Infiniti Cars Australia has officially launched the Q30 as their new entrant to gain a foothold in the highly competitive medium-size hatch market where it will trade blows with the Peugeot 308, Ford Focus, BMW 1 Series, upcoming Honda Civic, and even the Mercedes-Benz A-Class upon which it is based.
Prices will start at just under $38,900) for the entry-level 1.6t GT spec and top out with the 2.2d Sports Premium at $54,900. Infiniti has pegged the Q30 one of the most important cars in their newly updated Australian line-up, which will soon include the QX30 crossover as well. They expect the Q30 to lead the pack in terms of sales volume, handily overtaking the Q50 sedan not long after release.
Interestingly, Infiniti has tuned the suspension on each variant to yield a different ride height. The entry GT is the has the most ground clearance of the bunch, with the Sport and Sport Premium getting progressively lower to match their purposes. Despite not being a full crossover, Infiniti wants the Q30 to be perceived as such.
Infiniti’s president, Roland Krueger, said: “Q30 is Infiniti’s commitment to offer a broader range of premium products in new segments, and is part of an intense product launch period that will see us further enhance our offer to an increasing number of customers.”
They’re certainly proud of the car’s exterior too, and with good reason, retaining much of the flair that wowed the public when the car was gestating in concept form. Alfonso Albaisa, Executive Design Director at Infiniti, said: “Infiniti is an expression of design. We want our customers to feel the hand of the artist at work in the sculpted, muscular aesthetic of our cars. Q30 design is marked by turbulent character lines and sculptural shapes that look stretched over bone and muscle. The effect is a spontaneous feeling of harmonious design that can be appreciated at a glance.”
The Q30 will come in three variants, the GT lives at the base of the range and powered by a 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine chucking out 115kW and 250Nm. Further up we find the Sport and Sport Premium, with both having the option of being fitted with either a 155kW/350Nm 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine or a 2.2-litre 125kW/350Nm four-cylinder turbodiesel. All engines will have power reach the front wheels (no four-wheel drive option available) through a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. All three engines and gearbox are sourced from Mercedes-Benz and shared with the A-Class.
Just like its German sister car, the Q30 receives a 5-star safety rating from ANCAP and includes 7 airbags, autonomous emergency braking as standard but curiously omits a reversing camera. Inside, Infiniti has laid the cabin with their own interior style, with cloth trim coming as standard and higher grades upgraded to leather upholstery and grippy Alcantara accents.
The higher-spec Sport trim comes also comes with 19-inch wheels, a lowered ride height, LED headlamps, dynamic cornering lights and lane departure warning while the Sport Premium gains a panoramic sunroof, radar cruise control, 360-degree camera, and Nappa leather trim.
1.6t GT - $38,900
2.0t Sports - $44,900
2.2d Sports - $46,900
2.0t Sports Premium - $52,900
2.2d Sports Premium - $54,900
For more on Infiniti vehicles, including pricing and specifications, check out our Showroom.
