Infiniti Debuts The QX30 Crossover

Infiniti QX30 (Credit: Infiniti)

After a long buildup, Infiniti has finally officially debuted the QX30 crossover. It’s a truly international machine, with an obvious Japanese design influence, German powertrain (thanks to business partner Daimler) and a British origin. All of the QX30s are rolling off an assembly line in Sunderland, where Nissan has been making cars for quite some time.

Infiniti QX30 (Credit: Infiniti)

As Infiniti says in its official release, the QX30 makes a “bold visual statement” that some will like and others will hate. Instead of piling on the angry-face design language like Lexus, Infiniti goes with a more flowing look that plays up the muscular attributes of the crossover.

When it comes to capability, the QX30 hits the right points for the average buyer. Based on the same platform as the new Infiniti Q30, plus the Mercedes CLA and GLA, it should ride well enough. The all-wheel-drive system can do a 50/50 torque split between the front and rear axles, which should make it handle great in inclement weather.

Infiniti QX30 (Credit: Infiniti )

We know that the vehicle is powered by a 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder engine, but output at the moment hasn’t been confirmed. Don’t expect anything near the GLA45, but it should be healthy enough to be appealing for the average consumer, while still delivering respectable fuel economy. It will work with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, which loads up the next gear for faster transitions and virtually no lag in torque delivery.

Safety features are a big deal in this market segment, and Infiniti is talking that up big. The QX30 comes with the Around View Monitor with moving object detection, Intelligent Parking Assist, Intelligent Cruise Control (even though you can’t see the radar sensors), and other active/passive technologies.

Infiniti QX30 interior (Credit: Infiniti)

The InTouch infotainment system has been upgraded, supposedly making it even more user-friendly. A seven-inch touchscreen is included, along with voice recognition.

Look for the Infiniti QX30 to hit dealerships in the summer of 2016. The “premium active crossover” has some seriously stiff competition it must take on, including the Mercedes GLA, Lexus NX, Buick Encore and Audi Q3. More contenders are looking to crowd that market segment in the near future, making the QX30 a key product for Infiniti.