Review: Infiniti Q30 1.6T

Front-seat comfort is good but it’s not as strong in the rear, and the boot space is also only average. It’s better than a BMW 1 Series, but the Audi A3 Sportback has better practicality – as indeed does the Volkswagen Golf. Interior refinement is OK around town but there is a bit too much road noise at speed.

The Q30 isn’t particularly good fun to drive, with lifeless steering and handling that doesn’t reward spirited driving. The ride is good, though, particularly on the motorway. The engine is also settled at higher speeds, in contrast to its raspy noises under acceleration.

Performance is decent, once you’ve worked around the turbo lag, and the seven-speed automatic chooses its gears well. It holds onto gears longer if you select sport mode – we felt, at times, it was holding onto them for too long, something easily corrected by using the paddleshifts. The engine and gearbox are a good match.

So, a generally decent performance from Infiniti’s most important car, then. It doesn’t set new standards and can’t topple the premium establishment – particularly given the steep prices Infiniti is charging – but it’s still worth a look as a leftfield alternative to the norm.