Infiniti Q30

Infiniti Q30 at a glance

The Q30 came from the technology partnership between Renault, Nissan and Daimler. Infiniti took the Mercedes MFA platform and drivetrains, designed its own body and cabin, and built the car at Nissan's Sunderland plant, which supplied Europe, the United States (as the QX30) and China. The body is a C-segment hatchback with a high, curved waistline and a steeply raked tailgate; the Q30 Sport sits 20 mm lower on 19-inch wheels.

The Q30 is 170 mm longer than a 2015 Volkswagen Golf (4,255 mm) and has a 63 mm longer wheelbase, but its boot is smaller than the Golf's 380 litres because of the sloping tailgate.

Mercedes and Renault engines in the Q30

The 1.5-litre diesel is the Renault K9K; the 1.6 and 2.0 turbo petrol engines and the 2.2 diesel come from Mercedes-Benz. The all-wheel-drive system uses an electronically controlled multi-plate clutch that sends up to 50% of the torque to the rear wheels when needed. The old 1cars text quoted 5.8 l/100 km for the 1.6 and 6.7 l/100 km for the 2.0 AWD in the combined cycle; the diesels are thriftier still.

At 155 kW, the 2.0t is the most powerful Q30 and ranks seventh among the most powerful hatchbacks in the 1cars catalogue (October 2026).

InTouch cabin and equipment levels

Inside, Infiniti used its own dashboard with the InTouch infotainment system and an 8-inch touchscreen, while switchgear such as the window, seat and gear controls comes from Mercedes. Three interior themes were offered in Europe: City Black, Café Teak and Gallery White, plus Alcantara options and a suede-like Dinamica headlining on top trims.

Typical equipment:

• base versions: LED headlights, dual-zone climate control, cruise control, rear parking sensors, heated front seats and a hill-start assistant;
• higher trims: Nappa leather, a 10-speaker Bose audio system, a panoramic roof, navigation with traffic data, 360-degree cameras and a parking assistant;
• driver aids: forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, blind-spot warning, adaptive cruise control, automatic high beam and active noise cancellation.

The rear bench folds 60/40, and the rear is better for two adults than three because of the central tunnel.

Crash-test scores (2015)

The Q30 was tested in 2015 under the Euro NCAP-aligned protocol used by ANCAP. It scored 32.1 points (84%) for adult protection, 42.2 points (86%) for children, 32.9 points (91%) for pedestrians and 74% for safety assistance, a five-star level. It has six airbags, dual-stage front airbags and ISOFIX mounts in the outer rear seats.

Shared A-Class faults to check

The Q30 shares most mechanical parts with the W176 A-Class, so known A-Class issues apply:

• the seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox can judder at low speed and needs a software update or fluid service; check for jerky starts;
• the 1.5 dCi diesel needs its diesel particulate filter regenerated by regular longer runs;
• the 2.2 diesel has timing-chain and injector costs at high mileage;
• electrical faults in the infotainment unit are not unusual.

Parts are easy to source through Mercedes and Renault networks, which helps owners now that Infiniti has left Western Europe. Body panels, lights and trim are Infiniti-specific and can take longer to obtain.

Rivals: how the Q30 compares

Compared with the A-Class, the Q30 has a bigger boot, a softer ride and a quieter cabin, but fewer engine options. The BMW is the most engaging to drive, with rear-wheel drive, and the Audi has the best-finished cabin. You can set the Q30 against any of them in the 1cars comparison tool.