We review the Infinity Q30 Sport from price to economy and all its features
THE Japanese are lining up against Germany in the battle of luxury cars. Nissan's upmarket arm, Infiniti, has brought a new weapon to the theatre of conflict the Q30.
Except it's not an entirely new prospect as, thanks to Nissan's partnership with Mercedes those familiar with the A Class will see distinct similarities.
And that's no bad thing.
Mercedes make some of the world's best cars and Infiniti want £30k-plus for the hatchback Q30, so seeing some Merc flourishes is comforting.
It's not slow, but 0-62 in 7.3 seconds won't make you feel young again
The sweeping lines, bulbous nose and sculpted haunches give the Q30 its distinctive silhouette, helping it sell bundles in the US.
Considering the car is built at Nissan's Sunderland plant, the UK hasn't yet embraced the marque.
But whether or not you like this car purely comes down to whether you like its otherworldly looks. If you do, book a test drive. If you don't, buy the Audi A3 or Mercedes A-Class.
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Because away from its distinctive lines, the Q30 is a decent car. Not amazing, not class lead-ing, but decent. So where will it niggle you? Well, the seven-speed auto 'box feels a touch flabby and even when using the paddle shift the gear shifts aren't crisp enough.
I drove the Sport version, which drops the ride height by 15mm and bolts on some pretty 19in alloys, trimmed with purple lines, which do add flair.
But the 2-litre petrol engine doesn't engage enough to merit a "Sport" tag.
It's not slow, but 0-62 in 7.3 seconds won't make you feel young again. But inside will feel like money well spent.
It's phenomenally comfortable, both in front and back, and very quiet, even at high speeds.
The tech is good more Merc-like touches and the cabin layout works perfectly.
If you don't opt for the Sport option, you'll be driving a hatchback with a higher ride position than the average, and that's all the rage these days.
It's not inflated enough to be called a crossover, but it certainly offers some advantage when it comes to seeing the road.
Infiniti has yet to release a model to have the German's quaking, but the Q30 is a decent proposition. It's high quality, satisfactory to drive and has the looks to stand out in the crowd.
This is the first car aimed at the European market and I hope it does well.
After all, the better it does the more jobs there are for hard working Brits in Sunderland.