Crossovers are all the rage these days so it’s no surprise to see more and more manufacturers adding their own versions of the faux SUVs to their line-ups. The surprise is that it’s taken them this long to jump on what can be a very lucrative the bandwagon.

Infiniti – the luxury arm of Nissan – have joined the fray with the QX30 which, unsurprisingly, is based on the Q30. Now, whether or not that is a good thing is obviously a matter of taste but, personally, I quite like the exaggerated creases and flowing, prominent curves. To put a little distance The ride height has been raised by 55mm and it wears the mandatory black plastic cladding around the wheel arches and skid plates front and rear.

The exterior is, like all the cars that roll off the Infiniti production line, different enough to stand out from the crowd but, disappointingly, the same effort hasn’t been applied to the interior which is considerably less inspiring.

There’s certainly a premium feel to the cabin, with swathes of leather and wood trim and, while there are some harder than you’d like plastics dotted around they’re not too detrimental to the overall ambience.

The switchgear is of a decent quality too. If you’re familiar with Mercedes cars you’ll recognise some of the controls as they’re lifted straight from the A-Class.

The sat nav and infotainment system is operated using a dial on the centre console. It’s a nice, simple solution that’s easy to operate but the screen quality, with its flat colours and slightly sketchy graphics, falls a little shy of expectations.

There’s ample space for front passengers and the seats, which are electrically adjustable and, thankfully because leather can get mighty cold when the outside temperatures tumble, heated.

Passengers in the back don’t fare quite so well thanks to the sloping roof which means that anyone over six feet tall won’t be wearing the same hairstyle when they get out as they were when they got in. If the lack of headroom isn’t enough to leave you feeling a little claustrophobic then the small rear windows might well be enough to tip you over the edge.

If you’re the sort of person who welcomes choice the QX30 is probably not the car for you. There are only two trim levels to choose from – Premium and Premium Tech – and just one engine. It’s a 2.2-litre four-cylinder diesel outputting 168bhp that drives all four wheels through a seven-speed automatic gearbox.

It isn’t the quietest of engines, at least if you’re outside of the vehicle. Climb inside and it will quickly become clear what an excellent job the engineers have made of soundproofing the cabin because it’s a haven of peace and tranquillity.

There are three modes to choose from – Eco, Sport and Manual – and while the first two options deliver very different experiences, neither is particularly satisfying.

In Eco mode the throttle response is soft. Any urgency has been dialled out to improve efficiency. In Sport mode the transmission simply holds on to the gears for longer – the changes themselves are no slicker – and sacrifice the smooth changes you enjoy in Eco mode.

Manual mode is exactly that, with gear changes implemented using the paddles behind the steering wheel.

The ride is quite soft, meaning that while occupants are reasonably well isolated from surface imperfections it does allow for more body movement which, in turn, creates a floating sensation when cruising over low frequency bumps at higher speeds.

Despite the soft set-up body roll is quite tightly controlled in corners but the car can be easily unsettled at times.

The QX30 is a premium product, and priced as such. In other words, it isn’t cheap.

What you get for that money is a well-built, well-equipped and distinctive machine but it isn’t without its compromises, such as the slightly cramped cabin.

There’s room for improvement, clearly, but it’s a commendable first effort that can’t be ignored.

Infiniti QX30 Premium Tech Auto

Price: £33,370

As tested: £37,020

Engine: 2.2-litre 4-cylinder diesel

Transmission: 7-speed dual clutch automatic

Max power: 170ps @ 3,400 – 4,000rpm

Max torque: 350Nm @ 1,400rpm – 3,400rpm

Max speed: 134mph

Acceleration (0-62mph): 8.5sec

Urban: 47.7mpg

Extra urban: 65.7mpg

Combined: 57.6mpg

Emissions (CO2): 128g/km

For more information visit www.infiniti.co.uk