► Infiniti’s new small SUV at LA show
► On display in final production form
► Goes on sale in the middle of 2016
Yet another player sprints onto the compact crossover field: this is the Infiniti QX30, revealed in final production form today at the LA motor show. And concurrently at the Guangzhou show in China, for that matter – a neat demonstration of the dual importance of both markets to Infiniti.
Hasn’t Infiniti shown this car before?
Yes, as a concept car at the 2015 Geneva motor show. A remarkably production-ready concept too, as the final product hasn’t undergone many dramatic changes.
The QX30 is a sister car to the recently launched Q30 hatchback, of course, and is built upon the same Mercedes A-class-derived platform at Infiniti’s parent company Nissan’s Sunderland plant, with a mix of Renault-Nissan and Mercedes powerplants on the engine list. The ground clearance is greater, naturally, and many variants will be offered with four-wheel-drive.
Read CAR’s review of the Infiniti Q30 here.
On sale 2016
Scheduled for launch midway through 2016, the QX30’s a key – some might say crucial – component in Infiniti’s ongoing quest to shift from niche player to a brand with broader appeal.
We branded the Q30 the most appealing Infiniti yet. So if any car’s got a chance of pushing Infiniti into the promotion zone, it’s an on-trend crossover. We’ll be driving the QX30 in the new year – stay tuned for the verdict.