Infiniti Q30 review - Japanese premium compact takes on German rivals - Infiniti Q30 engine and gearbox
Not a car to make you grin on a twisty road, but ride and refinement are both Q30 trump cards
All four of the Q30’s engines displace four cylinders, and all four are cribbed from the Mercedes-Benz A-class with which the Infiniti shares its platform. There are two diesels – 1.5 and 2.1-litres in capacity (though Infiniti badges the latter a 2.2d), and 1.6 and 2-itre petrols.
Furthermore, the smaller pair of engines are available with both a six-speed manual gearbox and a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic, while the larger units are DCT only, with all-wheel drive optionally available. Those which drive only two wheels, like the A-class, drive the fronts.
Where the Infiniti gains over the A-class is in refinement, with each engine that little more hushed than its German counterpart; a blessing when the larger diesel in particular has a reputation for audible grumbling.
What the engines can’t do is fire the Q30 down the road in a particularly enthralling manner, even if overall performance is respectable in all. Refined travel is the order of the day here, and while no unit is class-leading in this respect (the 2-litre petrol can sound a little strained as the revs rise), they should suit the requirements of most customers.
