Used 2019 INFINITI QX30

The 2019 Infiniti QX30 is the smallest SUV and least expensive vehicle from Nissan’s luxury brand. As a subcompact, it slots below the Infiniti QX50 and competes with the BMW X1, Audi Q3, Volvo XC40 and Mercedes-Benz GLA. That last model, however, is also something of a cousin, as the Infiniti QX30 shares its platform with the Mercedes-Benz GLA. The QX30 has a sleek design, and with a $30,150 starting price, undercuts rivals by several thousand dollars. Beyond those factors, however, the QX30’s appeal starts to fade. It lacks the space, sophistication, power, and technology of its fresher rivals. And it’s those features that the QX30 lacks — including a power tailgate and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration — that may steer buyers to pricier but ultimately better rivals. 

While the Infiniti QX30 brought some enjoyment when it was introduced years ago, these days it’s merely adequate compared to fresher competitors. The QX30’s 208-horsepower turbocharged engine is average or under in this segment. Moreover, between the throttle response and the less refined 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, we found power delivery hesitant and the whole experience coarser than should be expected in a luxury vehicle. Compared to rivals, the Infiniti QX30 lacks the comfort of the new Lexus UX, the athleticism of the BMW X1, and the balance of the Volvo XC40. We also found the Infiniti’s ride rough at times. If there’s something good we can say about the QX30, it’s that this small-luxury-crossover SUV’s size enables it to fit in tight parking spots. But here, too, is a compromise: The QX30’s rear exterior styling creates prominent blind spots.

As mentioned, the Infiniti QX30 has supportive front seats, which range from fabric-like black Fibretec on base models to faux leather on other trims or plush Nappa hide if you spring for the top-line QX30 Essential variant. Other aspects of the cabin are underwhelming. The QX30 lacks interior space even in this class of subcompacts. Compare its cargo space to the XC40, for instance, and the Volvo appears to dwarf the Infiniti in size and functionality. Rear-seat legroom is also limited. Up front, there is a 7-inch display that may seem fancy if you haven’t bought a new car in years, but is aging compared to rivals. The small transmission selector can be fussy to use, and even the layout of common controls like those for climate can be vexing. As we’ve noted, a power tailgate isn’t even optional on the QX30, yet it’s standard on better competitors like the Volvo XC40 and even the QX30’s own cousin, the Mercedes-Benz GLA.

One of the few things the QX30 has that enables it to stand apart from rivals — in a positive way — is its sleek design. Svelte, hunkered down and filled with enticing angles, the 2019 QX30 looks more like a striking hatchback than a traditional SUV. Its boomerang-like rear-window pillar has a pizazz all its own. QX30 models with optional all-wheel drive (AWD) ride a bit higher than the standard front-wheel-drive (FWD) variants, with eight inches of ground clearance vs. the standard 6.8. The QX30 Sport model offers no extra power — or even the optional AWD — but does dress Infiniti’s smallest SUV with a gloss-black grille, black mirror housings and other exterior bits, and further lowers the ride height by 0.6 inches.

SPINAL SUPPORT SEATS
Borrowing a page from Nissan’s “Zero Gravity” seat design, the 2019 Infiniti QX30’s front seats distribute body weight evenly over the surface, helping to reduce downward pressure on the hip region, as well as negate fatigue on long trips.

FORWARD EMERGENCY BRAKING
Like so many other vehicles these days, the Infiniti QX30 benefits from this standard feature that can automatically apply the brakes if a collision appears imminent and the driver doesn’t take action.

The Infiniti QX30 premium-crossover SUV is available in four trims: Pure, Luxe, Sport and Essential. At its most basic, roughly $30,000 will get you a luxury badge, but not exactly luxury amenities. You’ll still have to deal with 8-way manual-adjust seats and old-school halogen headlights, but will at least get dual-zone climate control, paddle shifters, and an infotainment system with a 7-inch screen and 6-speaker AM/FM/XM/CD system, Bluetooth connectivity and two USB ports. If you do buy a QX30, we’d suggest at least stepping up to the Luxe trim, which brings Leatherette upholstery, panoramic moonroof, power-operated and heated front seats, and universal garage remote. 

Opting for the Infiniti QX30 Sport trim adds LED headlights, which aid nighttime visibility; rain-sensing windshield wipers, upgraded seating surfaces, and some recommendable features like a bird’s-eye rearview camera, self-parking feature, and a Bose audio system. Top-line Essential models include Nappa leather seats and blind-spot monitoring. All-wheel drive can be had on Luxe and Essential trims, but not the base Pure or Sport models. If you want active safety and driving aids like lane-departure warning and intelligent cruise control, you’ll have to step up to the Sport or Luxury trims, then spend extra for the features.

Just one engine/transmission choice is offered in the Infiniti QX30: a turbocharged 4-cylinder engine that makes 208 horsepower that’s linked to a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. This is the same powertrain that’s found in the Infiniti’s cousin, the Mercedes-Benz GLA250, but in this vehicle has been tuned to Infiniti’s specs. As with most of its competitors, the QX30 comes standard with front-wheel drive (FWD) but can be optioned with traction-enhancing all-wheel drive (AWD), always a good idea if you contend with slick or slippery roads. At up to 33 mpg, the Infiniti QX30 is quite efficient. Part of that is from the idle start/stop system, which shuts off the engine at idle. In our yearlong ownership review of an Infiniti QX30, we found restarts could be unrefined. Thankfully, you can disable the system with the press of a button. Also note that pricier premium unleaded gasoline is recommended for the QX30.

2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4
208 horsepower @ 5,500 rpm
258 lb-ft of torque @ 1,200-4,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 24/33 mpg (FWD), 21/30 mpg (AWD)