Infiniti Q50 vs Mercedes-Benz C-Class: Specs Compared
Also searched as Mercedes-Benz C-Class vs Infiniti Q50 specs — both orientations show this same side-by-side comparison.
The Infiniti Q50 is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 31 mpg combined versus 30 mpg for the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, a 1 mpg advantage and costs about $100 less per year to fuel.
Across 4 measured categories, the Infiniti Q50 leads in 3. Figures are EPA test data, not manufacturer claims.
2015–2027
Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Subcompact Cars · 123 configurations
Head-to-head specifications
| Metric | Infiniti Q50 | Mercedes-Benz C-Class |
|---|---|---|
| Best combined MPG | 31 mpg ✓ | 30 mpg |
| Best city MPG | 29 mpg ✓ | 28 mpg |
| Best highway MPG | 36 mpg | 36 mpg |
| Lowest annual fuel costEPA estimate at 15,000 miles per year | $2,450 ✓ | $2,550 |
| Lowest CO2 output | 286 g/mi | 215 g/mi ✓ |
| Engines offered | SIDI, 3.5, 2.0, 3.7 | SIDI; Mild Hybrid, SIDI & PFI, SIDI; PHEV, SIDI |
| Transmissions | Automatic (S7) | Automatic 9-spd, Automatic 7-spd |
| Drivetrains | All-Wheel Drive, Rear-Wheel Drive | All-Wheel Drive, Rear-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel Drive |
| Fuel types | Premium | Premium, Premium and Electricity |
| EPA class | Midsize Cars | Subcompact Cars |
| Years covered | 2015–2024 | 2015–2027 |
| Configurations on record | 60 | 123 |
Source: EPA fuel economy records via fueleconomy.gov. Best-case values across all recorded configurations for each model.
Infiniti Q50 vs Mercedes-Benz C-Class dimensions and size
The Infiniti Q50 is 0.4 inches longer than the Mercedes-Benz C-Class on a wheelbase 0.8 inches shorter, and 172 lbs lighter. Both clear the roughly 200 inches of usable length in a standard single garage bay.
| Dimension | Infiniti Q50 (2024) | Mercedes-Benz C-Class (2026) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Length | 189 in | 188.6 in | 0.4 in |
| Width (excl. mirrors) | 71.7 in | 71.7 in | identical |
| Height | 57.5 in | 56.7 in | 0.8 in |
| Wheelbase | 112.2 in | 113 in | 0.8 in |
| Curb weight | 3,885 lbs | 4,057 lbs | 172 lbs |
Width excludes mirrors; add 8–12 inches for mirrors out. Figures are for the newest model year on record for each vehicle. See both drawn to scale.
Infiniti Q50 vs Mercedes-Benz C-Class: what the numbers mean
Running cost over five years: at the EPA's 15,000-mile-a-year assumption the Infiniti Q50 burns about $2,450 of fuel annually against $2,550 for the Mercedes-Benz C-Class. That $100 yearly gap compounds to roughly $500 over five years and $800 over eight — often more than the price difference between two trims of the same vehicle, and the single largest running-cost line item separating these two.
City versus highway split: the Infiniti Q50 is the stronger commuter at 29 mpg city, while the Mercedes-Benz C-Class pulls ahead on the interstate at 36 mpg highway. If most of your driving is stop-and-go traffic the city figure is the one to weigh; for long-distance highway mileage the reverse is true, and the two vehicles effectively swap places depending on how you drive.
Powertrain choice: the Infiniti Q50 is recorded with 4 distinct engine configurations (SIDI, 3.5, 2.0), the Mercedes-Benz C-Class with 4 (SIDI; Mild Hybrid, SIDI & PFI, SIDI; PHEV). Across 60 recorded Infiniti Q50 configurations and 123 for the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, the wider the engine spread the more the real-world fuel efficiency depends on which version you actually buy, so check the specific model year and drivetrain rather than the headline number.
Drivetrain and class: the Infiniti Q50 is offered with All-Wheel Drive, Rear-Wheel Drive, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class with All-Wheel Drive, Rear-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel Drive. All-wheel drive typically costs one to two mpg combined against the same vehicle in front- or rear-wheel drive, which is worth remembering when the gap between these two is small. The EPA classes them as Midsize Cars and Subcompact Cars respectively — the class drives the interior volume, cargo space and passenger space each one is measured against.
Tailpipe emissions: at their cleanest configurations the Mercedes-Benz C-Class emits 215 g/mile of CO2 versus 286 g/mile for the Infiniti Q50. Emissions track fuel consumption almost exactly, so the cleaner vehicle here is also the cheaper one to fuel.
Q50 vs C-Class: common questions
Which is better on gas, the Infiniti Q50 or the Mercedes-Benz C-Class?
The Infiniti Q50 is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 31 mpg combined versus 30 mpg for the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, a 1 mpg advantage and costs about $100 less per year to fuel.
Which costs less to run per year?
By EPA estimates at 15,000 miles a year, the Infiniti Q50 runs about $2,450 a year in fuel at its most efficient configuration, versus about $2,550 for the Mercedes-Benz C-Class — a difference of roughly $100 per year.
What engines do the Q50 and C-Class offer?
Infiniti Q50: SIDI, 3.5, 2.0, 3.7. Mercedes-Benz C-Class: SIDI; Mild Hybrid, SIDI & PFI, SIDI; PHEV, SIDI.
Are they in the same vehicle class?
The EPA classifies the Infiniti Q50 as Midsize Cars and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class as Subcompact Cars, so they aren't a like-for-like match on size.
More Q50 comparisons
More C-Class comparisons
Comparison id: infiniti-q50-vs-mercedes-benz-c-class