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Used INFINITI Q50 at Hanna INFINITI of Apex
Best Year for a Used INFINITI Q50
The 2020 and 2021 model years are the strongest buy. The 3.0L twin-turbo V6 was settled, the 2018 refresh was in place, and the revisions INFINITI made across the model's life had all landed by then.
The Best Used INFINITI Q50 Years, by What You Are After
The Q50 ran for eleven model years and the whole market for it is now a used market, so this is a question with a real answer rather than a hypothetical one. Which year is best depends on whether you want the developed car, the cheapest good one, or the newest one that exists.
A 2023 INFINITI Q50 SENSORY AWD photographed at Hanna INFINITI of Apex. Which model years and trims are on the lot changes weekly, so check current used listings before you make the drive.
Everything INFINITI changed over the model's life is present, the 2018 refresh is in place, and the twin-turbo V6 is the settled engine. This is the version of the Q50 the engineers finished, without final-year pricing attached.
- 3.0L twin-turbo V6
- 300 hp or 400 hp
- 7-speed automatic
- RWD standard, AWD available
The refreshed styling and equipment arrived for 2018, and these cars sit a step below the 2020s on the used market. If you want the most Q50 for the least money, this is where the curve is kindest.
- 3.0L twin-turbo V6
- 300 hp or 400 hp
- 7-speed automatic
- RWD standard, AWD available
The final three model years, with a simplified lineup of LUXE, SENSORY and RED SPORT 400. These are the lowest-mileage Q50 sedans in existence, and some are still young enough to qualify for Certified Pre-Owned coverage.
- 3.0L twin-turbo V6
- 300 hp or 400 hp
- 7-speed automatic
- Three trims, RWD or AWD
What Changed Across the INFINITI Q50's Run
Two dates do most of the work here. The twin-turbo V6 arrived for 2016, and the styling and equipment refresh landed for 2018. Almost every "which year should I buy" answer follows from where a car sits relative to those two.
| Model Years | Engine Range | Drivetrain | What Defines It |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 to 2015 | Broad early lineup, including a hybrid | RWD standard, AWD available on every trim | The launch years. Now over a decade old, so the individual car's service history matters far more than the model year. |
| 2016 to 2017 | 3.0L twin-turbo V6 arrives, 300 hp and 400 hp | RWD standard, AWD available on every trim | The engine that would define the rest of the run, including the first RED SPORT 400 cars. |
| 2018 to 2019 | 3.0L twin-turbo V6, 300 hp or 400 hp | RWD standard, AWD available on every trim | The value pick. Refreshed styling and equipment, and INFINITI's revisions to the steering, driveshaft and brake components in place by 2019. |
| 2020 to 2021 | 3.0L twin-turbo V6, 300 hp or 400 hp | RWD standard, AWD available on every trim | The best overall pick. The developed car, with the updated cabin technology and every running change in place. |
| 2022 to 2024 | 3.0L twin-turbo V6, 300 hp or 400 hp | RWD standard, AWD available on every trim | The final years. Lineup simplified to LUXE, SENSORY and RED SPORT 400. The newest Q50 sedans available. |
Shaded rows are the two picks. The Q50 was produced for the US market through the 2024 model year. Every year offered all-wheel drive as a factory option, so drivetrain never limits which model year you shop.
What to Check on Any Used INFINITI Q50
Picking a model year narrows the search. The individual car settles it, and a twin-turbo sport sedan rewards a careful look more than an ordinary commuter does.
- Drive it onto a highway, not around a block. The turbochargers only tell you anything under load. Get it onto US-64 or the Triangle Expressway and use the full length of an on-ramp.
- Read the oil-change history closely. A twin-turbo engine cares about consistent oil service more than a naturally aspirated one. Continuous records are the single best signal on this car.
- Look hard at the rear tires. This is a rear-drive car with at least 300 horsepower. Rear tread that is worn far ahead of the fronts, or a mismatched set, tells you something about the last owner.
- Confirm the drivetrain properly. The trunk badge is a first look, not proof. Check the window sticker, the build sheet, or the vehicle history report to confirm rear-wheel or all-wheel drive.
- Try the steering at low and high speed. Later cars carry INFINITI's revised steering hardware. It should feel consistent pulling out of a parking space and settled at 65.
- Ask whether it qualifies as Certified Pre-Owned. On the newer cars this is often still possible, and a factory inspection with factory-backed coverage is worth having on a performance sedan.
Specification and model year data verified September 2026 against INFINITI specification sources and Edmunds. EPA fuel economy figures for every Q50 model year and drivetrain are published at fueleconomy.gov. Also useful: whether the Q50 comes in AWD, our INFINITI Q50 horsepower breakdown, and the Certified Pre-Owned INFINITI program.
Used Q50 Buying Questions
What is the best year for a used INFINITI Q50?
The 2020 and 2021 model years are the strongest all-round buy. By then the 3.0L twin-turbo V6 was the settled engine, the 2018 styling and equipment refresh was in place, and the revisions INFINITI made to the steering, driveshaft and brake components over the model's life had all landed. You get the developed version of the car without paying final-year money.
Which Q50 years are the best value?
The 2018 and 2019 model years. They carry the refreshed styling and the twin-turbo V6, and they sit a step below the 2020 and 2021 cars on the used market. If you want the most car for the least outlay, this is the window.
Is a final-year 2024 Q50 worth looking at?
Yes, if you want the lowest mileage. The 2022 to 2024 cars are the last of the line, with a simplified three-trim lineup of LUXE, SENSORY and RED SPORT 400. They are the newest Q50 sedans that exist, and some are still young enough to qualify for Certified Pre-Owned coverage.
What engine should I look for in a used Q50?
The 3.0L twin-turbo V6, which arrived for the 2016 model year and became the engine for the rest of the run. It came in two states of tune, 300 horsepower in LUXE and SENSORY and 400 horsepower in RED SPORT 400. Both use a 7-speed automatic.
What is the difference between the 300 hp and the RED SPORT 400?
A hundred horsepower from the same 3.0L twin-turbo V6, plus the chassis and brake hardware to go with it. RED SPORT 400 is the enthusiast's Q50 and it is the version people specifically hunt for on the used market. If that is what you want, be prepared to wait for the right one.
Can I still get a Q50 with all-wheel drive?
Yes. Rear-wheel drive was standard in every model year and INFINITI Intelligent all-wheel drive was a factory option on every trim, for the whole run. Both configurations are common on the used market, so the drivetrain does not narrow which model year you shop.
What should I check on a used Q50 before buying?
Drive it hard enough to load the turbochargers, which means a highway on-ramp rather than a parking lot. Check the service history for continuous oil changes, because a twin-turbo engine cares about that more than most. Look at all four tires for matching brand and even wear, and on a rear-drive car pay attention to the rears. Then have it inspected.
Do you get used Q50 sedans at Hanna INFINITI of Apex?
They come in on trade rather than from the factory, so availability moves week to week. Check our used inventory to see what is listed now, or call and tell us the model year, trim and drivetrain you want so we can watch for one.
Looking for the Right Q50 Year?
These arrive on trade, so the good ones move quickly. Tell us the model year, trim and drivetrain and we will watch for it.
Hanna INFINITI of Apex, 1900 Laura Duncan Rd, Apex, NC 27523