Infiniti Q30 2.2d Premium Tech AWD DCT, car review: It boasts a premium feel, but does it offer anything new?

The Infiniti’s chassis is superior to the A-Class’s when it comes to ride, although deep potholes still unsettle it

Autocar,Sarah Bradley

Tuesday 10 November 2015 13:50 GMT

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Watch out Mercedes A-Class, Audi A3 and BMW 1 Series – there’s a new kid on the premium hatchback block. This all-wheel-drive 2.2d tops the Infiniti Q30 range, so it faces some stiff competition from its established German rivals.

Although it promises to offer something different, the Q30 actually uses some of the A-Class’s platform, although the newcomer is slightly longer, taller and wider than the Merc. With a 168bhp diesel, seven-speed dual-clutch box and four-wheel drive, it’s a natural competitor to the A220d 4Matic DCT, as well as Audi's A3 2.0 TDI quattro S tronic.

Quality throughout the cabin is high and fairly consistent

The drivetrain offers strong torque from low down, so pulls away keenly, with the paddleshifters giving greater control than the auto setting. Refinement isn’t brilliant up to around 3000rpm, and there’s some vibration through the controls and a diesel rumble, but things settle down when cruising. Wind and road noise are noticeable at speed, however.

The Infiniti’s chassis is superior to the A-Class’s when it comes to ride, although deep potholes still unsettle it. Yet handling prowess is less impressive, with the chunky tyres and body roll having a negative impact. Still, the steering weighting is consistent and grip is good; if the system detects loss of traction at the front, it directs up to half of the power to the rear.

City braking tech features on all models.

Moving inside, the Q30’s front compartment is spacious but the rear less so, particularly in the middle. The boot impresses in both shape and space. Quality throughout the cabin is high and fairly consistent, although some materials lower down on the dash and centre console could be nicer. The abundance of Mercedes switchgear and electronics is a bit of a surprise, too.

What is unique to the Q30 is the infotainment system, which provides a 7.0in colour touchscreen, Bluetooth, DAB radio and voice control across the range. It isn’t as effective or user-friendly as some others in its class, though, and neither is the sat-nav – a £1400 extra even in our mid-range Premium Tech test car. At least this model boasts leather upholstery, keyless entry, climate control, a pair of USB ports and a rear-view camera. City braking tech features on all models.

Overall, while the Q30 comes closer to its rivals for both quality and driving experience than the rest of the Infiniti range, it still doesn’t offer that indefinable something different that you’d hope for from a young premium brand. At this level, we’d instead choose Audi’s cheaper, higher-quality plus better-driving and -performing A3 Sportback 2.0 TDI.