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Best Year for a Used INFINITI Q50
The 2019 through 2022 Q50 are the years to shortlist. They have the 2018 refresh, the streamlined lineup and standard forward collision safety equipment, all built around the 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6.
What Changed, Year by Year
The Q50 ran a long production life with one significant mid-life refresh. Knowing where the 2018 refresh sits tells you most of what you need before you open a listing.
| Model Years | Where It Sits | What You Get | Who It Suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 to 2017 | Pre-refresh | The original Q50, with the earlier grille, bumpers and interior. | Buyers who want the twin-turbo V6 experience at the lowest point of entry. |
| 2018 | The refresh year | Revised grille, reworked front and rear bumpers, LED tail lights and interior updates. | The earliest year with the newer look and cabin. |
| 2019 | Post-refresh | Streamlined lineup, plus Forward Emergency Braking and Predictive Forward Collision Warning as standard. | The first year the safety equipment came standard rather than optional. |
| 2020 to 2022 | Post-refresh | The refresh and the standard safety equipment, with the most settled build of the run. | The strongest all-round used buy, and where we would look first. |
| 2023 onward | Final years | The last of the line before the Q50 was discontinued. | Buyers who want the newest example they can find. |
The years we would shortlist Worth a look depending on budget
Spotting a Red Sport 400
Two post-refresh Q50s photographed at our Wilmington dealership, a LUXE and a Red Sport 400, shot from matching angles.
If a listing shows red calipers and a dark grille, confirm the trim from the VIN before you go further. The twin-turbo Red Sport 400 is the version where service history matters most.
How to Choose a Used Q50
The 2018 refresh is the line to know
The Q50 had one significant mid-life refresh, and it landed for 2018. It brought a more three-dimensional grille, reworked front and rear bumpers, restyled LED tail lights and a round of interior updates. A 2018 or newer Q50 looks and feels meaningfully more current inside than a 2017, and on the used market that gap is easy to see in person.
For 2019 the lineup was streamlined and Forward Emergency Braking and Predictive Forward Collision Warning became standard equipment. That is the second line worth knowing, because on earlier cars this equipment depended on how the individual vehicle was optioned.
Why 2019 to 2022 is the window we would shop
Those years give you the refreshed styling and cabin, the standard forward collision safety equipment, and the most settled build of the production run. That combination is the reason this window commands the interest it does, and it is where we would start a search.
A 2018 is a reasonable step down if you want the refreshed look and are relaxed about how a specific vehicle was optioned. Check the safety equipment on that individual car rather than assuming it.
Which engine to look for
The Q50 in this window came with a 2.0-litre turbocharged four, a 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 making 300 horsepower and 295 lb-ft, and the Red Sport 400 version of that V6 making 400 horsepower and 350 lb-ft. The 3.0-litre twin-turbo is the engine the Q50 is known for and the one most shoppers are looking for.
The Red Sport 400 is the enthusiast's pick and it is a genuinely quick sedan. It is also the version most likely to have been driven hard, so service history matters more on a Red Sport than on any other Q50. Ask for it and read it.
The short version: shop 2019 to 2022 first, with the 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6. Step back to 2018 if you want the refreshed look for less, and check that specific car's safety equipment. On a Red Sport 400, the service history is the most important document in the folder.
The Q50 is out of production, and that is useful to know
INFINITI now lists the Q50 among its discontinued vehicles. For a used buyer that is genuinely useful context rather than a warning. It means the model is no longer being replaced by a newer version each year, so the later cars stay the newest ones available, and it means anyone shopping a rear-drive INFINITI sports sedan is shopping the used market by definition.
What to check on any used Q50
- Ask for the service history, and treat it as non-negotiable on a Red Sport 400.
- Run the VIN through the free NHTSA recall lookup and confirm any open recall has been completed.
- On the coast, check underneath. Salt air is hard on a car that has lived near the water.
- Look at tyre wear across all four corners. Uneven wear on a rear-drive sedan is worth asking about.
- Test the drive modes and the steering feel on a proper road, not just around the lot.
- Have it inspected before you buy. Our INFINITI-certified technicians know these cars.
Finding one in Wilmington
Used Q50s move quickly and inventory changes weekly, so the practical approach is to tell us what you are after and let us watch for it. Browse used INFINITI inventory or the full used lot, start financing online, or book a pre-purchase inspection with our service department.
Sources: model-year changes confirmed against the INFINITI USA press materials and INFINITI model information, September 8 2026. Recall status should be checked per vehicle at the NHTSA recall lookup, which is free and takes a VIN. Condition and history vary vehicle by vehicle, so treat this page as a starting point rather than a substitute for an inspection. Vehicles pictured are examples photographed at our Wilmington dealership and may no longer be available.
Used INFINITI Q50 Questions
What is the best year for a used INFINITI Q50?
The 2019 through 2022 cars are the strongest all-round picks. They combine the 2018 refresh, a streamlined lineup, standard Forward Emergency Braking and Predictive Forward Collision Warning, and the most settled build of the production run.
What changed on the INFINITI Q50 in 2018?
2018 was the mid-life refresh. It brought a more three-dimensional grille, reworked front and rear bumpers, restyled LED tail lights and a round of interior updates. It is the clearest visual dividing line in the Q50's production run.
Which INFINITI Q50 engine should I look for?
The 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 is the one the Q50 is known for, making 300 horsepower and 295 lb-ft. The Red Sport 400 version of the same engine makes 400 horsepower and 350 lb-ft. A 2.0-litre turbocharged four was also offered.
How much horsepower does the Q50 Red Sport 400 have?
400 horsepower and 350 lb-ft of torque, from the twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre V6. It is the quickest version of the Q50 and the one where service history matters most, because it is the version most likely to have been driven hard.
Is the INFINITI Q50 still made?
No. INFINITI lists the Q50 among its discontinued vehicles. For a used buyer that is useful context: the later cars stay the newest available, and anyone shopping a rear-drive INFINITI sports sedan is shopping used by definition.
Does the INFINITI Q50 come with all-wheel drive?
Yes, all-wheel drive was available across most of the Q50's run alongside rear-wheel drive. Which one a specific vehicle has depends on how it was ordered, so check the individual car rather than the model year.
What should I check before buying a used Q50 near the coast?
Look underneath for the effects of salt air, check tyre wear at all four corners, and ask for the full service history. Then run the VIN through the free NHTSA recall lookup and confirm any open recall has been completed.
Can Hanna INFINITI of Wilmington service a used Q50?
Yes. Our technicians are INFINITI-certified and work on these cars regularly, including pre-purchase inspections on a Q50 you are considering buying elsewhere. Book online or call (910) 338-2014.
Tell Us Which Q50 You Are After
The right used Q50 is a question of history and condition as much as model year. Tell us the engine and the years you are considering and we will watch for the right car.
Hanna INFINITI of Wilmington | 5730 Market St, Wilmington, NC 28405 | (910) 338-2014