2019 Infiniti QX30

Infiniti introduced its luxury crossover SUV in 2017 in partnership with performance-giants Mercedes-Benz, and, as the saying goes, dynamite comes in small packages - the Infiniti QX30 is proof enough of this. Offering only one powertrain option and superior handling for this segment, the QX30 range is available as front- or all-wheel drive on most configurations at a lower price than its rivals ($30,250 - $41,500). With a premium interior and well-designed dashboard layout, the QX30 fares well in comparison with big names such as the Mercedes-Benz GLA and Lexus NX. The 2.0-liter turbocharged engine delivers 208 horsepower and produces 258 lb-ft torque, offering good off-the-line throttle responses and average fuel consumption rates. The QX30 is definitely one of the better-looking petite crossovers, with great practicality that received a better reception than many of the other Infiniti vehicles.

Built on the Mercedes-Benz GLA chassis, the QX30 boasts a hatchback design with coupe looks. LED daytime running lights create a signature look, while 18-inch wheels are standard on the entry-level models, as well as body-colored mirror caps. With the exception of the base model, all other trims have a panoramic sunroof, and the Luxe model sports roof rails as well.

For this segment, the QX30 offers similar dimensions to its main competition, with a total length of 174.2 inches and a wheelbase of 106.3 inches. As a subcompact, it is not expected to stand tall, and the height of the Infiniti XQ30 crossover ranges from 58 inches to 60.2 inches depending on whether all-wheel drive is equipped, and whether there are roof-rails or not. Width measures in at 71.1 inches. Curb weights for the front-wheel-drive variants start at 3,285 lbs, with the Sport trim the heaviest at 3,391 lbs. For all-wheel-drive variants, curb weights increase to between 3,505 and 3,556 lbs. As an SUV, it is also pertinent to note that ground clearance of eight inches on this range makes for above-average off-roading abilities on such a small car.

A comprehensive color palette is available, with shades ranging from elegant browns and grays to sportier reds and blues. There are nine colors in total, although two of these, Majestic White and Liquid Copper, are only available at additional cost. The remaining options include Blade Silver, Graphite Shadow, Ink Blue, Magnetic Red, Chestnut Bronze, Pearlescent Black, and Black Obsidian.

All trim levels in this range sport the same 2.0-liter turbocharged engine that helps propel the QX30 from 0 to 60 mph in 6.9 seconds and on to a top speed of around 130 mph. This is about average for this segment, and while not boasting a massive powertrain, a test drive of this spunky little crossover reveals an eager throttle that responds with gusto. Paired to a seven-speed transmission, the QX30 produces 208 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque on all variants and the Luxe and Essential trims can be had in all-wheel-drive configuration. The other models are released as front-wheel drive. With various drive modes available, performance can be amped up by means of switching to Sport drive mode, earning rapid upshifts and a stronger pull at take off. And, while the manufacturer has not released official figures for towing capacity, correctly equipped QX30s can easily haul a small trailer without too much effort.

The single powertrain option is a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four engine that produces a satisfying 208 hp and 258 lb-ft torque. The automatic seven-speed transmission to which the engine is paired has various drive modes available, including a Manual mode, which allows the driver to shift up or down at will. In general, the automatic gear selection is adequate, tending to be a little delayed in timing and response, very much like that of the Mercedes GLA. In Manual mode, this problem is somewhat mitigated, and in Sport mode proves to be quicker for passing maneuvers and quicker take-offs. It is not ideal for heavy traffic, however, and one would assume the Eco mode to be more suitable. Sadly, E mode is even more frustrating, with sluggish transitions and a lot of driver attention directed at pressing the accelerator quite hard to get a response. Despite this, the QX30 delivers a sporty and engaging drive.

A strong suit for the QX30 is the superior handling of this nimble and agile little beast; tightly-calibrated suspension makes for excellent cornering, with the comeback being a slightly harder ride. Steering is close to ideal, with a light touch and adequate feedback to give the driver confidence in the vehicle's handling ability. Braking composure is better than average, with solid and consistent reaction to hitting the pedal and coming to a full stop in 109 feet from 60 mph. The vehicle stops without a shudder, and mitigates bumps and jostles with ease during every day driving. Rougher terrain is easily attempted, with minimal bounce back to the cabin and really good grip in general. There is almost no body-roll in tight corners, and the sport-tuned suspension on the top-end models makes for a thoroughly athletic drive. All-wheel-drive options also produce excellent responses coming out of turns and bends. The QX30 is an enjoyable drive, seen as neck-and-neck with the Mercedes-Benz GLA, with which it shares a lot of hardware.

The QX30 delivers promising gas mileage ratios, and in the front-wheel-drive configuration achieves 24/33/27 mpg on the city/highway/combined cycle. As the same engine is equipped throughout the range, the fuel consumption ratings remain the same, although dropping to 21/30/25 mpg on the two all-wheel-drive variations. With a gas tank capacity of 13.2 gallons and 14.8 gallons on the front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive models respectively, satisfying ranges are achievable. Front-wheel-drive models manage 356 miles before refueling, while the larger-tank on the all-wheel-drive trim allows for 370 miles per tank of gas. Premium unleaded gas is required for all models.

Unlike some of the large luxury sedans in the Infiniti fleet, the QX30 actually impresses with a modern, high-quality and detailed interior. The entry-level model has Fibretec seating and leatherette-dashboard inserts, while a leather-wrapped steering wheel and dual-zone climate control make for a premium feel. The layout of the cockpit is well designed, with a wrap-around dash and good driving position. Seating is comfortable and supportive, but the cabin is tightly spaced with insufficient legroom in the rear for taller passengers. Visibility is not ideal despite a prime seating position for the driver and is more the result of the design and styling of the vehicle body. Infotainment offerings are average, centered on a seven-inch screen accessed by a rotary dial. Although less modern than a touchscreen, it is simple to use and responsive to input.

The SUV side of this crossover indicates that five passengers can be accommodated; in reality, there is more compact to this crossover. While there are seats for five, the available space is limited. Four adults would be relatively comfortable, provided they are less than six-feet-tall. Seating children in the rear is a much better option, and with two sets of LATCH car seat restraints, is a better option for a starter family or family with small children. Firm seating with good side bolsters is standard, although the front seats are not power-adjustable and must be manually modified. Heated front seats are only included on the higher trims. Visibility is marred by broad rear pillars and small windows, making the optional around view camera a necessity.

The interior of the QX80 is exquisite, with many of the fabrics and parts borrowed from the Mercedes line-up: still, the cabin is high-quality and carefully constructed, to the credit of the manufacturer. The base Pure model is released with Graphite Fibretec upholstery, paired with Gloss Black Lacquer trim. Wheat leatherette and textile combination, Wheat-colored leather, Graphite leather, as well as Graphite leather and textile combination are available at an additional cost. Graphite Suede and City Black leather are interior options reserved for the QX30 Sport, and an exclusive combination of Café Teak leather and Dark Wood inlay are reserved for the QX30 Essential AWD (also at an extra charge).

Surprising for an extra-small SUV, the Infiniti QX30 offers 19.3 cubic feet of cargo space, which is quite a bit more than what is available on main competitors Merc GLA and the Lexus NX. Although this is impressive for the current segment, it is average in comparison to hatchback vehicles and is not practically allocated. The sharp vertical drop of the rear window significantly alters usable space in the trunk, making it awkward to load large suitcases, for example, while a week's groceries would fit in a lot easier.

Small item storage is sufficient, with space for larger bottles in the front door pockets and other small items such as cellphones, keys, and wallets. On the Luxe trim, a driver's seatback pocket is included. In general, the cabin is useful and practical for the daily commute, but loading camping equipment or larger items would be problematic, which belies the SUV nature of the QX30.

At the entry point of the range, the Pure model is equipped with forward emergency braking, hill start assist, rear view monitor and keyless entry with push-button start. A dual-zone air-conditioning system is included, and seating is Fibretec cloth with only manual eight-way adjustments available. The next model up features leatherette and textile seating with eight-way power adjustment and heating, as well as a rear armrest and ski hatch. From the Essential and Essential AWD trim, seating is standard issue leather, and adaptive front lighting with blind spot warning is included. It also boasts heated windshield washers. The Sport model builds on the below variants and adds intelligent parking assist, front and rear parking sensors and sport seats in leatherette-suede. It is worth noting that there are limited advanced safety specs included as standard, and the ProASSIST package is an important consideration in this regard.

Infotainment on the QX30 has a seven-inch screen at its focal point, paired with a six-speaker standard audio system on the base model, which is Bluetooth and USB enabled and can be voice activated. There is an AM/FM radio, but unfortunately, no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto on any of the trims.

On the Luxe model, a universal transceiver is also included, but no navigation. In fact, navigation across the range needs to be purchased additionally. On the top three trims, an upgraded ten-speaker Bose premium sound system becomes standard. The infotainment combinations are efficient, although not necessarily the best in class. Contrary to some of the other Infiniti vehicles where infotainment is a massive drawback, on the QX30, its display images are clear, it functions well, and is not as dated - thank Mercedes for that.

The predicted reliability rating of the QX30, according to the JD Power overall score, is 2.5 out of a possible five, indicating that reliability is the same as other vehicles in this class. While no official recalls have been issued for this range, there are good manufacturer warranties available to support the buyer. This includes a four year/60,000 miles full warranty, six year/70,000 mile powertrain cover, seven years/unlimited miles corrosion warranty and a four year, unlimited mile roadside assistance plan. The 2017 and 2018 year models for the QX30 had various recalls for airbag system errors, although scoring a higher rating for reliability in 2018.

There are currently no IIHS safety reviews for the QX30 as testing has not yet been completed for this year's model. Similarly, the NHTSA has no ratings to offer as the Infiniti QX30 hasn't been subject to review through the authority, either. The QX30 isn't alone, though, as the Mercedes-Benz GLA on which it's based also hasn't been evaluated.

Despite having no safety scores to refer to, eight airbags are standard on this vehicle, and forward emergency braking, hill start assist, and rearview monitor are included on the two bottom models. Adaptive front lighting and blind spot warning are only included on the Essential trim, and the Sport model boasts intelligent park assist and front and rear parking sensors. As far as advanced driver aids and additional safety features go, many of those found as standard on competitors need to be additionally equipped by means of the ProASSIST and Navigation packages.

A good-looking vehicle such as this deserves to be recommended to buyers, and with a host of positives, this is no hard task. A premium cabin with built-to-last detailing is offset against it being slightly cramped. This is to be expected in this segment to a certain degree, however, the poor visibility remains a disadvantage. Drive experience on the QX30 is excellent, with tight, agile handling and a sporty and enthusiastic 2.0-liter engine that produces really good gas mileage. In terms of cargo space and utility, a lot of room is available although it is arguably not very practical or easy to access. For all the benefits of a sporty and compact vehicle at a lesser cost to rivals BMW and Lexus, the QX30 is a good buy, backed by solid warranties and promising to remain relevant in the popular crossover segment.

The pricing of the QX30 varies from trim to trim and is also increased with each additional package equipped. Starting at $30,250 for the base Pure model in front-wheel-drive configuration, the MSRP for the second model up, namely the Luxe, is $33,100. Equipping the same trim with all-wheel drive capability increases the Infiniti QX30's price to $35,100. The Essential trim is, for all intents and purposes, the fully-loaded version and costs $39,300. It can also be upgraded to all-wheel drive for an additional $2,000. The Sport variant is slightly more costly at $40,200 and is only available in front-wheel drive options. All of the above prices in the USA exclude a destination fee of $995.

The 2019 Infiniti QX30 is available in four distinct trims: Pure, Luxe, Essential, and Sport.

The base model is the QX30 Pure, which features a 2.0-liter engine in front-wheel drive configuration, LED headlamps and daytime running lights, cloth seating, forward emergency braking, hill start assist, rearview monitor and dual-zone automatic air conditioning with rear-facing vents on the center console.

The QX30 Luxe upgrades upholstery to leatherette and textile seating, which becomes power-adjustable. A rear armrest with ski hatch, panoramic sunroof, and roof rails distinguish this trim for the entry-level variant, although the same seven-inch infotainment system is present. All-wheel-drive is available for the Luxe trim, while FWD is standard.

On the QX30 Essential, the available sound set-up is replaced with a ten-speaker premium Bose audio package. This model offers full leather seating, heated windshield washers, adaptive front lighting, and blind spot warning as well as enhanced interior illumination. The Essential can also be equipped in a choice of FWD or AWD.

Last, the QX30 Sport builds on the features from the Luxe model and adds front and rear sport fascias, lowered suspension with 19-inch gun metallic wheels, and body-color side sill panels. The grille features in gloss black on this trim and matches black exterior mirror caps. Dual chrome exhaust finishers highlight the sporty nature of this variant, which is carried through to the interior where a flat-bottom leather steering wheel and leather-and-suede sport seats are included. Doors and the center console are also leatherette upholstered, and the styling enhancements from the Essential AWD are also equipped.

The Navigation package is available for any of the models in the range, with the exception of the Sport trim. It costs $2,300 and includes around view monitor with moving object detection, front and rear parking sensors and a color center meter display, alongside the obvious navigation benefit.

The ProASSIST bundle is arguably the most important to add, given that it comprises driver aids such as lane departure warning, intelligent cruise control, high beam assist and intelligent park assist. It requires the navigation package to be installed and costs $1,300. It is available only on the Essential and Essential AWD trim.

A 19-inch wheel package is available for the base Luxe and Essential trims at an additional $800 to upgrade to larger five-spoke aluminum alloys.

The Café Teak Theme package is unique to the Essential AWD trim and is priced at $1,750, carrying upgrades to the interior, namely brown leather seating and console, dash and door inserts with contrast stitching. A genuine wood center stack is also included as well as suede-like headliners and A-pillars.

A Sport Navigation package is available exclusively to the QX30 Sport, which contains all the features from the base model Navigation bundle (although named differently). In the same way, a Sport leather package upgrades the QX30 Sport interior, at a cost of $1,500. The Sport Assist package also contains all the features mentioned on the ProAssist bundle but is specific to the QX30 Sport, at only $800. The City Black Theme package is worth mentioning for its unique purple contrast stitching on the upholstery, purple key fob, and unique 19-inch wheels. It is priced at $1,450 and is available only on the Sport model.

Although the entry-level model is well-priced and may tempt buyers to lean towards settling for it, the Essential model is a better value-for-money option. Although starting at $9,000 more than the base Pure, the premium sound system, leather seating, adaptive lighting, and blind spot warning are worthy inclusions. The Navigation and ProAssist packages are almost a necessity, as the Essential model alone does not have all the driver aids and features available on competitors. This brings the total cost for the front-wheel-drive Essential to almost $44,000, which remains slightly cheaper than the equally loaded versions of the Mercedes GLA.

As a unique comparison, the QX30 and the GLA share a chassis design as well as some interior elements from the cabin. A similar base powertrain exists on both vehicles, and as such, gas mileage ratios are almost identical, as are power outputs and torque levels. While the QX30 has a more premium interior and offers a smoother ride overall, the GLA is even better in terms of handling (where the QX30 already scores highly). Priced lower than the GLA, the QX30 shares many of the standard features of the Mercedes as well, although the need for additional packages for safety features (and taking into account lower than average reliability ratings) could imply that the GLA is a better option. With a longer track history, it would be logical to choose the Mercedes option over the relatively new QX30.

Starting with a look at dimensions, the QX30 has a lower curb weight and a shorter body, while boasting the longer wheelbase. With better traction, superior braking ability, and generally more efficient handling, this translates to the QX30 being a more agile and responsive drive. It has a slightly more powerful engine than the Lexus and also turns out more impressive fuel economy ratings. The Lexus is also just that much slower and ultimately less engaging to drive. In terms of safety, both vehicles have the same features, including a number of airbags and driver aids, however, the QX30 is supported by more comprehensive warranties. The only drawback for the QX30 is the lack of safety ratings to compare to.