Infiniti Q30 could dip below $35K

The Infiniti Q30 small luxury hatchback will be offered with a trio of four-cylinder turbo engines, seven-speed automatic transmissions and 18-inch alloy wheels as standard, when it lands in Australia during the third quarter of 2016.

And the entry-level 1.6-litre model is likely to undercut the car it's based on, the Mercedes-Benz A-Class – and the Audi A3 hatch – both of which start at $35,900.

A crucial part of Infiniti's global sales growth plan, the new small hatch will be pitched at buyers who may not have considered a luxury brand before. Until the Q30 arrives later in 2016, the cheapest Infiniti in Australia is the $50,990 Q50 sedan.

Sharing underpinnings, engines, gearboxes and several other technologies with the Benz A-Class, Infiniti's new prestige hatch will be taking no prisoners as it goes head-to-head with German luxury hatchbacks.

Three models will be offered in Australia:

1.6-litre turbo-petrol (115kW/250Nm)
2.0-litre turbo-petrol (155kW/350Nm)
2.2-litre turbo-diesel (125kW/350Nm)

All engines are sourced from Mercedes-Benz and Infiniti Australia will pair them exclusively with a seven-speed DCT automatic gearbox.

An AWD version is available overseas, as is a six-speed manual, but neither will be offered in Australia, with front-drive autos only for this market.

Expected to be the Nissan-owned luxury brand's best-seller in Australia, the Q30 will naturally be "competitive and attractive" in terms of price, says Peter Fadeyev, Infiniti Australia's general manager of corporate communications.

He says the price of the new Infiniti Q30 is still to be determined but noted that "the car will compete, according to VFACTs, in the small car over $40K segment, and you'll find competitors such as that model [Mercedes A-Class] there.

"You need to be competitive if you want to sell in that segment, so it stands to reason we would be competitive and attractive on price," he said.

It's unlikely Infiniti will price its vehicle above the Mercedes-Benz A-Class, which has been doing a roaring trade since it first launched in Australia in early 2013, reigniting interest in the small luxury car market.

"It is by anyone's definition a booming segment at this point in time, and a very important one for an emerging brand like ours," said Fadeyev.

Although he wouldn't be drawn on the specifications of each model, he said all models will be standard with 18-inch alloy wheels (19-inchers on some models) and confirmed three variants will be offered, with Premium and Sport names likely, as per global markets.

"The Q30 will come with generous standard equipment and competitive pricing, it's a formula that's worked for us," he said.

"Gone are the days where you can have de-specified products at a premium price from recognised brands. Customers expect more and you simply have to deliver," he observed. In other words, expect the Q30 to be teeming with luxuries, from lavish leather upholstery and electric seat adjustment to a range of advanced driver aids and smartphone connectivity features.

The top-selling model in the range is expected to be the 1.6 petrol turbo and "logically it would be the price leader too," observed Fadeyev.

Although sales of Infiniti models are just a blip on the radar in the Australian new car market, with 455 owners taking delivery for the first 10 months of 2015 (a 26 per cent increase), it's got a long way to go before matching Mercedes' 29,897 vehicle tally for the same period.

And to whet the appetite of speed demons, Infiniti is keen to offer something with a little more go – perhaps a high-performance Q30 variant, like the Mercedes-AMG A45?

"It's on our company's radar, like you would have seen with concept models like the Eau Rouge Q50 and you would see that in the North American market with a sub brand called the IPL, or Infiniti Performance Line."

"As for what the future holds, it's too soon to speak on that topic, but Infiniti has traditionally been known as a brand known for good driving dynamics, and an edge of excitement."

Stay tuned for our first drive in the Infiniti Q30 in a few days' time, when we'll give those driving dynamics a solid workout.