Video summary

The ONE year Infiniti Q50 you should AVOID

Main summary

Key takeaways

Product Review

Product Reviewed

The video focuses on which Infiniti Q50 model years to avoid, rather than naming a single “best” year.

  • Vehicle discussed: Infiniti Q50 (3.0T twin-turbo)

Key Model Years to Avoid (and Why)

1) 2014 Q50

  • Avoid: described as the first generation of the 3.7L Q50
  • Has early-generation “quirks”
  • The speaker notes they own a 2015, and says the 2014 looks essentially the same, so there’s no standout benefit.

2) 2017–2018 Q50

  • Strongly discouraged (less than 2016, but still avoided)
  • Reasons given:
    • Warranty is already up by 2024 (so there’s no coverage benefit)
    • Value has dropped significantly: typically 75,000+ miles at this stage
    • Exterior/interior design is too similar to 2014/2015 (“really no difference”)
  • Personal angle: the speaker wouldn’t want another Q50 that looks essentially the same after owning a 2015.

3) 2024 Q50

  • Avoid
  • Even with warranty, the speaker discourages it due to:
    • Inflated pricing
    • High interest rates
    • Expect significant value drop immediately after driving off the lot
  • Broader conclusion: avoid buying brand-new in general (not just this model year).

4) Newest model year (2025, if applicable)

  • Avoid the most recent/newest year (mentioned as 2025 Q50)
  • Reason: same themes as 2024—inflated pricing, high interest rates, and rapid depreciation.

5) 2016 Q50 (Main “Do Not Buy” Year)

The speaker’s strongest recommendation is to avoid:

  • “the one model year that I would avoid” — 2016

Reasons (ranked from more superficial to major):

  1. Looks the same as 2014/2015

    • Speaker claims no benefit in choosing 2016 visually.

  2. Early issues with the first-gen 3.0T

    • Belt snapping / belt shredding
      • Linked to pulley misalignment in early days
      • Possible warning: belt chirp (slipping)
      • Risk: stranded if the belt throws off
    • Premature injector failure
      • Can cause check-engine/light, rough running, and expensive repairs, especially out of warranty

  3. Turbo failures

    • Said to be more prevalent in the early 2016–2018 period
    • Buying advice offered:
      • Do a thorough test drive
      • Get it nice and hot
      • Drive it relatively hard
      • Get a pre-purchase inspection
      • Pay attention to cold start / sounds
      • Look for white smoke on cold start (tailpipes) as a possible sign (also possibly oil consumption or turbo-related issues)

  4. “Porous block” engine issue (biggest concern)

    • Described as coolant being absorbed into a porous engine block, not an external leak
    • Leads to:
      • Coolant loss
      • Overheating
      • Severe engine damage
    • Repair is described as extremely expensive (engine replacement + labor/installation—“thousands and thousands and thousands of dollars”), especially out of warranty
    • Speaker says this is so serious they wouldn’t buy 2016, and also wouldn’t buy 2017/2018
    • Suggests it may extend to 2019/early years, with even mention of a possible 2021 case.

Pros Mentioned

  • No clear “pros” were presented for the avoided years.
  • The only indirect pro noted: newer cars have warranty—but the speaker still discourages them due to price and depreciation.

Cons / Risks Highlighted (Unique Points)

  • Early-generation issues (first-generation platform quirks)
  • Belt snapping / belt shredding (2014/early 3.0T era)
  • Premature injector failure
  • Turbo failure risk
  • Turbo-related warning signs
    • Cold-start sound
    • White smoke on cold start
  • Most critical: porous block / coolant absorption into engine block
  • Out-of-warranty risk, particularly for 2016 and 2017/2018
  • Depreciation: brand-new Q50s drop in value quickly (“drive off the lot”)
  • Affordability: high interest rates + inflated prices
  • Lack of styling refresh: 2014/2015/2016/2017/2018 described as looking too similar

Comparisons Made

  • 2014/2015 visual similarity used to justify avoiding 2014 (and also 2016, since the speaker already has/knows 2015)
  • 2017/2018 compared to earlier years: “no difference” in exterior styling vs 2014/2015
  • Brand-new Q50s compared against a broader principle: avoid buying brand-new in general

User Experience / Shopping Guidance (Practical Tips)

  • For turbo-related risk:
    • Take a thorough test drive
    • Drive the car hot
    • Do a pre-purchase inspection
    • Check cold start behavior and tailpipe smoke (possible white smoke warning)
  • For general buying safety:
    • Consider warranty status carefully—older cars are more likely to be out of warranty

Overall Verdict / Recommendation

Avoid the Infiniti Q50—especially the 2016 model year.

The video emphasizes the porous block issue as the biggest “never buy” factor, alongside concerns such as turbo failures, belt/injector problems, and the disadvantage of being out of warranty.

For newer years (e.g., 2024, and possibly 2025), the speaker still discourages purchase due to:

  • inflated prices
  • high interest rates
  • rapid depreciation

Speakers

  • Single speaker (no separate viewpoints indicated in the subtitles)

Original video