#4 out of 5 in 2017 Luxury Subcompact SUVs
2017 Infiniti QX30 Interior Review
Note: This interior review was created when the 2017 Infiniti QX30 was new.
Interior: 7.6
The 2017 Infiniti QX30 was developed alongside the Mercedes-Benz GLA in a partnership between the two manufacturers. As a result, the QX30's cabin bears a striking resemblance to the GLA. Lots of interior pieces are carried over from those in the Mercedes model, but Infiniti's designers still added their own flourishes. Touch points are covered in high-quality materials like leather and wood. Infiniti should've spent more time on sound insulation, though, because a significant amount of road noise intrudes into the cabin.
"Various surfaces sweep into each other in a thematic repeat of the QX30's exterior. It's attractive overall, with enough premium materials to distract from the cheaper textures below eye level." -- Cars.com
"Unfortunately, there is one significant problem with driving the QX30: road noise, and too damn much of it. In the QX30 AWD, it was difficult to hold a conversation at highway speeds, let alone enjoy the optional Bose stereo." -- New York Daily News
"The steering wheel, the door window switches, the central speedometer screen that literally uses Mercedes graphics, the door locks, the center infotainment stack, and even the car's key are all from the GLA. But you know what? You shouldn't care, because it feels like a Mercedes product should feel. Those pieces of trim are weighted properly and the leather supple, giving them a far more expensive feel, even though you're in an entry-level premium car." -- Automobile Magazine
The five-seat 2017 QX30 has standard cloth upholstery and manually adjustable front seats. Most rivals have at least a power-adjustable driver's seat, and many have leatherette rather than cloth. The Land Rover Range Rover Evoque even has standard leather upholstery. The front seats will keep you comfortable on long drives, and thanks to plenty of side bolstering, they'll hold you in place around corners. But they're not especially roomy, which is typical for a luxury subcompact SUV. Tall drivers may want to move up to the luxury compact SUV class.
The rear seats offer enough room for a couple average-sized adults. However, the rear doors have a small opening that can make them difficult to get into and out of. The roof's shape and thick roof pillars greatly limit the view in the rear, so you'll need to use the standard rearview camera. It's an even better idea to spend the extra money for the 360-degree camera.
The rear outboard seats have full sets of LATCH connectors, while the middle rear seat just has an upper tether. The anchors and tethers are easy to access, but the rear doors are narrow so it can be difficult to maneuver a child seat into the back. The QX30's limited rear-seat legroom means kids in front-facing child seats will be kicking the back of the front seats.
[The seats] offer a nice balance of comfort and lateral support and can be upgraded to sport seats with the Sport model. The rear seats are tight, as you might expect looking at the size of it. Adults certainly fit, but neither headroom nor legroom are plentiful." -- Motor Trend
"The low driving position and limited front headroom will be deal-breakers for larger folks, and the narrow cabin inhibits knee and hip space. The backseat is improbably adult-friendly once you're in it, but the short rear doors make entry and exit a bear." -- Cars.com
"For starters, the QX30 feels cramped, especially in the visibility department. The wide rearview mirror crowds out forward visibility significantly, and the B-pillars are so thick that any driver who isn't versed in proper mirror adjustment could potentially lose track of a super duty pickup over his or her left shoulder. Thankfully, blind spot monitoring is not difficult to option in." -- Left Lane News
The base QX30 comes standard with dual-zone automatic climate control, a six-speaker audio system, a 7-inch touch screen, Bluetooth, two USB ports, HD Radio, satellite radio, and a rearview camera. Optional features include a panoramic moonroof, a 10-speaker Bose premium audio system, navigation, Infiniti's InTouch telematics system, a 360-degree camera, front and rear parking sensors, active park assist, blind spot monitoring, lane departure warning, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control.
You control the QX30's infotainment system using a combination of on-screen buttons, physical buttons, and a console-mounted control knob. Overall, the system is easy to use, however it may take you some time to get the hang of the physical buttons; some are on the console near the control knob, while others are on the center stack by the screen. Reaching the screen can be difficult, as well, as the display is recessed into the dash. Frequently used climate and audio functions are controlled with simple-to-reach physical buttons and knobs that let you make quick and easy adjustments. There's also a dial behind the gear selector that you can use instead of the touch screen to make selections.
You use Bluetooth or USB to connect your phone to the infotainment system through a fairly straightforward process. Once connected, you can stream your own music or podcasts from your phone through the SUV's audio system. Music lovers should spring for the optional Bose premium audio system for its incredible sound quality.
See 2017 Infiniti QX30 specs »
"For starters, the QX30's infotainment and navigation system is Infiniti's through-and-through, and we found it both easy to use and pleasantly capable (if perhaps a little dated in the graphics department). We experienced no trouble connecting our personal devices and were able to navigate through extensive music libraries with relative ease." -- Left Lane News
Plus, the screen is small and controlled by a distant dial mounted to the center console. At least the stereo and climate controls get simple and easy knobs and buttons." -- New York Daily News
You can touch the screen, which is a bit of a reach, or use the Infiniti controller installed behind the Mercedes gear selector. Some of the direct-select buttons, such as for the map, are near the controller; others, such as for the radio, are up on the dash below the screen. It's not the most intuitive user interface, but it works well when you figure it out." -- Motor Trend
With only 19.2 cubic feet behind its rear seats, the QX30 falls in the middle of the class for cargo space. You can get much more in the BMW X1, which also comes standard with a power liftgate – a feature that's unavailable in the QX30. The QX30 also lacks a folding rear seatback in the base model, so you can't even expand the cargo area like you can in the Mercedes-Benz GLA or the Audi Q3. Upper trims in the QX30 do have a split-folding rear seat, however, giving you more room to accommodate your luggage. Storage in the cabin isn't much better, as there are few spaces to store your small personal items.
"… the cargo area is rather small thanks in part to that dramatically sloping rear hatch. You can get two medium-sized suitcases in next to each other and maybe another on top." -- Motor Trend
"Fold the rear seats forward, and you can easily stash your things for a full weekend road trip." -- AutoTrader
"The QX30's cargo area is deep but not very tall, and in-cabin storage is minimal." -- Cars.com
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