BMW vs Infinity: Reliability Guide
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So, you're stuck comparing which luxury car to buy, BMW or Infiniti? How reliable are Infiniti engines? Is BMW faster than Infiniti? What's the maintenance cost of BMW vs. Infiniti like?
To help you answer your questions, we've compiled this blog post offering detailed information about the reliability of BMW and Infiniti.
Considering a lot of factors, we believe both BMW and Infiniti are as reliable as each other. Both car brands have their strengths and weaknesses, so it's hard to put one of these brands ahead of the other.
Infiniti offers great engine performance at lower prices, but BMW takes handling to another level. Infiniti has better warranty coverage, but the safety ratings on BMW are higher. Repair and maintenance cost is cheaper on Infiniti, but BMW offers more passenger space.
This can get a little confusing, so let's explore everything you need to know about the BMW vs. Infiniti reliability.
Table of Contents
BMW vs. Infiniti Reliability: A Detailed Comparison
| Features | BMW | Infiniti |
| Design | ||
| Gas Mileage | ||
| Repair and Maintenance Cost | ||
| Safety | ||
| Engine and Performance | ||
| Durability | ||
| Technology |
BMW vs. Infiniti Reliability: Which is better?
It's a difficult task to compare the reliability of BMW and Infiniti. This is because both brands have areas where they outperform each other. For instance, while BMW has higher safety ratings, Infiniti beats it with cheaper repair and maintenance costs. This includes longer warranty periods on the Infini brand.
Let's look at the reliability ratings for both brands. According to RepairPal, BMW has a Reliability rating of 2.5/5.0, ranking 30th out of 32 car brands. Infiniti performs better with a reliability rating of 3.5/5.0, ranking 16th out of 32 car brands.
While Infiniti ranks higher than BMW on RepairPal, BMW does better on JD Power's dependability survey. The BMW brand ranks 3rd on the 2022 consumer reports reliability survey. However, there isn't any rating for Infiniti due to insufficient data or the low model count.
One of the first factors that differentiate the reliability of BMW and Infiniti is their engineering and design philosophies. BMW has always been interested in building cars that can race you through the ends of the world.
On the other hand, Infiniti, a Nissan luxury brand, struggled in the past to find its place in the market, regularly improving to maintain a reputation for producing high-quality vehicles. This is not without mentioning that they've struggled with reliability issues in the past.
One of the notable things about the Infiniti vs. BMW reliability comparison is that cost of ownership is high. BMWs have sporty, powerful engines, great acceleration, and handling, but you can also get this from Infiniti at a lesser price.
Gas mileage and engine performance are relative on both brands depending on the model that you choose. However, on an overall scale, you are getting superior performance from BMW. This comes at a more expensive purchase price.
BMW vs. Infiniti Reliability: Design
It is important to mention that you cannot restrict your decision on the reliability of a car brand based on its ratings. A study of the respective features of these brands will go a long way to offer better insights.
When it comes to design, BMW and Infiniti both offer stylish and elegant designs. The design philosophies are different, but you are sure to get sleek, sporty, refined, and luxurious vehicles from both brands.
Infiniti and BMW prioritize different aspects of a car's design.
With BMW, you are getting luxurious interiors, premium designs, and up-to-date systems. There's no denying that you will get impressive designs from Infiniti's bigger models, like the QX60 and QX80, but this is not compared to what BMW offers on an overall scale. BMW's impressive interiors are justifiable because you are paying extra to get more.
BMW's design borders around building vehicles that create an impact while taking into consideration the need for dynamism. Infiniti's design philosophy emphasizes the need to produce dating, human-centered and progressive design.
The design reliability of BMW and Infiniti is like comparing the engineering prowess of the Germans and the Japanese.
However, BMW's engineering stands out for the effort it puts into designing and manufacturing its cars, using high-quality materials and advanced technology to create vehicles that are durable and long-lasting. This contributes to the higher resale value of BMW cars.
Infiniti vehicles are not entirely bad. They are made of high standards and superb designs. Both brands' headroom, legroom, cargo space, and passenger space depend on the model you choose.
The decision between the design reliability of BMW and Infiniti depends on if you have extra cash to spend on BMW's luxury.
Winner: Both
BMW vs. Infiniti Reliability: Engine and Performance
The BMW brand is always lauded for the impressive performance and handling of its vehicles. With smooth performance, responsive handling, and excellent acceleration, there are a lot of things to love about BMW vehicles.
Irrespective of the fact that we can't neglect how good BMW's performance is, it is important to cite that there are instances where Infiniti outperforms BMW. For instance, the Infiniti Q50 offers a better drivetrain than the BMW 3 series.
You are getting a Six-liter twin-turbo V3 engine that delivers 300 hp and a higher engine version that delivers 400 hp. This is compared to the BMW, which offers an inline-4 turbo and inline-6 engines that deliver 255 hp Nc 382 hp, respectively.
However, the 2023 BMW M3 returns better engine strength than the 2023 Infiniti Q50. You are getting up to 473 hp from the M3, compared to the Q50, which delivers only 300 hp.
In some models, the engines are smoother, more refined, and responsive on BMW, and sometimes, you are getting it from Infiniti. You'll need to compare your preferred model amongst both brands to decide what's best for you.
Winner: Both
BMW vs. Infiniti Reliability: Gas Mileage
BMW engines are designed to be fuel-efficient, and the brand offers several models with impressive gas mileage. However, there's no fixed assurance that you are getting better gas mileage on BMW than on Infiniti.
For instance, you are getting a gas mileage of 20/29 mpg for city and highway rides on the Infiniti Q50, compared to the BMW M3, which gets 16/23 mpg. While Infiniti tends to beat BMW in this scenario, the Infiniti Q50 and BMW 530 have similar gas mileage.
The BMW 320i sedan is one of BMW's most efficient sedans, delivering 34 MPG on the highway and 23 MPG in the city. You can also opt for the BMW 230i coupe. Infiniti, on the other hand, does not have a reputation for providing great gas mileage.
Winner: Both
BMW vs. Infiniti Reliability: Safety and Technology
When it comes to safety and technology, BMW has higher safety ratings than Infiniti.
According to the IIHS ratings, five BMW vehicles are earning the 2022 IIHS Top Safety(+) Award. This is compared to Infiniti, which has only one vehicle, the 2022 IIHS Top Safety Pick Award.
On an overall scale, both car brands integrate lots of safety features that make you feel safe. The higher safety scores on BMW give you a higher assurance of safety.
With BMW, you are getting the BMW assist, active driving assistant, and many features, including frontal collision warning, collision mitigation, speed limit assist, and many more. There are enough features to keep you and your family safe.
Infiniti isn't entirely bad. You are getting intelligent parking assist, active lane control, direct adaptive steering, and good driver assistance systems.
Aside from BMW winner Infiniti in terms of safety, it also does better in terms of technology. BMW always updates its tech systems, loaded up with refined technology, enough to keep you comfortable and grant you easier access to interact with your car.
Winner: BMW
BMW vs. Infiniti Reliability: Repair and Maintenance Cost
In terms of repair and maintenance cost, it is super expensive to repair a BMW than an Infiniti. The increased cost of ownership is one of the reasons why a lot of drivers prefer Infiniti to BMW.
Nobody will want to drive a car that will cost you up to $1000 for even minor repairs. According to RepairPal, BMW has an average annual repair cost of $968, with a 15% chance of severe damages and a 0.9 chance of visiting the repair shop.
Infiniti only has a $638 average repair cost and a 0.7 chance of visiting the repair shop.
Winner: Infiniti
Conclusion
BMW and Infiniti are amazing brands that you can always consider when you need a blend of style, luxury, and performance. However, you cannot neglect the need to drive a reliable car.
It is hard to place any of these vehicles above the other because they both have different areas where they perform better. With BMW, you are getting higher safety ratings, but Infiniti is cheaper to maintain.
The choice is yours to make. Decide which brand aligns with your needs and preferences.
