INFINITI QX30 Review

Take equal parts car, hatchback and crossover, add standout styling and a generous helping of luxury and performance, and you have the Infiniti QX30. Built on the same underpinnings as Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class, the Japanese luxury brand's designers and engineers gave this subcompact crossover a thorough makeover that has resulted in the QX30 having a look and feel all its own. Notable changes include a heavily sculpted exterior with much more distinctive coupelike lines, upgraded interior materials, and a retuned powertrain and suspension.

Given its small size, the QX30 is not for everybody, with both rear-seat room and cargo space in relatively short supply. But the reasonably priced Infiniti QX30 fills a niche for car shoppers looking for a balance of carlike personality and crossover practicality.

Current Infiniti QX30
The current Infiniti QX30 is offered in four trim levels: Base, Premium, Luxury and Sport. The entry-level Base model comes nicely equipped with desirable features, including 18-inch alloy wheels, LED running lights, auto-dimming driver-side and rearview mirrors, keyless ignition and entry, dual-zone climate control, a rearview camera, Bluetooth connectivity, Infiniti's InTouch infotainment system with a 7-inch display, voice controls, and a six-speaker sound system with a CD player, HD and satellite radio.

The Luxury trim level adds leather upholstery, power-adjustable heated front seats, driver-seat memory settings, a rear-seat armrest with pass-through, and a stitched-leather dash insert. Premium models get body-colored side mirrors, roof rails, LED foglights and a premium Bose audio system with 10 speakers.

While Luxury and Premium trim levels are offered with a choice of front- or all-wheel drive (which includes a ride height increase of 1.2 inches), Sport variants are available in front-wheel drive only. Additional upgrades on Sport models include 19-inch alloy wheels with summer tires, a sport-tuned suspension with a lowered ride height, unique bodywork including distinctive front and rear lower fascias and side sill extensions, front and rear parking sensors, front sport seats with simulated suede trim, an automated parking system and that premium Bose sound system.

Standard safety features across the lineup include traction and stability control, antilock brakes, front-seat side airbags, side curtain airbags and a rearview camera. Advanced safety features, offered as options on Premium and Sport models, include forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, blind-spot monitoring and a 360-degree parking camera system.

Under the hood is a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 208 horsepower. It's connected to a seven-speed, dual-clutch automatic transmission and a choice of front- or all-wheel drive. This powertrain returns decent EPA combined fuel economy estimates in the mid- to upper-20s.

In our reviews, we've lauded the Infiniti QX30 for its superior levels of interior material refinement compared to the Mercedes on which it's based. It's also enjoyable to drive, with respectable acceleration and precise steering. Downsides include a lack of backseat room, tight headroom for front passengers, and an infotainment system that's a bit behind the times. All in all, though, it feels more like a small Infiniti hatchback than a crossover, which is not a bad thing at all.

Used Infiniti QX30
The QX30 debuted for the 2017 model year. There have been no major changes since.

Read the most recent 2018 INFINITI QX30 review.

If you are looking for older years, visit our used INFINITI QX30 page.