2020 INFINITI Q30

When two car brands, Nissan and Mercedes, decided to share technology, the result was the Infiniti. The Q30 is built on the Mercedes A-class platform. It is a new entry-level sedan for 2020. The Q30 will be electrically powered or be a plug-in hybrid, with a compact and sleek SUV look.

The Infiniti uses Mercedes’s front-wheel-drive design, resulting in the Q30 has a transversely mounted engine. With two versions of the Q30, you can still have the SUV or go for the sports model, which is lower by 20 millimeters, than the SUV.

Powered by a 1.6-liter turbo petrol engine, this car is also an all-wheel drive. The seats are well-sized and accommodate well. Foot space under the seats is too generous, and the same applies to boot space.

The Q30 has heated front seats, cruise control, and rain-sensing wipers, traffic sign sensors, electric lumbar support, satellite navigation, LED headlights, privacy glass, and not to mention Nappa leather seats. The sound system leaves a lot to be desired, as it is clear and powerful.

The speed in this car puts it as close as possible to its Mercedes counterpart. It can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 9.4 seconds, two seconds faster than a BMW 118i. It has well-balanced gearing, and sufficiently low to mid-range torque. This gives it an edge in performance and refinement.

On the noise meter, the engine of this car has an advantage. It is many more decibels below the BMW 118i. Not to mention it is a rounded ride, with alternative styling that sets it apart from other cars.

However, the Q30 has a high cost of ownership, and its interior is not as distinctive as Infiniti leads you to believe. The gear change is sluggish, making reversing unnecessarily hard, and the brakes seem over-assisted. It’s finishing; however, it is an as high standard as one gets.