Nissan taking us all theway to Infiniti and beyond

The Infiniti M30d offers a welcome alternative to the executive car elite’s usual suspects and, for a first crack at this market sector, it’s a laudable effort. What it lacks is the element of genius or dash of charisma that is deeply woven through the likes of the BMW 5 Series or the Jaguar XF. If you value reliability and exclusivity above personality, then it makes a safe long-term proposition.

Infiniti has been with us as a UK brand since 2008 and in that time it has launched a product offensive that includes the G line (think BMW 3 Series) saloon, coupe and convertible, the EX, a 4x4 SUV that competes with Audi’s Q5, and the bigger FX, a vehicle that goes head to head with the likes of the Mercedes M Class. Rounding out these familiar roles is the M line, a bigger executive saloon, of which the diesel M30d looks to be the prime pick.

There are some extremely welcome details in the Infiniti’s DNA. The engine sounds better than most turbodiesel V6s, with a sonorous thrum in the midrange, and the seven-speed automatic gearbox changes gears with such a slick smoothness you’d imagine its internals were made of Teflon and jellied eels. The steering deserves special mention too, using traditional hydraulic power assistance instead of a feel-robbing electrical set up that many manufacturers use to eke another fraction of a mile per gallon from the fuel economy figures.

The first impression on getting behind the wheel of any Infiniti M line is that it’s a big car. The way the dashboard cants away from the driver and the low scuttle line makes the front part of the cabin feel spacious and airy. Not only is the fit brilliant but the finish, with a soft-feel cabin featuring tactile aniline leather and hand-buffed silver powder-coated wood trim, is right up there with the best. That initial impression of spaciousness is borne out when you have a good look round the car.

Pay attention at the back, because when it comes to Infiniti M30d model range and equipment provision there’s quite a lot to take in. The line up kicks off with the entry model which is equipped as standard with a 7-speed automatic transmission, bi-Xenon lights, 10-way power front seats, reversing camera, parking sensors, heated steering wheel, hard disk drive (HDD) sound system, White Ash wood trim with silver powder finish and Infiniti’s Drive Mode Selector which tailors key driving parameters to Sport, Normal, Snow and Eco settings. This is the base model, remember.

If Infiniti was trying to compete head-on with the best that the likes of Jaguar, BMW, Mercedes and Audi could throw at them, then the M30d would have to be judged in distinctly equivocal terms. The fact is that the company might well have sidestepped this full-frontal assault and effectively moved the goalposts to a more comfortable angle. In appealing to a mature market possibly more concerned with comfort, convenience and the sort of low-key unobtrusiveness that aren’t the most obvious attributes of a prestige badge, Infiniti could well be onto something with its M30d.

It’s a hugely competent car in many areas and if that sounds like damning with faint praise, it’s not meant as a slight. There’s a subtlety and a reassuring aura of quality about the M30d that will reward those looking to keep the car for a long time and not just chop it in after three years hacking up and down motorways. By far the toughest task Infiniti faces is getting the message out there to that target market. It needs to grow its dealer network and build its brand awareness. For the time being, the M30d represents a useful step in the right direction.

FACTS AT A GLANCE

CAR: Infiniti M30d range

PRICES: £36,750 - £46,600

INSURANCE GROUP: 46

CO2 EMISSIONS: 199g/km

PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 6.9s / top speed 155mph

FUEL CONSUMPTION: (urban)27.4 (extra urban) 47.9 (combined) 37.7mpg

STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: ESP, ABS, reversing camera, drive mode selector, rear parking sensors, six airbags, tyre pressure monitoring

WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: length/width/heightmm 4945/1845/1500