Luxury carmakers all over the world try to do their best to enter every genre of the market, which allows them to tap into a new class of buyers. However, some of these segments don’t do as well as others, but this is an inherent risk that all luxury brands must take on. One of these luxury carmakers is Infiniti, which for those not in the know, is the posh arm of Nissan. In a way, exactly similar to how Lexus is to Toyota. And one those slow-moving segments that I’m talking about are that of the luxury hatchbacks. However, there still are many buyers who find this segment to be an entry-point into a brand such as Infiniti.
To cater to this demand, the Japanese carmaker launched the Infiniti Q30 in 2016. The Infiniti Q30 is the smallest offering from the luxury marquee, and it shares the exact same underpinnings as that found on the previous-gen Mercedes-Benz A-Class. In fact, this Infiniti hatchback shares a lot more parts than just its platform with the Merc. However, that’s not a bad thing as the three-pointed star product costs way more than the Q30. Still in its first avatar, the 2019 Infiniti Q30 rivals the BMW 1-Series, Volkswagen Golf, and Alfa Romeo Giulietta.
Exterior
The exterior design of the 2019 Infiniti Q30 is such that it reeks of sophistication and luxury. Its beautiful bodywork comprises of strong lines, curves, and smooth contours – making this a gorgeous-looking hatchback. The suave front fascia houses a large grille with chrome surrounds and brand logo, elegantly-styled headlamps with crisp LED daytime-running lights, smooth hood design with strong ridges, well-sculpted bumper with LED foglights and center air intake.
The classy side profile of the Q30 highlights its low, sporty, and ground-hugging silhouette. There’s also its distinctive character line, flared fenders, svelte 19-inch alloy wheels, heavily-sloping roofline, and neat-looking chrome surrounds around the windows. The aggressive rear end of the Q30 features a sporty roof spoiler, steeply-sloped window, complex LED taillights, thin chrome strip on the hatch, and a chunky bumper with well-integrated air diffuser and dual-exhaust pipes. The 2019 Infiniti Q30 measures 4.425 meters in length, 1.805 meters in width, 1.475 meters in height, and it has wheelbase of 2.700 meters. Surprisingly, despite its overtly-aggressive design, the Q30 still boasts of a fairly spacious 430-liter boot.
Interior
The cabin of the 2019 Infiniti Q30 is effortlessly premium and posh in its appeal. The design is modern yet not complex, and everything feels just right. This being an Infiniti, all the materials, touch-points, and trim pieces feel top-notch. The build quality and fit & finish are almost flawless, and the cabin is relatively-free of excess NVH. However, the sporty design doesn’t pay dividends when it comes to usable space in the cabin, as headroom and legroom are at a premium, especially for rear passengers.
The Infiniti Q30 is equipped with radar cruise control, adaptive LED headlights, panoramic sunroof, dual-zone climate control, leather seats, paddle shifters, surround camera system, a 7-inch touch-infotainment display with navigation, and a 10-speaker Bose sound system. There’s also a host of modern passive and active safety measures to keep the occupants safe.
Engine and performance
The 2019 Infiniti Q30 Sport gets a 2.0-liter turbo four-popper with 208 hp and 350 Nm of twist. A 7-speed dual-clutch handles shifting chores and directs power to an all-wheel-drive system. The Q30 can do 0-100 km/h in 7.3 seconds, a top whack of 230 km/h, and average around 6.0 L/100 km.
Verdict
The 2019 Infiniti Q30 is priced between AED 115,000 to AED 159,000, while insurance costs start from AED 2,588 and AED 3,578.
