2018 Infiniti QX30

Pros: Sporty handling; striking styling; peppy performance from turbocharged 4-cylinder engine

Cons: Stingy passenger room and cargo capacity; stiff ride, especially in Sport model; finicky, non-linear performance from 7-speed automated manual transmission

CG Says: The 2018 Infiniti QX30 is unchanged after its introduction last year. The QX30 is the smallest vehicle in Infiniti’s model lineup. It slots below the QX50 on Infiniti’s roster of SUVs, but with its sleek styling and nimble handling, the QX30 really straddles the line between a sporty premium-compact car and a premium-compact crossover SUV. The QX30 shares both its platform and 208-horsepower turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine with Mercedes-Benz’s GLA-Class, but differentiates itself with unique interior and exterior styling. A 7-speed automatic is the QX30’s only transmission, and both front-wheel and all-wheel drive are offered. Trim levels ascend through base, Luxury, Premium, and Sport models; the Luxury and Premium are available with AWD, while the base and Sport are FWD only. The Sport model has a lower ride height and sport suspension; and AWD models have a higher ride height and off-road styling cues. Safety features include lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, forward-emergency automatic braking, blind-spot alert, and surround-view cameras with moving-object detection. Like the Mercedes-Benz GLA, the Infiniti QX30 is a real genre bender—we’ve categorized it as a premium compact SUV, but it can also be cross-shopped against many premium compact-car competitors. The rakish styling certainly turns heads, and the sporty personality offers a unique driving experience, but ultimately the QX30 favors style over practicality. Its tight passenger and cargo room are demerits for most shoppers, and the sometimes-fussy 7-speed automated manual transmission can stymie the otherwise-willing turbo 4-cylinder engine. The QX30 is not without its charms, but many similarly priced premium-compact cars offer a more satisfying driving experience, and most premium-compact SUVs offer significantly better utility.