2019 Infiniti QX30

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UBAI/BEIRUT: Sometimes cars are as much a testament to ingenuity as to the brand itself, and the Infiniti QX30 is no exception. In today’s car market it’s becoming increasingly difficult for car brands to forge a unique identify, especially when every other car looks like the next one over, and with different brands sharing components that range from powerplants and platforms to chassis and sheet metal.

And yet, in the midst of all those blurred lines between different marques, not only does Infiniti come along with distinctive brand styling, but with the QX30 arguably manages to define an entirely new segment.

Yeah, you heard me right, I said an entirely new segment. I know it sounds like a stretch, but think about it. For years now, we’ve had every brand on the market scrambling for a piece of the crossover pie. People seem to like them for whatever reason, and manufacturers are happy to accommodate that demand. But what that means is that today every other car on the road is, for all practical purposes, a station wagon made to look like a rugged SUV.

Except for the cargo capacity – sometimes not even that – you have the same seating space as in a regular car, the same engine and transmission, and very car-like suspension except for the taller ride height. Most of the time you don’t even get all-wheel-drive traction unless you drop several thousand dollars more for a higher trim level.

So what’s the advantage? You get to pretend you’re driving a pseudo-off-roader because of the higher ground clearance and not much else. Full stop.

Now you would think the Infiniti QX30 isn’t much different, but you’d be wrong, and I’m going to tell you why. For starters, most of these so-called crossovers, in their pursuit of the SUV image, forfeit styling. They generally end up looking boxy and utilitarian, which is perfectly fine, except that they really aren’t all that capable. They’re just like regular people who dress up as professional mountain climbers. 

The QX30, on the other hand, retains the gorgeous, sinewy sheet metal of its Q30 hatchback counterpart, leaving the business of “crossovering” to its bigger brothers. Instead of adopting mere cosmetic modifications and calling it a day, it offers a far more interesting technology aptly named Intelligent All Wheel-Drive.

This AWD system adapts to changing road conditions on the fly, responding by sending anywhere from zero to 50 percent of torque to the rear wheels. In other words, the QX30 affords four-wheel-drive grip when required, but otherwise sticks to efficient two-wheel drive.

Which brings us back to the first point. Unlike “faux” crossovers that are marketed as, well, crossovers, the QX30 is a crossover that delivers the handling of a hot hatch. Frankly that’s more than fine.

Also, you’re liable to come across numerous confusing reviews of this car, so keep in mind that in different markets the QX30 is offered in different setups, including power plant, drivetrain, suspension and even variants. Also, I’ve come across numerous reviews of this car that fault it for not being an SUV. Seriously, what’s wrong with you people? Infiniti also produces the QX50, the QX60, the QX70 and the QX80, which get progressively larger and more SUV-esque as you climb up the range. If you want bigger buy one of those. Otherwise, criticizing the QX30 for not being larger is like scolding a 12-year-old for not being 6 feet tall. There, I’ve said my piece. 

Meanwhile, back in the Middle East, we have the benefit of options which, unlike in the U.S. for example, include both the Q30 (or Q30S variant) AND the QX30 which features intelligent all-wheel drive as standard, and comes fitted with a Mercedes-Benz-sourced turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four that generates 208 horsepower and 350 Newton-meters of torque at 1,200-4,000 RPM.

You also get as standard a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, which sends power either to the front or all four corners, as the road requires. Shifts are pretty quick, optimizing use of the QX30’s power by intelligently pre-selecting gears, whether higher or lower, before you need to make the shift, meaning in Manual mode the transmission changes gears as soon as you tug on the shift paddle. That turbo is also pretty quick spooling up, with the entire process feeling truly rewarding at higher speeds.

Fact is, if we count the Q30S counterpart, I’ve actually tried out this body style three times, twice of them for the QX30, with my first introduction to the crossover variant coming in Dubai. In that instance, I had the opportunity to experience the car not only on the highway as we headed from the city to the Rugby Sevens Stadium, but also on a rather rough route that led to the Al Maha Resort, where we dined on some outstanding steak – I really should go back there for more of that steak. Hey, Infiniti dudes, do what you gotta do man. Ave craves steak.

But seriously, those two drastically different surfaces nicely showed off the QX30’s versatility, with the car performing superbly and silently on the slick highway while effortlessly absorbing and damping out the ruckus of the rougher track on the way to the resort, its mildly taller stance affording more confidence without compromising handling, although the thicker rear sway bar of the all-wheel drive system results in a slightly stiffer feel.

Another benefit of that higher stance is a better outward view, but otherwise the subtle cosmetic differences between the QX30 and the Q30 are just that, cosmetic, though the car benefits from a far more aggressive presence, thanks to its low-slung demeanor which blends Infiniti’s sinewy design language nicely with crossover styling cues that include front and rear skid plates, roof rails and 20 centimeters of ground clearance.

The interior, though a bit more reserved, is as exquisitely detailed as the exterior, with quality materials used throughout that scale up to Nappa leather and dark wood trim. In fact, get the top of the line Café Teak Theme package and the QX30 comes fitted, along with everything else, door mirrors in satin silver and LED turn signals, touch navigation with a 7-inch LCD display, 19-inch alloys and every conceivable safety device, including seven air bags, forward collision prevention, adaptive brake assist, lane departure warning and blind spot assist. Price? Around $58,500 on the road for all of that.

Sure, you can find cars in the same segment with more room in the back and which maybe handle a little better, others may be quicker and still other may be more economical. But the thing with the QX30 is that Infiniti found the sweet spot, the perfect balance among all those criteria and others, and delivered a car that taunts with its styling, pampers with its luxury and transports you in safety while offering more than satisfying road capabilities. Do I like it? Yes I do, absolutely.

I liked it so much that I jumped at the chance to take the car for a drive right here in Beirut, where I figured the more complex road conditions, especially uphill climbs on twisty roads, would present a more revealing set of challenges for the QX30 to prove its mettle. 

I was not disappointed because besides being a definite head-turner, this little crossover’s 208 ponies stampede up those hills without breaking a sweat, and though riding a little taller, the car handles corners without any drama, assuming you don’t expect it to act like a Porsche Macan GTS.

More than anything else, though, I was especially smitten by the styling. It could have been the fact that the reflection on the shiny black paint really accentuated the design language, unlike the white model I drove in Dubai. But I’m pretty sure that regardless of the color scheme this is a design that will leave an impression.

Essentially, I believe I proved my point. This is not a car pretending to be a crossover. It’s what it is: a hatchback bestowed with the functionality of an all-wheel-drive, the sumptuousness and quality of a premium compact, and the performance of a hot hatch with styling years ahead of its time. If that’s not creating a new segment, I don’t know what is.