We’ve already seen the 2013 Infiniti Q30 Concept, and we’ve caught the production 2016 Q30 out testing, so it was only a matter of time before we saw a crossover->ke288 version. That time is now, as Infiniti introduces the QX30 Concept at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show.

As with so many of these part-SUV,->ke145 part-hatchback models, the QX30 borrows heavily from the hatchback it is based upon. That’s not a bad thing either, as the Q30 Concept was pretty well-received, and I find it a nice interpretation of Infiniti styling.

With the likes of the Mercedes GLA already occupying this segment and the BMW X1 set to convert to a front-wheel-drive-based crossover in 2016, can the QX30 really make waves when it makes it to production?

Updated 03/02/2015: With just a few hours before its debut in Geneva, Infiniti dropped the official details, images, specs and video on the new QX30 Concept.

Continue reading for my review on the 2015 Infiniti QX30 Concept.

2015 Infiniti QX30 Concept

Specifications

• Make: Array
• Model: 2015 Infiniti QX30 Concept

Pros

Cons

Updated History

Updated 02/19/2015: Infiniti released a new image of its new QX30 Concept along with the first details on the exterior. Check them out after the jump.

Exterior

Essentially a jacked-up Q30 Concept, the QX30 features a range of crossover-specific exterior bits, including off-road-friendly body cladding, meatier side sills and rear bumper, and 21-inch wheels. Other than that All of the body lines, ridges, and angles are a complete carryover from the Q30, which isn't a bad thing.

While some may think that this is Infiniti being lazy, you need to remember that sprucing up a hatchback and tossing all-wheel drive under it is becoming quite the norm for luxury automakers. Additionally, the Q30 Concept was a sharp-looking hatchback, so I can’t complain. However, I honestly think it looks even better as a crossover.

The front end, for instance, is a significant improvement over the Q30, thanks to the pronounced aluminum-trimmed bumper and the cladding. Both additions give the QX30 Concept a touch of aggressiveness you can't find on the Q30 hatchback. If the production version inherits at least 80 percent of the concept's styling, and I think it will, the QX30 will become one of the better-looking crossovers in this segment. A luxury equivalent of the Mazda CX-3, if you will.

QX30 vs. Q30

Interior

The similarities to the Q30 continue on the inside with a cabin that's futuristic, but not too much so for a production model. The dash features a two-tone, brown-and-gray motif with the same violet accent lighting, an LCD screen with Infiniti InTouch in the center, and what appears to be a production-ready console.

Unlike the Q30 Concept, the QX30's seats are more production-friendly. They come wrapped in high-end, brown leather center pieces and gray, diamond-quilted bolsters with plenty of accent stitching. Both the steering wheel and the door panels are identical to the Q30 Concept's save for the new color combination.

Drivetrain

Given the QX30 shares most of its features with the Q30, it's safe to assume the crossover will also receive most of the hatchback's drivetrains. Although it didn't disclose any actual specs, Infiniti did confirm the QX30 will employ the Mercedes-sourced turbocharged, 2.0-liter, four-cylinder found in the A-Class and GLA-Class models. The unit featured in the concept mates to a seven-speed automatic, but that's everything we get as of 02/03/2015.

However, Infiniti did say the QX30 Concept "previews a family of vehicles which are designed to be matched with a wide range of powertrains," meaning the crossover is also set to receive smaller four-bangers, also borrowed from Mercedes-Benz, in both gasoline and diesel versions. As usual, the oil burners aren't likely to cross the pond to the United States.

Drivetrain Specifications

Competition

BMW X1

The BMW X1 is the smallest of the Bimmer SUVs, and it comes in a trio of versions: sDrive28i, xDrive28i, and xDrive35i. In its base sDrive28i trim, the X1 delivers 240 horsepower to the rear wheels while the xrive28i adds all-wheel drive. The xDrive35i bumps the output to 300 ponies with all-wheel drive.

For 2015, the X1 bases at $31,200 for the sDrive28i and peaks at $39,100 for the xDrive35i. The midrange xDrive28i chimes in at $33,000.

In the next year or so, however, look for the X1 to undergo a complete transformation. It’ll move to the front-driven UKL platform, which it will share with the 1 Series GT and the Mini Countryman. This may seem blasphemous to many BMW fans, but it is the way of the automotive world now. Look for this revised X1 to arrive in the 2016 model year.

Mercedes-Benz GLA

Speaking of German crossovers, the Mercedes GLA is a prime example of just that. Based on the A-Class, the GLA is available on American soil in its GLA250 guise, which includes a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine that delivers 201 horsepower. Moving into the sheer insanity that is the burbling GLA45 AMG nets you a 355-horsepower, AMG-tuned 2.0-liter powerplant.

As of February 11, 2015, the GLA250 and GLA45 AMG are only available with 4MATIC all-wheel drive, and they check in at $33,000 and $48,300, respectively. A front-wheel-drive version of the GLA250 should arrive later in 2015 at around $31,000.

Until the X1 undergoes its change to a front-driven platform, the GLA will be the QX30s main competition, a tough one to beat.

Conclusion

Perched hatchbacks posing as crossover SUVs have become quite the rage as of late, with the GLA already on dealer lots and the X1 in process. Seeing another one may seem a blessing to some and a curse to others. I am part of the former group, as I see these jacked-up hatches as the perfect in-between point for those who need the extra ground clearance but do not want a bulky SUV, given automakers keep their fuel economy high. With Infiniti frantically trying to keep up with the big boys in Germany, it’s only a matter of time before we see the production QX30. For now, however, all we have is the concept.