Crucial crossover signals fresh start/Not quite make or break, but mighty close.

WHAT IS IT? It’s the brand-new Infinti Q30, a high-riding hatch that is the smallest, and also the cheapest, car ever made by Nissan’s premium arm. It’s built on Mercedes-Benz’s MFA small-car platform, so shares much of its running gear and interior switchgear with the Mercedes-Benz A-Class, CLA and GLA. That uniquely styled exterior, though, is pure Infiniti.

WHY ARE WE TESTING IT? Because it’s arguably Infiniti’s most important model. Priced from $38,900, the Q30 is competing in the hugely competitive premium hatch/crossover segment so aims to steal buyers from proven rivals like the Mercedes-Benz GLA, BMW X1 and even the Volkswagen Golf. It’s a vast market and one that represents a huge sales opportunity. So while this isn’t quite a make-or-break car for Infiniti in Australia, it’s bloody close.

MAIN RIVALS BMW X1, BMW 1 Series, Audi A3, Audi Q2, Mercedes-Benz GLA, Mercedes-Benz A-Class, Mini Countryman, Mazda CX-3, Volkswagen Golf

Infiniti -Q30-top -front

PLUS: Looks; hush, refined cabin; perky petrols; decent handling MINUS: Stilted ride; no reverse camera in base- and mid-spec; no smartphone integration; grumbly diesel.

Infiniti -Q30-driving -rear

Officially it’s pitched as a crossover, thanks to that loftier-than-normal ride height, which straddles the divide between conventional hatches and taller small SUVs. Its pricing fits that gap, too. Starting at $38,900 for the entry-level GT and finishing at $56,900 for the diesel-powered Sport Premium, the Q30’s three-tier range will attract buyers shopping everything from the cheaper Audi A3 and BMW 1 Series, to more expensive variants of the Mercedes-Benz GLA and BMW X1.

Infiniti -Q30-front -side

The dynamics aren’t bad either. Peel away the skin and the Q30 is actually a Mercedes-Benz underneath. It’s built on the same MFA small-car platform as the A-Class, B-Class, GLA and CLA, so shares its engines, seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox and suspension hardware with its German competition.

Its dynamics are sorted, the steering light but nicely judged, and the ride is comfortable and compliant, for the most part at least.

Infiniti -Q30-interior

Engine wise, the standouts are the two petrol offerings. Base GT variants use a quiet and smooth 115kW/250Nm turbo four, but the stronger engine is the 155kW/350Nm 2.0-litre unit fitted to the Sport and Sport Premium grades.

The weak link is the sole diesel. The oiler commands a $2000 premium over the 2.0-litre petrol, yet is doughy and sluggish in city traffic. It’s 125kW/350Nm outputs feel anaemic too, and don’t encourage ambitious overtaking manoeuvres.

Infiniti -Q30-interior -dash

So while the Q30 has obvious strengths, it’s not perfect. It’s far from a silver bullet for Infiniti’s lagging sales, but does deliver a welcome, and much needed, step in the right direction.

SPECS Model: Infiniti Q30 2.0t Sport Premium Engine: 1991cc in-line 4-cyl, dohc, 16v, turbo Max power: 155kW at 5500rpm Max torque: 350Nm at 1200 to 4000rpm Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch Kerb weight: 1477kg 0-100km/h: 7.3sec (claimed) Fuel economy: 6.3L/100km Price: $52,900 (est) On sale: Now