Infiniti Q30 review

The dials, stalks, window switches and climate control, um, controls are all straight out of Merc’s parts bin. So too is most of the steering wheel, the door-mounted seat controls, and the console’s gear selector, which is actually the A45 AMG’s idea.

It’s easy to sneer at this, but really, it’s not a major problem. Unless you were swapping into a Q30 from the Benz, it’s unlikely you’d ever notice. How many Aston Martin owners do you hear complaining about their Volvo light switches? Exactly.

What’s more, the cool-touch metal finishing and stitched leather dash has been really nicely finished. Certainly, perceived quality is higher in here than in the Mercedes.

But it’s not all smiles inside. Infiniti’s ‘InTouch’ navigation is seriously off the pace, with Mario Kart graphics and an Amstrad processor that conspire against good sense when you just want simple, clear directions. The rest of the menus are smartly laid out, and you can either tap the seven-inch screen or use a dial and buttons to dart around it.

Even so, it’s well behind the likes of Mazda and Nissan’s offerings, let alone BMW and Mercedes systems. And Infiniti wants £1400 for the privilege of owning it. Forget it.

Squished windows mean the Q30’s visibility is poor, and it’s very cramped in the back (a sensation not helped by the claustrophobic glasshouse). An A3 Sportback is far roomier, as is a Golf. The boot’s a competitive 368 litres, at least.