evo verdict
The Q30 is Infiniti's first attempt at a car to compete with the Audi A3s, BMW 1-series and Mercedes-Benz A-classes of the world, and as first attempts go it has some merit.
Some of that is down to the Q30's conception: While it's built here in the UK, in Nissan's Washington plant in the north east of England, much of the oily bits come from Germany, shared with the Mercedes A-class. And that's largely how it feels to drive, albeit focused more towards comfort and refinement than sporting appeal.
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Equally, that rules out the Infiniti as being one of our favourites on the road, with neither a full-blown performance model available, nor the kind of entertaining handling some of the sportier models in this class offer. Keep this in mind, and you shouldn't be too disappointed.
evo tip
It's a shame that the 2.0t petrol engine is only available in Sport trim. While it might seem like the natural combination for evo readers, the Q30 is hardly a sporty car in the first place so we'd otherwise be tempted to opt for a car on smaller wheels and softer suspension, and reap the benefits of the Q30's ride quality. If there's an up-side, it's that the Q30 still rides pretty well in Sport trim. If comfort is a priority, the Q30 is worth a look.
evo comment
Styling is always a matter of subjectivity, but the Q30's swooping forms are undoubtedly welcome in a class where reserved German models have traditionally dominated. It endows the Q30 with some personality, which is an admirable quality and something the only other Japanese car in this class – the Lexus CT 200h – sorely lacks. Infinitis are not a common sight on UK roads but this may be the car to change that.
