INFINITE AMBITION
Q30 is ready to take on the German giants, writes Matt Allan
‘What is it?” It’s a question I heard a lot during my week with the Infiniti Q30.
It’s a question that should offer cheer to Infiniti, it shows people are actually interested in their first foray into the compact executive market.
The interest is understandable, in a market dominated by German brands which all offer variations on a bold-bordering-on-brutish theme the Q30 stands out. There’s something feline about the car, from the angular headlights to the swooping and bulging flanks. For my money, it’s the best looking car in its class.
Looks aside, the Q30 has a big task ahead. Priced from just over £20,000 it’s going headto-head with the Audi A3, Mercedes A Class and BMW 1 Series, along with other premium challengers such as the Volvo V40 and Lexus CT200H.
Our test car was a Q30 Sport coming in at £32,430. For that you get the sort of safety and convenience equipment you’d expect from a premium brand. Airbags and electronic stability and braking controls are supplemented by front collision warning, emergency stop and lane departure warning. Auto lights, wipers and air con appear alongside a voicecontrolled DAB stereo, navigation system, parking assist and keyless entry.
All that kit is packaged in a fantastic interior. Our City Black styling pack offered high-gloss inserts and chrome detail while the Alcantara and leather covering the seats and dash looked and felt great and was matched by high-grade materials everywhere else.
The only downside to the Q30’s interior is the size. Front space is acceptable but anyone over six feet will feel the lack of headroom, and the rear seats are for tiny passengers or short journeys only.
The Sport model adds unique body trim, lowered suspension and bigger brakes to the standard specification. On the sports suspension the ride felt a bit Jeykll and Hyde. City streets and bad surfaces made it feel harsh and crashy. But on a run across the rural A68 the Q30 suddenly came into its own. Over the twists and bumps of the cross-border route it felt supple and agile.
The 2.0-litre petrol produces 208bhp, which in this day isn’t huge but it’s smooth and responsive and allied to an equally smooth seven-speed automatic gearbox feels pleasingly sporty. Sadly the peppy performance equals realworld economy of 30mpg.
As a package the Q30 works well and feels like a genuine contender. However, it doesn’t offer much its rivals can’t match. For buyers seeking a fresh alternative to the German big three there’s plenty to tempt them but otherwise Infiniti still has a hill to climb.