The Last Infiniti NA V6 Sports Sedan: Reliable, Powerful, and Cheaper Than a New Kia K4

If you want a luxury sports sedan that won't drain your bank account or keep you up at night worrying about a turbo failure, the 2014 or 2015 Infiniti Q50 is worth a serious look. It's Infiniti's final naturally aspirated sports sedan, pairing a strong V6 with a sharp chassis and a genuinely upscale interior.

Used prices have dropped to bargain levels, and it offers the kind of everyday reliability that keeps ownership stress low.

Why skip the turbo? The Q50 Red Sport 400 packs a 400-horsepower twin-turbo V6, but high-output turbos often get driven hard and need careful maintenance. Skip that, and repair bills can wipe out any savings. 7-liter V6 shared with the 370Z. 3 seconds and topping out at 155 mph.

It loves to rev, peaking at 7,000 rpm, and sounds great doing it.

5-liter V6 with an electric motor for 360 hp. It was the performance pick and much more efficient, rated at 31 mpg combined with rear-wheel drive, versus 23 mpg for the standard V6. The Q50 rides on Nissan's FM platform. One controversial option was Direct Adaptive Steering, a steer-by-wire system that could feel numb; the standard rack-and-pinion setup is better.

To avoid DAS, skip cars with the Deluxe Touring Package.

On the road, the 3.7-liter V6 responds instantly, building power smoothly and encouraging you to rev it out. The twin-turbo is quicker, but the gap isn't huge in practice. The seven-speed automatic shifts smoothly, and the early Q50 feels spirited, never slow.

Prices start around $6,000 for high-mileage examples. 7 for about $10,000. Stretch to $16,000, and you'll see cars with under 70,000 miles, some near 50,000. Near-pristine low-mileage cars top out around $20,000. That's less than a new Kia K4, which starts at $22,290. The hybrid carries no significant price premium.

Standard gear includes LED headlights, power front seats, and 17-inch wheels. Most listings are Premium trims with a moonroof and Bose audio. The Q50S adds 19-inch wheels, paddle shifters, sport suspension, and better brakes.

Reliability is solid. RepairPal gives the Q50 four out of five stars, with annual repair costs below class average. D. Power, up from 72 for 2014. CarComplaints flags 2014 as the most problematic year, but issues are modest. Common complaints include premature brake wear, infotainment glitches, and occasional transmission problems.

Clogged moonroof drain tubes can cause water damage, so check for musty carpets. Maintenance history matters more than mileage; get a pre-purchase inspection.

The 2014-2015 Q50 with the 3.7-liter V6 is a classic sports sedan: rev-happy, rear-drive, and relatively simple. It's not the fastest, but it's one of the most satisfying bargains you can buy.