Infiniti QX30 bows in LA

While the slightly firmer suspension helps to counteract the dynamic effects of a higher center of gravity, the modifications to the chassis enable QX30 to remain comfortable at all speeds and over a variety of road surfaces. The seats, too, will be designed for spinal support – even though most of the target buyers are probably still years off from back problems.

Meet Infiniti’s first premium compact crossover, the QX30. The seven-inch touchscreen HMI (human machine interface) now supports intuitive finger touch and swiping gestures. The Infiniti Voice Recognition, which allows control of the audio and navigation through commands, is standard.

Like the Q30, the QX30 is based on the Mercedes-Benz A-Class, and in fact the GLA-Class which is a jumped up version of the A-Class. So in essence, the Q30 is Infiniti’s A-Class, while the QX30 would be the GLA-Class, or in this case – their direct competitors.

Infiniti has two main markets: The United States and China.

The QX30 comes equipped with an intelligent all-wheel drive system. Its springs and rear anti-roll bar are stiffer, continuing the engineers’ efforts to ensure a flat ride. The QX30 is fitted with intelligent AWD. For example, if sensors detect wheel slip, braking is applied to the slipping wheel, while torque is sent to the gripping wheel for additional stability. No powertrain options have been released but we can extrapolate from the Q30 hatchback: 1.6-liter turbo with 122 PS (90 kW) & 156 PS (115 kW); a bigger 2.0-liter turbo with 211 PS (155 kW) and the 1.5-liter with 109 PS (80 kW) and 2.2-liter churning out 170 PS (125 kW) on the diesel front. Other tech includes active safety and hazard avoidance systems.

The crossover – which will go on sale at a few point next year – has been built to sit alongside the x-less Q30 it was derived from in order to boost the manufacturer’s range.