At first glance, the Infiniti and Nissan model lineups look so much alike. Is Infiniti a luxury car? That’s the question plenty of people ask when looking at the brand when comparing it to the Nissan lineup. After all, why do the vehicles cost more than Nissans? Are you getting anything extra by going with Infiniti sedans, coupes or SUVs, or is it just more money for nothing?

In case you don’t know by now, Nissan and Infiniti share an inseparable bond. Nissan actually owns the other brand, having launched it long ago as a way to capture more of the automotive market. Naturally, plenty of people who are looking for new or preowned vehicles look at both Nissan and Infiniti. While it might not seem apparent at first, there really are some big differences between the two.

Passenger Comfort

Perhaps the biggest difference between the two brands is the creature comforts included in the various models. Infiniti is indeed a luxury brand, so you’ll get more perks by going with it over a Nissan. The added features might include leather upholstery, seat heaters, more advanced electronics, smart keys, superior noise insulation, and real wood accents.

Vehicle Performance

Another area where Infiniti has an advantage is performance. While Nissan admittedly does have Godzilla, or the GT-R, that’s definitely the exception to the overall picture. If you want a vehicle that will thrill you each time you climb behind the wheel, or that makes you feel more connected to the road, an Infiniti is a much safer bet.

The common objection to this claim of Infinitis being better performance vehicles is that they’re all based on Nissans. The untrained eye might look at the Infiniti Q50 and Nissan Maxima and judge the two sedans to be the same thing, albeit with a different brand logo. Or they might erroneously think other Infinitis are Nissans, only with different body panels and badges. If you’re thinking that’s the case, you’re actually dead wrong.

There are some Infiniti vehicles that are not even loosely related to Nissan models. When the Infiniti brand first started up, most models were essentially just rebadged Nissans. That fact made some people question if it was worth even buying an Infiniti. While it’s true that certain Infiniti cars or SUVs share the same chassis and maybe even the engine with Nissan vehicles, it’s nothing like before. The only Nissan that comes with rear-wheel drive is the 370Z, but several Infinitis are either rear- or all-wheel drive. Trying to find a Nissan sedan with all-wheel drive is impossible, but it’s completely possible with Infiniti.

A number of Infinitis are just plain more powerful than relatively equivalent Nissan models. That’s good news for anyone with a need for solid acceleration, good hill-climbing capabilities, or who just appreciates a vehicle that can carve up the roads.

The Technology Inside

Anyone who’s a fan of cutting-edge technology should definitely go with Infiniti over Nissan. The luxury brand oftentimes gets different features long before Nissan, so owners enjoy all of the latest and greatest. This includes driver assistance systems, which are great for avoiding accidents, as well as infotainment, comfort, convenience and efficiency innovations.

To clearly illustrate some differences between Infiniti and Nissan, comparing the 2015 Q50 to the 2016 Maxima is actually quite enlightening. The Infiniti has a 3.7-liter V-6 engine that packs a serious punch at 328 horsepower, outmuscling the Nissan’s 3.5-liter V-6, which makes up to 300 horsepower. Despite being more powerful, the Q50 matches the Maxima’s estimated 30 mpg on the highway. Adding further to the value of the Infiniti is a 6-year or 70,000-mile powertrain warranty, versus 5 years or 60,000 miles for the Nissan.

The differences don’t stop there. You can get the Infiniti Q50 as a hybrid. Other exclusive content available for the Infiniti and not the Nissan are dual HD screens, a Bose audio system, and all-wheel drive.

It’s not that Nissans are bad vehicles; they’re actually quite nice and great values. The thing is that Infinitis as luxury models offer unrivaled quality, no matter if they’re sedans, sports cars or SUVs. With a big selection of models that range from sporty coupes to three-row SUVs and everything in between, you can easily find an Infiniti that works for your lifestyle. Simply put, you just can’t go wrong with Infiniti, even if you really love Nissan.

T3 Atlanta

Whether you choose a Nissan or an Infiniti vehicle, bring your vehicle to T3 Atlanta when it’s time for maintenance. Our convenient Decatur and Smyrna locations offer friendly, top-quality service for problems both large and small. Give us a call today!