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Infiniti Q30 vs Hyundai I30

What's the difference?

VS
Infiniti Q30
Infiniti Q30

$22,800 - $29,990

2019 price

Hyundai I30
Hyundai I30

$24,000 - $54,000

2024 price

Summary

2019 Infiniti Q30
2024 Hyundai I30
Safety Rating

Engine Type
Turbo 4, 2.0L

Turbo 4, 1.6L
Fuel Type
Premium Unleaded Petrol

-
Fuel Efficiency
6.3L/100km (combined)

6.6L/100km (combined)
Seating
5

5
Dislikes
  • Concept car practicality
  • Lacking multimedia
  • Priced in the big leagues

  • Divisive styling
  • Rear-seat access
  • Slightly firmer ride than ideal
2019 Infiniti Q30 Summary

Welcome to the future - where your Mercedes-Benz is a Nissan and your Nissan is a Mercedes-Benz. 

Lost already? Let me catch you up. Infiniti is the premium arm of Nissan, in much the same way Lexus is the premium arm of Toyota, and the Q30 is Infiniti’s hatchback. 

Thanks to the state of various global manufacturing alliances the Q30 is mechanically, largely a previous-generation Mercedes-Benz A-Class, with a similar arrangement seeing the new Mercedes-Benz X-Class ute comprised largely of Nissan Navara underpinnings.

Recently, the Q30 has had its range of variants trimmed from a confusing five down to two, and the one we’re testing here is the top-spec Sport.

Make sense? I hope so. The Q30 Sport joined me on an 800km trip along the east coast in the height of summer. So, can it make the most of its German/Japanese roots? Read on to find out.

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2024 Hyundai I30 Summary

Is it possible for a ‘hot hatch’ to be over-the-top and completely under-the-radar?

When it’s the facelifted version of the radically-styled i30 Sedan N, then definitely. People just don’t associate pocket-rocket fun with the traditionally more-conservative four-door shape.

But the Hyundai, well, just look at it. It begs... nay, demands to differ.

Just facelifted in Australia along with the rest of the i30 Sedan range, the N sells alongside the iconic i30 Hatch N from Europe, and acts as a replacement for the sadly-discontinued i30 Fastback N.

Big shoes to fill then? Let’s stick the boot in and find out!

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Deep dive comparison

2019 Infiniti Q30 2024 Hyundai I30

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