Next Level Performance
August 10, 2026 • 10 min read
The best Infiniti Q50 exhaust depends on which V6 sits under your hood — and on the 2016–2020 Red Sport 400, the flagship is the HKS Super Turbo Muffler RV37 400R at around $3,170. An Infiniti Q50 exhaust system is a cat-back upgrade designed for the VR30DDTT twin-turbo and VQ37VHR sport sedans that opens up exhaust flow, deepens the V6 note, and sheds weight over the restrictive factory system. At NLP Performance in Tampa, FL, the Q50 is one of the most common cars our customers upgrade, and the cat-back is almost always the first bolt-on they buy. This review breaks down the HKS Super Turbo Muffler head-to-head against the aFe Takeda, MagnaFlow Street Series, and HKS Dual Hi-Power so you can match the right system to your engine, your budget, and how loud you actually want to be.
Our Verdict
The HKS Super Turbo Muffler RV37 400R is the flagship Infiniti Q50 exhaust for the VR30DDTT twin-turbo Red Sport 400.
For 2016–2020 Q50 400R owners chasing the loudest, highest-flowing cat-back, the HKS Super Turbo Muffler is our top pick at around $3,170. Want dyno-proven gains on a budget? The aFe Takeda cat-back adds +18 HP and +19 lb-ft for roughly $1,852. On a 3.7L VQ37 car, the MagnaFlow Street Series and HKS Dual Hi-Power are the value plays.
Shop Our Top Pick →What Makes an Infiniti Q50 Exhaust Worth Upgrading?
An Infiniti Q50 cat-back exhaust replaces everything from the catalytic converters back — the mid-pipes, resonators, mufflers, and tips — with larger-diameter, mandrel-bent stainless tubing that flows better than the stamped factory system. The payoff is a deeper, more purposeful V6 tone, a few reclaimed horsepower, and a lighter curb weight. On the twin-turbo cars, freeing up the exhaust also lets the VR30DDTT breathe on the way out, which pairs perfectly with a tune down the road.
The Q50 launched for 2014 on the V37 chassis with the naturally aspirated VQ37VHR 3.7L V6 (328 hp / 269 lb-ft). In 2016 Infiniti introduced the VR30DDTT 3.0L twin-turbo V6, offered as the 300-hp 3.0t and the range-topping Red Sport 400, rated at 400 hp and 350 lb-ft. That engine split matters: the priciest, highest-performance exhausts in this guide are built for the VR30 Red Sport 400, while the 3.7L cars have their own dedicated systems. Buy for your engine code first, then worry about tips and tone.
A full mandrel-bent stainless cat-back replaces the restrictive factory Q50 system.
HKS Super Turbo Muffler RV37 400R: Our Top Pick
The HKS Super Turbo Muffler RV37 400R is the most aggressive Infiniti Q50 exhaust we stock, and it is purpose-built for the VR30DDTT twin-turbo in the 2014–2020 Q50 400R / Red Sport 400. HKS built its reputation on the Super Turbo Muffler design — a large single-canister muffler that maximizes flow and delivers the unmistakable deep, tuner-signature note HKS is known for. At roughly $3,170 it is a premium buy, but it is the pick for owners who want the loudest, highest-flowing bolt-on for a big-power VR30 build.
Key Specifications – HKS Super Turbo Muffler
In our experience, the HKS is the exhaust for the customer who has already decided they want their Q50 to be heard. It is the flagship of the group, it flows the most, and it carries the HKS name that VR30 owners chase. Note that it requires a CARB acknowledgement and is intended for the twin-turbo car only — do not order it for a 3.7L VQ37 Q50.
What We Like
- + Purpose-built for the VR30DDTT Red Sport 400 twin-turbo
- + Legendary HKS Super Turbo Muffler flow and deep tone
- + Loudest, highest-flowing option in this guide — ideal for tuned builds
Things to Consider
- – Premium price at around $3,170
- – Twin-turbo (VR30) fitment only; not for 3.7L cars
The HKS single-canister Super Turbo Muffler is the flow king of the Q50 lineup.
aFe Takeda Cat-Back: Best Dyno-Proven Value for the VR30
The aFe Takeda 2.5in 304 stainless cat-back is the best-value Infiniti Q50 exhaust for the 2016–2020 twin-turbo cars, and it is the only system here with published dyno numbers: up to +18 HP and +19 lb-ft. It uses 2.5-inch mandrel-bent 304 stainless tubing, dual resonators to control drone, and a muffler-delete axle-back section for an aggressive tone that stays civil at cruise. At about $1,852 it delivers most of the sound-and-flow story for well under the HKS. You choose your tips: carbon fiber or black.
aFe finishes the Takeda system with your choice of carbon-fiber or black 4.5-inch tips.
Prefer a blacked-out look? The same system is offered with black tips at the same $1,852, and it carries both an extra-discount and free-shipping promo at the time of writing. For a daily-driven Red Sport 400 or 3.0t, this is the system we recommend most often at the shop — it is loud enough to be fun, quiet enough to live with, and it is the only Q50 cat-back here with a dyno chart behind it.
MagnaFlow Street Series: Best Broad-Fit Q50 Exhaust
The MagnaFlow Street Series 15310 is the most flexible Infiniti Q50 exhaust in the lineup, engineered to fit 2014–2022 Q50 models across the 3.0L, 3.5L, and 3.7L engines. It runs 2.5-inch mandrel-bent piping into three straight-through mufflers and exits through a dual-split rear with 4.5-inch polished, welded double-wall, angle-cut tips. The result is MagnaFlow’s signature resonant, powerful V6 tone without excessive cabin drone — a great match for owners who want a factory-plus sound and a broad-fitment safety net.
MagnaFlow backs the Street Series with a lifetime warranty, which is a real differentiator in this group. If you own a 3.5-liter hybrid or a 3.7L car and want a proven, warranty-protected system with a mature street tone, this is the one to buy.
HKS Dual Hi-Power: Best Exhaust for the 3.7L VQ37 Q50
If you drive the naturally aspirated 3.7L car, the HKS Q50 VQ37 Dual Hi-Power Titanium Tip cat-back is the enthusiast pick. Built for the VQ37VHR (328 hp / 269 lb-ft), it pairs the free-flowing HKS Hi-Power muffler design with dual titanium tips for a classic, motorsport-flavored NA V6 howl. At about $1,660 it is the most affordable system in this guide, and it currently ships free.
Infiniti Q50 Exhaust Comparison: HKS vs aFe vs MagnaFlow
Here is how the five Infiniti Q50 exhaust systems stack up on fitment, materials, gains, and price. Match the row to your engine code first — VR30 twin-turbo or VQ37 naturally aspirated — then choose your tone and tip finish.
| Kit | Best For | Tips / Material | Gains / Tone | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HKS Super Turbo Muffler RV37 400RTop Pick | VR30 Red Sport 400 | Single canister, Ti-look tip | Max flow, loudest tone | $3,170.00 |
| MagnaFlow Street Series 15310 | Q50 3.0T / 3.5 / 3.7 (broad fit) | 304 SS, 4.5" polished tips | Deep V6 straight-through tone | $2,164.00 |
| aFe Takeda Cat-Back (Carbon Tips) | VR30 3.0L TT (2016–2020) | 304 SS, carbon-fiber tips | +18 HP / +19 lb-ft | $1,852.00 |
| aFe Takeda Cat-Back (Black Tips) | VR30 3.0L TT (2016–2020) | 304 SS, black tips | +18 HP / +19 lb-ft | $1,852.00 |
| HKS Dual Hi-Power Ti | VQ37VHR 3.7L NA | SS, titanium tips | Classic HKS deep tone | $1,660.00 |
The short version: buy the HKS Super Turbo Muffler if you want the loudest, highest-flowing VR30 system and the budget is there; buy the aFe Takeda for the best dyno-proven value on a twin-turbo car; buy the MagnaFlow for broad fitment and a lifetime warranty; and buy the HKS Dual Hi-Power if you run the 3.7L VQ37.
Installation and What to Expect
All five of these are true bolt-on cat-back systems — they attach at the factory mid-pipe flanges and use OEM-style hangers, so no cutting or welding is required. A cat-back swap on a Q50 typically takes 1.5 to 2.5 hours on a lift with basic hand tools; the biggest time-sink is patiently unbolting the factory system without rounding the hardware. We recommend fresh gaskets at the flange and anti-seize on the clamps. Expect a noticeably deeper tone immediately, some added rasp under hard acceleration on the twin-turbo cars, and, on the aFe Takeda, the dual resonators keep steady-state highway drone in check. None of these systems throws a check-engine light on their own because the catalytic converters stay in place.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best exhaust for the Infiniti Q50 Red Sport 400?
The HKS Super Turbo Muffler RV37 400R is the best exhaust for the Infiniti Q50 Red Sport 400. It is purpose-built for the VR30DDTT 3.0L twin-turbo (400 hp / 350 lb-ft), uses the high-flow HKS Super Turbo Muffler design, and is the loudest, highest-flowing cat-back in our lineup at around $3,170. For a dyno-proven value alternative on the same car, the aFe Takeda cat-back adds up to +18 HP and +19 lb-ft for about $1,852.
How much horsepower does a Q50 cat-back exhaust add?
A Q50 cat-back exhaust typically adds a modest amount of power on its own — the aFe Takeda 304 stainless system is dyno-proven for up to +18 horsepower and +19 lb-ft on the VR30 twin-turbo. Bolt-on cat-backs mainly improve exhaust tone, flow, and weight; the bigger power gains come when the exhaust is paired with a tune, intake, and intercooler on the VR30DDTT engine.
Will an aftermarket exhaust void my Infiniti Q50 warranty?
A cat-back exhaust will not automatically void your Infiniti factory warranty. Under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, a dealer must prove the part caused a failure to deny a related claim. Because these cat-back systems leave the catalytic converters in place, they are emissions-legal in most states; the HKS twin-turbo system does carry a CARB acknowledgement, so California buyers should confirm local rules.
Which Q50 exhaust fits the 3.7L VQ37 engine?
For the naturally aspirated 3.7L VQ37VHR Q50, the HKS Dual Hi-Power Titanium Tip cat-back (about $1,660) and the broad-fit MagnaFlow Street Series 15310 (about $2,164) are the two systems to buy. The HKS Super Turbo Muffler and aFe Takeda cat-backs in this guide are built for the VR30 twin-turbo and do not fit the 3.7L car.
Does a Q50 cat-back exhaust drone on the highway?
Drone depends on the system. The aFe Takeda uses dual resonators specifically to control steady-state highway drone, and the MagnaFlow Street Series runs straight-through mufflers tuned for a mature street tone. The HKS Super Turbo Muffler is the most aggressive and loudest option here, so expect more volume at cruise — the trade-off for maximum flow on a built VR30.
How long does it take to install a Q50 exhaust?
A Q50 cat-back exhaust installs in about 1.5 to 2.5 hours on a lift. All five systems in this guide are direct bolt-on designs that mount to the factory flanges and hangers with no cutting or welding required. Budget the most time for removing the factory system cleanly and use fresh flange gaskets on reassembly.
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