Japanese premium manufacturer Infiniti has announced a new model designed to attract new company car drivers into the brand.
The all-new Infiniti QX30 is a crossover with all-wheel drive and taps into the growing trend of customers buying cars that have a high ride height like a 4×4, but drive like a normal hatchback.
The surge in popularity of cars like the Nissan Qashqai and Renault Kadjar, means Infiniti is offering a product in one of the fastest growing sectors in the market.
Higher ride height and all-wheel drive
The QX30 is based on the Q30 hatchback, which in turn is based on the Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class chassis, but features a higher ride height and all-wheel drive.
The all-wheel drive system is likely to feature an on-demand set-up where the power is transmitted to the front wheels, but in slippery conditions power will be supplied to the rear wheels to aid traction.
Choice of engines and gearboxes
The actual trim and engine line up is yet to be confirmed, though chances are it will closely follow the Q30 hatchback offerings.
So expect to see both petrol and diesel engines offered with diesels proving to be more popular. We rated the 1.5-litre diesel in the Q30 for its smooth, refined power delivery and it comes with the lowest running costs. It’s also likely to be the best choice for company car drivers thanks to lower CO2 emissions when compared to the 2.1-litre diesel.
We predict buyers will be able to choose between a six-speed manual and a seven-speed automatic gearboxes as per the Q30.
Major focus on kit and premium interior
Buyers can expect a quality interior with a focus on attention to detail and design flair. It’s highly likely the QX30 will feature a very similar interior along with a trim line-up that will ape that of the Q30.
In short, that means a multiple line up of versions (the Q30 is offered with ten) though with pricing expected to be north of the Q30 it could feature more kit on the entry level model compared to its hatchback sibling.
On sale date
The Infiniti QX30 is due on sale in the middle of 2016 and further details will be confirmed closer to the model hitting the dealership. As ever, Parkers will have the details as soon as they are announced, and the first drive so check back for the full Infiniti QX30 review.
