This is because Audi cars are likely to experience challenges such as oil leaks, exhaust problems, timing belts, clunking sounds, and problems with their electrical components.
However, other models like Audi TT, A3, and A4 are much more reliable than others. The ones with the least reliability scores are Q7, A8, and Q5
Infiniti
Compared to their rival Audi, you can say that Infiniti is a bit more reliable. But there is a mixed result for different models like you’re about to discover. The Infiniti M37, released in 2011, has a reliability score of 2 out of the possible 5, while the 2010 release M35 pocketed all the 5 marks.
From the consumer reports, Infiniti Q50 is among the least reliable models based on its passenger airbags and the electric power assist. The same reports later in 2016 ranked Infiniti Q7 as one of the most reliable cars around, giving this brand a score of 8 out of the 29 brands.
The most common challenges you’re likely to experience with all the Infiniti cars are:
- Leaking steering racks
- Failure with its transmission
Performance
Audi
This brand is capable of hitting 60 miles/hr in under 6 seconds. Its performance on city roads is at 23mpg while on highways is 27mpg.
Infiniti
Due to its advanced engine, this brand has a better rating both in the city and on the highways as compared to the Audi brand. A combined 27mpg in front-wheel trim can go up to 24mpg on the city roads and 31mpg on highways.
Interior design
Audi
This brand has some of the most beautiful interiors any brand can brag about, and the layout is just perfect with some nice materials. It boasts the highest trim level ever, including a virtual cockpit and a high-resolution screen to keep you up-to-date with every happening inside and around your car.
Infiniti
On the other hand, Infiniti cars don’t offer anything special as their rival, Audi, besides a simple and clean layout design from nice materials like Ultrasuede accents and leather seats.
From this category, Audi carries the day.
Interior space
Audi
Passengers, especially the tall ones, will feel more comfortable in Audi cars than in Infinity cars because of the extra legroom and front headspace, though the rear seat dimensions remain the same.
Infiniti
When it comes to cargo space, Infiniti carries the day. It has an extra 5cubit ft compared to Audi cargo space whether the rear seats are folded or not.
Although no one likes towing in such SUVs, the Audi towing rate is at 4400lbs while Infiniti is at 3000lbs.
Pricing
Infiniti
This luxury arm of Nissan has some amazing features like the semi-auto driving technique that allows you to use cruise control more easily when you’re stuck in traffic and the variable compression ratio. These great features determine this brand’s pricing for each model, with the least expensive model, Pure sedan Q50, going for $37,000, while the most expensive model, QX80, goes for $70,000.
Audi
The manufacturers of this brand ensure their customers get some of the most capable performing cars around, with the E-Tron is their first electric SUV. Their least expensive model is A3 Sedan going for $30,000, while R8 10-Cylinder, this brand’s most expensive model, goes for $150,000.
Infotainment
Audi
This brand has the most amazing infotainment service you’ll ever find in a car. The live traffic features like Bluetooth, phone box, virtual cockpit, and the smartphone connection to wi-fi hotspots. The company’s recent models like the Sportsback A7 have a multimedia interface known as the MMI Touchscreen for navigation purposes.
Infiniti
For its infotainment systems, cars from this brand, like the QX50, have two screens. It uses one screen for navigation and the other screen for various purposes like Bluetooth, wi-fi connection, and smartphone.
Safety measures
Audi
Looking at all its safety measures, this brand produces cars that are among the safest in the world. Most of its models, if not all, have passed the NHTSA crash tests and are rated 5 stars and 4 stars on rollover tests.
Let us look at the A3 model. It has a multi-collision brake assist, lane assist, and pre-sense front. The pre-sense system reduces the impact speed when you get involved in an accident using active braking. Doing so prevents accidents altogether if you were driving at low speeds or reducing severity in other cases.
Infiniti
Like their rivals, this brand also cares much about the safety of its users; that’s why they have a good number of impressive safety measures in place. The two models, Q70 and Q50, have both earned 5 stars from NHTSA. Here are some of their safety features; warning on lane departure, detecting pedestrians, assist with distance control and steering, head-up display, etc.
Maintenance costs
Audi
If you’re an Audi car owner, expect to spend between 200 dollars to 300 dollars on regular maintenance. But, some mileage will require higher prices to service, starting from 700 dollars. This you can reduce if you buy a warranty that covers the repairs and maintenance costs.
Here is a simple guide for Audi maintenance and repair costs:
- Brakes – Check the brakes for any kind of wear every year or if you detect any fault with them when stopping. Replacement costs range from 365 dollars to 400 dollars.
- Tires – It’s highly risky driving with worn-out tires. Replacing all four tires can cost you between 180 to 330 dollars per tire.
- Oil change – You can cover up to 10,000 miles after changing synthetic oil. But when you mostly drive in the city, you’ll need to change your synthetic oil after every 5000 miles with all the stopping and starting signs around.
- Battery – To notice a worn-out battery in Audi cars, the interior lights become dim, indicating that you need to change your car’s battery. Replacement cost can start from 300dollars upward.
- Air filter – Consider changing your air filter after covering 6,000 miles to keep the engine clean. Changing it can cost you up to 130 dollars.
The repair costs for Audi cars differ depending on each model. See the average repair costs for the three common Audi models. These costs cover electrical parts repairs, ignition coils, spark plug, valve covers, and catalytic converter repairs.
- For Audio A3, the repair cost is from 2,800 dollars
- For Audio A4, 3,000 dollars
- For A6, the repair costs can start from 3,500 dollars
Infiniti
If you’re an Infiniti car owner, expect to spend between 80 to 5000 dollars on maintenance and repair costs. Consider changing your car’s brakes, oil, air filter, tires, and battery after you have covered a mileage of 10,000 for better performance and long life.
Conclusion
Anyone looking forward to owning a small SUV will feel happy in either of these two brands. However, from the comparison above, you can see that Audi is better, from the space, infotainment, safety measure, etc., and its interior design is one to die for.
