There are two misconceptions here. Number one, the Infiniti Q30 that you see here may resemble a crossover but it isn't. That would be the job for the Infiniti QX30 that made its global debut at the Los Angeles, as well as Guangzhou Motor Shows last year.
Number two, it may wear the Infiniti badge but it's not exactly an Infiniti at heart. It'll be more accurate, instead, to say it bears Mercedes-Benz's DNA.
Hold your horses, dude. I'm confused
Dubbed as a premium active compact, the Q30 is the result of the strategic partnership the Renault-Nissan Alliance sealed with Daimler - Mercedes Benz's parent company. The giant companies first started its cooperation back in 2010.
As such, the Infiniti Q30 is based on the same MFA platform as the A-Class, the B-Class, the CLA-Class and the GLA-Class, all of which come under Merc's New Generation Compact Cars (NGCC).
Woah. I really didn't know that. Tell me more
Well, we can tell you how we honestly feel about its looks.
The Infiniti Q30 is seriously curvy, with a sheet metal that appears more like art than car. In a way, it's almost unnecessary because it's the kind of design that could go horribly wrong. Oddly, and thankfully, it doesn't.
Number two, it may wear the Infiniti badge but it's not exactly an Infiniti at heart. It'll be more accurate, instead, to say it bears Mercedes-Benz's DNA.
Hold your horses, dude. I'm confused
Dubbed as a premium active compact, the Q30 is the result of the strategic partnership the Renault-Nissan Alliance sealed with Daimler - Mercedes Benz's parent company. The giant companies first started its cooperation back in 2010.
As such, the Infiniti Q30 is based on the same MFA platform as the A-Class, the B-Class, the CLA-Class and the GLA-Class, all of which come under Merc's New Generation Compact Cars (NGCC).
Woah. I really didn't know that. Tell me more
Well, we can tell you how we honestly feel about its looks.
The Infiniti Q30 is seriously curvy, with a sheet metal that appears more like art than car. In a way, it's almost unnecessary because it's the kind of design that could go horribly wrong. Oddly, and thankfully, it doesn't.
As a result, the premium hatch from Nissan's luxury arm looks neither like it's trying too hard nor does it look anything close to painful. In fact, it's a beauty in our eyes.
At 4,425mm x 1,805mm x 1,480mm (L x W x H), the car you see here is actually longer and a tad wider than the Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class, which makes you wonder why on earth this would go against the likes of the Audi A3 Sportback, the BMW 1 Series Hatchback and the Mercedes-Benz A-Class.
But if you were to put into consideration the aforementioned QX30, then the $191,800 (as of 24th October 2016) Q30 makes absolute dollars and sense.
In that aspect, there's some oddity in the Q30, but that's exactly why it's so appealing.
At 4,425mm x 1,805mm x 1,480mm (L x W x H), the car you see here is actually longer and a tad wider than the Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class, which makes you wonder why on earth this would go against the likes of the Audi A3 Sportback, the BMW 1 Series Hatchback and the Mercedes-Benz A-Class.
But if you were to put into consideration the aforementioned QX30, then the $191,800 (as of 24th October 2016) Q30 makes absolute dollars and sense.
In that aspect, there's some oddity in the Q30, but that's exactly why it's so appealing.
Does that mean the cabin looks like a Mercedes then?
Yes and no. Due to the fact that it's based on the MFA platform, the car does share its mechanical components with Mercedes. You could be easily fooled into thinking you're driving a Merc when you step inside. But that's also because we've driven the NGCC cars before.
To the casual observer, on the other hand, everything will seem befitting of the premium Japanese marque. The curvy dashboard follows its sheet metal while the materials used feel good to the touch and is on par with some of its German competitors.
Where the car loses out, which is legroom in the rear quarters, it makes up for it in its biggish 430-litre boot space. In comparison, the A3 Sportback sports 380 litres while the Bimmer has 360 litres. As a matter of fact, even the GLA-Class loses out with its 421-litre luggage capacity.
But can it really drive as well as a Merc?
We actually reckon it drives better than a Merc. We remembered the A-Class to feel a lot crashier over bumps and ruts but not the Q30. Nevertheless, while refinement, elegance and comfort are words we would choose to describe the Infiniti beauty, it doesn't feel as sporty as we would like it to be, even if it means that the car sports 208bhp and 350Nm of twisting force and it smashes the century sprint in a respectable 7.3 seconds.
Yes and no. Due to the fact that it's based on the MFA platform, the car does share its mechanical components with Mercedes. You could be easily fooled into thinking you're driving a Merc when you step inside. But that's also because we've driven the NGCC cars before.
To the casual observer, on the other hand, everything will seem befitting of the premium Japanese marque. The curvy dashboard follows its sheet metal while the materials used feel good to the touch and is on par with some of its German competitors.
Where the car loses out, which is legroom in the rear quarters, it makes up for it in its biggish 430-litre boot space. In comparison, the A3 Sportback sports 380 litres while the Bimmer has 360 litres. As a matter of fact, even the GLA-Class loses out with its 421-litre luggage capacity.
But can it really drive as well as a Merc?
We actually reckon it drives better than a Merc. We remembered the A-Class to feel a lot crashier over bumps and ruts but not the Q30. Nevertheless, while refinement, elegance and comfort are words we would choose to describe the Infiniti beauty, it doesn't feel as sporty as we would like it to be, even if it means that the car sports 208bhp and 350Nm of twisting force and it smashes the century sprint in a respectable 7.3 seconds.
Given its size, you do feel the roll at slightly higher speeds, which in turn translates to having a lack of confidence to door-handle the car like an infuriated beast. This differs hugely from say, an A-Class or and A3 Sportback, which has smaller dimensions that will allow the hatches to feel tighter around long and winding curves.
Should I get this over a Merc then?
We don't exactly see its quibbles as problems. On our roads, where we mostly drive at a rather casual pace and grace, the Infiniti Q30 makes total sense. It's fast enough to perform overtaking manoeuvres and it's comfortable and well-behaved when you're taking it easy around town. Plus, it being one of the better-looking vehicles in its segment makes you look good.
The Infiniti Q30, in our opinion, is a premium vehicle that's a little different from its segment peers but it doesn't sacrifice anything critical that will cause you to think twice about it.
There are of course other options to consider. But if it's a Merc that's on your list of alternatives, we would suggest the Q30. At least you won't just be another potential customer that's going for one of the usual suspects.
Should I get this over a Merc then?
We don't exactly see its quibbles as problems. On our roads, where we mostly drive at a rather casual pace and grace, the Infiniti Q30 makes total sense. It's fast enough to perform overtaking manoeuvres and it's comfortable and well-behaved when you're taking it easy around town. Plus, it being one of the better-looking vehicles in its segment makes you look good.
The Infiniti Q30, in our opinion, is a premium vehicle that's a little different from its segment peers but it doesn't sacrifice anything critical that will cause you to think twice about it.
There are of course other options to consider. But if it's a Merc that's on your list of alternatives, we would suggest the Q30. At least you won't just be another potential customer that's going for one of the usual suspects.
