[mr.smith]

I am curious if other people are planning on buying the hybrid version of the Q50, or the regular gasoline powered version. The regular Q50 uses a 320-hp 3.7-litre V6 gasoline engine, and starts at $37,500. The hybrid version uses Infiniti's Direct Response Hybrid System, which uses a 3.5-litre V6 engine, and starts at $47,000.

How long do you think it will take to make your investment back on the more fuel efficient hyrbid? Is it worth it for you?

 

[Soon2Q50]

I am curious if other people are planning on buying the hybrid version of the Q50, or the regular gasoline powered version. The regular Q50 uses a 320-hp 3.7-litre V6 gasoline engine, and starts at $37,500. The hybrid version uses Infiniti's Direct Response Hybrid System, which uses a 3.5-litre V6 engine, and starts at $47,000.

How long do you think it will take to make your investment back on the more fuel efficient hyrbid? Is it worth it for you?

I plan on getting a RWD Q50S Hybrid, especially since I'm going fully optioned anyway, and if you go either way fully optioned, the difference is ~$2,000, not $10,000 like the base model compared to the base hybrid.

It's not fair to compare the base-model gasser to the base-model hybrid considering the hybrid comes with far more amenities to justify the cost increase.

Also, plenty of discussion on this topic already on the forums, including projected savings and cost.

 

[Latrant]

I am curious if other people are planning on buying the hybrid version of the Q50, or the regular gasoline powered version. The regular Q50 uses a 320-hp 3.7-litre V6 gasoline engine, and starts at $37,500. The hybrid version uses Infiniti's Direct Response Hybrid System, which uses a 3.5-litre V6 engine, and starts at $47,000.

How long do you think it will take to make your investment back on the more fuel efficient hyrbid? Is it worth it for you?

I've posted on this before, but now I know better MPG numbers. The Hybrid is a little disappointing, since it will only average 31. The gasser will average 23.

Both Consuming 18 gallons of gas as a standard. Premium in my area is $3.72 a gallon, currently. So, either would cost about $67 ($66.96).

I put 13,323 per year on my current car for the last 8.5 years (have about 113,772 miles on it now).

The hybrid can go 558 miles on 18 gallons and the gasser can go 414 miles on 18 gallons.

In a year, for 13,323 miles, you'd fill up the hybrid (again, 18 gallons) almost 24 times (23.876). You'd fill the gasser (18 gallons) 32.2 times.

18 gallons, again, is about $67 (see above). 32.2 minus 24 is 6.2 times more for the gasser or $67 x 6.2 is $415.40 a year more for the gasser per year. The cost difference in similarly equipped hybrid and gasser is $1675 plus tax. In my area tax is 7.75%, so total cost difference is $1,805. $1805 divided by $415 is 4.35 years.

Your mileage, gas cost, taxes, etc will differ.

Someone said the hybrid has a larger gas tank at 20 gallons vs gasser 18. I used 18 so that would be the same.

I personally don't think its worth it for the loss of the fold down seats. I was hoping the hybrid had better MPG, but its made for performance more than fuel savings.

The gasser I used is a fully loaded sport AWD with all options vs a fully loaded hybrid sport AWD with all options, which are the two I'm considering.

I have to drive them both and look at the trunk but I'm leaning toward the gasser.

Wish I could get a Diesel engine in the Q50 for the cost of the fully loaded hybrid and I think it would get better MPGs. Performance would differ though.

 

[Q50Aggie]

Someone said the hybrid has a larger gas tank at 20 gallons vs gasser 18. I used 18 so that would be the same.

You said that backwards...The gasser has a larger tank than the hybrid.

 

[Gandhi]

Nice calculations. But the AWD gives lower mileage that RWD. And the mileage is also different for the base RWD versus Premium RWD.

 

[Latrant]

Nice calculations. But the AWD gives lower mileage that RWD. And the mileage is also different for the base RWD versus Premium RWD.

True and please correct me if I'm wrong but I used numbers that I thought were for AWD models. Your mileage may vary!

 

[Doyle]

That is one long way to calculate the difference in cost.
Using your averages:
13,323 miles/yr divided by 23 mpg is 579 gals.
13,323 miles/yr divided by 31 mpg is 430 gals
Difference is 149 gals at whatever price premium is in your area. Here in Northern California it is $4/gal and rising.
149 gal times $4/gal is $596/yr.
Assuming gas prices don't go up (bad assumption) my payback is about 3.5 yrs.
Added benefits= sport suspension, more horsepower, quicker acceleration, higher resale (assumed)
Negatives= Smaller trunk and no fold down seats.
Not for everyone but it works for me. If I need to haul more than the Hybrid can carry, the old 1997 7.4 liter Suburban that gets 10 in town and 13 on the highway can haul or tow most anything I want.

 

[SimpsonTide985]

Negatives= Smaller trunk and no fold down seats.
Not for everyone but it works for me. If I need to haul more than the Hybrid can carry, the old 1997 7.4 liter Suburban that gets 10 in town and 13 on the highway can haul or tow most anything I want.

Don't forget that the Hybrid is quite heavier too, so you'll probably feel more of the car, even though it's more powerful.

I think the hybrid should only appeal to those looking to finance/own or buy out the lease for it.

In my eyes, if you're leasing and you're not planning on buying out the lease, you need to ask yourself--are you willing to pay more for the Hybrid, considering the fact that you're obviously not or won't drive it all that much? Therefore, although you've got a slightly faster car, but in theory, you're spending more on it per month and you're spending almost the entire lease trying to break even with the benefits of the getting the hybrid.

 

[EX-infinitisalesguy]

The Infiniti Hybrid is currently not worth its selling price, except maybe under 3 circumstances.

1) You plan to get a Q50 Premium/Sport with all added options, in which case the difference in MSRP is ~$2000.

2) You plan to BUY the car and do lots of driving, over 15,000 miles per year.

3) You're a yuppie in need of an eco-badge on your car

Keep in mind, dealerships are marking up these cars about $5000. It's hard enough getting them to let the non-hybrids go for MSRP. They won't do it for the Q50 HYBRIDS any time soon.

With that extra mark-up, even after negotiation, the savings in fuel will not surpass the extra cost of the Hybrid at this time. Maybe after they lower prices toward the end of the year.

AND if you don't even intend on getting the TECH package, forget about it totally. There is a difference of about $5000 MSRP between the Q50 Hybrid Premium with TECH and a Q50 Gas Premium with Deluxe Touring only.

It seems the best option for those of you looking to buy/lease a fully-loaded Q50 very soon is the Q50 Gas Model. The tech pack is really great, nothing like having your car brake by itself, or using cruise control without having to adjust your speed. That feature, combined with lane departure prevention and blind spot intervention, is practically like having a car that can drive itself on highways.

This advice really only applies if you care about saving money. If you're loaded and don't mind splurging, that's another story.

 

[Doyle]

Not sure where you are getting the Extra Markup info. The pre-order pricing was all at MSRP. Clearly that may be higher than what the price will be 6 months from now but that is not the same as "extra Markup". A 3-4 year payback on the Hybrid as an investment is not bad. My Solar system was a 4-5 year payback and I am glad I did that as my Electric bill went from $450+ per month to about $50/month.

 

[EX-infinitisalesguy]

Sorry for not clarifying, I meant for this info to apply at actual launch on Aug. 5th. The Hybrid makes sense if you're paying MSRP at Preorder Pricing.

 

[jkay]

Not sure where you are getting the Extra Markup info. The pre-order pricing was all at MSRP. Clearly that may be higher than what the price will be 6 months from now but that is not the same as "extra Markup". A 3-4 year payback on the Hybrid as an investment is not bad. My Solar system was a 4-5 year payback and I am glad I did that as my Electric bill went from $450+ per month to about $50/month.

Wow! You bought a whole solar system?

That's awesome!

In all seriousness though - I've heard about the hybrids losing power when accelerating a lot. I guess you really need the regenerative braking to help charge the battery or you lose juice for those quick starts. I think I read somewhere on this forum that someone actually experienced that in their test drive.

Any thoughts on this?

 

[Gandhi]

I got the gasser mainly because I want the car as simple as possible in terms of the drive train. That means no AWD, and no hybrid.

 

[cvipgo]

I got the gasser mainly because I want the car as simple as possible in terms of the drive train. That means no AWD, and no hybrid.

I got the Hybrid Sport AWD *most complicated" because as I have had good experience with Infinitis and I needed more power than my current 325hp gasser.

 

[Q50Aggie]

I got the hybrid because I had originally planned on a fully loaded gasser but then realized the price difference was only $1200 to upgrade to a fully loaded hybrid...for me it was a no brainer given that the extra gas mileage will easily pay for that and I get the extra power..also I'm used to getting 11 mpg in my titan so I'll be saving tons of money...

 

[gbert15]

Got the Hybrid since I mostly drive city miles and the 360hp is a plus!

If it still had the initial 13.5 cubic ft trunk space, it would have been the perfect car for me! Oh well...I guess we have to compromise sometimes!

 

[FastGTR]

Hybrid. Awd. Better cornering, more hp.
If all things being equal I prefer the vq35 over the 37.

 

[[email protected]]

I truly believe that you don't buy this hybrid for the gas savings. Sure its very efficient considering how much power it has, but I am going to get one personally because its the quietest and fastest top of the line Q50. The higher lease residual makes it that much more attractive. It has an extremely low carbon footprint and the added weight also yields a more substantial feel. Saving the $40 per month in gas based on my short commute is a plus. Drive one and it will make you a believer if you are into performance. If you dont care about performance, then get the gas motor. You really cant go wrong either way.

 

[BluePlanet]

Hybrid overall MPG rating is disappointing - no doubt about it. The payback calculation may still work for some (esp. high mileage drivers) but the whole equation has definitely changed for me.

 

[[email protected]]

The EPA is disappointing compared to what vehicle? The Q50 hybrid delivers class leading mpg along with unparalleled performance and C02 emissions. The 2011 M35h has the first gen direct response hybrid system, and made GB of world records for worlds fastest hybrid. Sure a prius is effecient, but it doesnt have 360hp and 472tq??