Equipment
The Infiniti QX30 comes with an impressive equipment level, even on the lesser of the two trim levels, Premium. Notable on the list are LED daytime running lights, cruise control, parking sensors, and the touchscreen infotainment system with DAB radio and satellite navigation on a seven-inch screen. The Premium Tech model costs £33,370 – upgrades include adaptive LED headlamps and keyless entry, while the parking sensors evolve into the useful around-view monitor camera system with sensors both front and rear. The inside gains wood trim, leather upholstery on the now memory-powered seats and aluminium kickplates.
A creditable safety package includes Lane Departure Warning, forward collision warning and stop, and seven airbags.
Summary
Infiniti does not officially say how many QX30 models it expects to sell in the UK, only that this and its Q30 hatch sister will be a prime element in efforts to double the brand’s UK sales year on year. So far the recipe appears to be working, the brand’s 2,891 registrations in 2016 comparing to the 1,195 of a year earlier, and much of this growth can be put down to the new models.
The QX30 has its flaws, with perhaps the greatest being the lack of rear-seat space. But it is also possibly the most practical Infiniti yet. Particularly in the fleet market, which the brand will expect to account for more than half of QX30 sales, it will offer a tempting alternative to the hordes of highly similar crossovers out there.
Infiniti QX30 – key specifications
Test Date: January 2017. Price: From £29,650.
Insurance group: 23A.
Engine: Diesel, 2.2-litre four-cylinder inline.
Power (hp):170 @ 3,400rpm. Torque (Nm): 350 @ 1,400rpm.
0-62mph (sec):8.5. Top speed (mph): 134.
Fuel economy (combined, mpg): 57.6. CO2 emissions (g/km): 128.
Key rivals: Mercedes-Benz GLA, Audi Q3, BMW X1
