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Used INFINITI Q50 at Hanna INFINITI of Apex
Does the INFINITI Q50 Come in AWD?
Yes. Every Q50 model year from 2014 through 2024 offered INFINITI Intelligent all-wheel drive as a factory option on every trim, with rear-wheel drive standard. The Q50 left the US lineup after 2024, so an AWD Q50 today is a used one.
Which INFINITI Q50 Trims Came With All-Wheel Drive
The short version is that you never had to choose a particular trim to get all-wheel drive on a Q50. INFINITI offered it across the range for the model's entire eleven-year run, from the first 2014 cars to the last 2024 ones. What you did have to do was tick the box, because rear-wheel drive was always the default.
| Trim | Engine | Output | Standard Drivetrain | AWD Available? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LUXE | 3.0L twin-turbo V6 | 300 hp | Rear-wheel drive | Yes |
| SENSORY | 3.0L twin-turbo V6 | 300 hp | Rear-wheel drive | Yes |
| RED SPORT 400 | 3.0L twin-turbo V6 | 400 hp | Rear-wheel drive | Yes |
All three final-year trims used the same 7-speed automatic. The difference between LUXE and SENSORY is equipment, not powertrain, and RED SPORT 400 is the one with the extra hundred horsepower.
| Model Years | What You Could Get | AWD Offered? |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 to 2015 | The launch years, including a hybrid version alongside the gas cars | Yes, on every trim |
| 2016 to 2018 | The twin-turbo V6 arrives and broadens the engine range | Yes, on every trim |
| 2019 to 2021 | Updated styling and equipment, engine lineup consolidating | Yes, on every trim |
| 2022 to 2024 | The final lineup, settling on the 3.0L twin-turbo V6 | Yes, on every trim |
The Q50 was produced for the US market through the 2024 model year. Every year of it offered all-wheel drive as a factory option, so the drivetrain question never limits which model year you shop.
What INFINITI Intelligent AWD Actually Does
The Q50's all-wheel drive is not the kind that splits power evenly and leaves it there. It is rear-biased by design, which matters if the reason you wanted a Q50 in the first place was how a rear-drive sedan feels.
Rear-drive until it needs not to be
On a dry road the system sends power to the rear wheels and the car behaves like the rear-drive version. When it detects a wheel beginning to slip it moves torque forward. You are not trading away the driving character to get the traction.
Rain matters more than snow here
The Triangle gets a handful of winter events a year. It gets rain constantly. On a rear-drive car making 300 or 400 horsepower, a wet on-ramp off US-64 is where all-wheel drive proves itself far more often than any ice morning.
It costs a little at the pump
Extra hardware means extra weight and drag, so the all-wheel-drive cars post slightly lower EPA figures than their rear-drive equivalents in every model year. The gap is small. Look up the exact numbers for the year you are considering rather than guessing.
Both versions were common
Because AWD was an option rather than a package tied to a high trim, the used market has plenty of both. You are not forced up to a more expensive trim to get it, which is not true of every sedan in this class.
How to confirm a used Q50 is actually AWD
- Check the trunk badge. All-wheel-drive cars wear an AWD badge on the trunk lid. Treat this as a first look, not proof, because badges come off and go on.
- Read the window sticker or build sheet. This is the document that settles it. If the seller cannot produce one, ask us and we will pull the build data from the VIN.
- Look at the vehicle history report. The drivetrain is recorded there, and you should be reading the report anyway on any used car.
- Look underneath. An all-wheel-drive Q50 has a front differential and half-shafts running to the front wheels. On a lift this takes about five seconds to confirm.
Trim and drivetrain data verified September 2026 against INFINITI specification sources and Edmunds. Fuel economy figures for every Q50 model year and drivetrain are published at fueleconomy.gov. Also useful: our INFINITI Q50 horsepower breakdown and, if you are choosing a model year, the best year for a used INFINITI Q50.
Q50 All-Wheel-Drive Questions
Does the INFINITI Q50 come in AWD?
Yes. Every INFINITI Q50 model year from 2014 through 2024 offered INFINITI Intelligent all-wheel drive as a factory option on every trim, with rear-wheel drive as the standard configuration. Because the Q50 left the US lineup after the 2024 model year, an all-wheel-drive Q50 today means a used or Certified Pre-Owned one.
Which Q50 trims were available with all-wheel drive?
All of them. In the final 2024 lineup that meant LUXE, SENSORY and RED SPORT 400, each offered as rear-wheel drive as standard or with all-wheel drive added. The same pattern held across the model's whole run, including the first year in 2014.
Is AWD standard on any Q50?
No. Rear-wheel drive was standard on every Q50 in every model year, and all-wheel drive was always the added option. That is the opposite of how most crossovers are configured, so it is worth checking on any individual car rather than assuming.
How do I tell whether a used Q50 is AWD or RWD?
The quickest check is the badge on the trunk lid, which reads AWD on the all-wheel-drive cars. Do not stop there, because badges can be removed or added. Confirm it on the window sticker, the original build sheet, or a vehicle history report before you sign anything.
How does INFINITI Intelligent all-wheel drive work?
It is a rear-biased system rather than a full-time split. In normal dry driving the Q50 sends its power to the rear wheels and behaves like the rear-drive car. When it detects a wheel starting to slip it shifts torque forward. You get the rear-drive feel most of the time and the traction when it matters.
Is AWD worth having on a Q50 in North Carolina?
It depends less on snow than people assume. The Triangle sees only a handful of winter events a year, but it handles them badly, and a wet US-64 on-ramp is a more common test than any of them. On a rear-drive car with 300 or 400 horsepower, all-wheel drive earns its keep in rain as much as in ice.
Does AWD hurt the Q50's fuel economy?
Slightly, as it does on nearly every vehicle offering both. The extra hardware adds weight and drivetrain drag. The EPA published separate figures for the rear-drive and all-wheel-drive versions of each Q50 model year, and you can look up the exact numbers for any year at fueleconomy.gov.
Do you have all-wheel-drive Q50 sedans in stock near Apex?
It varies week to week, because these come in as trade-ins rather than from the factory. Check our used inventory for what is listed right now, or call and tell us the drivetrain and model year you want so we can watch for one.
Looking for an All-Wheel-Drive Q50?
These arrive as trade-ins, so stock changes weekly. Tell us the model year and drivetrain you want and we will watch for one.
Hanna INFINITI of Apex, 1900 Laura Duncan Rd, Apex, NC 27523