11k under the list price of the similarly-powered Mercedes-Benz GLA250 on which it is based. The QX30 also drives out of the showroom in extremely well-appointed fettle, packing a long list of standard features that many of its rivals charge thousands of dollars more for over their list price. If there鈥檚 something more than a little familiar about the QX30 then that may be because the Infiniti is, in fact a badge-engineered version of the Mercedes-Benz GLA. Badge-engineering is a quaint automotive euphemism for the practice where car companies effectively borrow from a rival manufacturer the platform and component set they need for a new model, then tweak it enough to call it their own. Infiniti鈥檚 stylists have done a decent job of differentiating the QX from the GLA, softening the latter鈥檚 sharp, angular lines to deliver a softer, more organic form. Dramatically swept-back headlights give the QX30 a vaguely amphibian look, while if you squint hard you can just make out the graphic of a Samurai warrior鈥檚 鈥檚 helmet in the grille and surrounds.

11k under the list price of the similarly-powered Mercedes-Benz GLA250 on which it is based. The QX30 also drives out of the showroom in extremely well-appointed fettle, packing a long list of standard features that many of its rivals charge thousands of dollars more for over their list price. If there鈥檚 something more than a little familiar about the QX30 then that may be because the Infiniti is, in fact a badge-engineered version of the Mercedes-Benz GLA. Badge-engineering is a quaint automotive euphemism for the practice where car companies effectively borrow from a rival manufacturer the platform and component set they need for a new model, then tweak it enough to call it their own. Infiniti鈥檚 stylists have done a decent job of differentiating the QX from the GLA, softening the latter鈥檚 sharp, angular lines to deliver a softer, more organic form. Dramatically swept-back headlights give the QX30 a vaguely amphibian look, while if you squint hard you can just make out the graphic of a Samurai warrior鈥檚 鈥檚 helmet in the grille and surrounds.

That compares with a slightly quicker 7.1 seconds for the identically powered GLA250, while the smaller and lighter Audi Q2 40 TFSI quattro nails the sprint in a sharpish 6.7 seconds. If Infiniti鈥檚 stylists have been reasonably successful at giving the QX its own exterior look and feel, they鈥檝e been less so inside, where there are frequent reminders of the car鈥檚 origins. Still, the interior feels suitably luxurious and sporty with plenty of leather on the seats, dash and doors, accents of satin-chrome and sensuous black suede on the pillars and headlining. There鈥檚 limited oddment storage in the entre console, though, and everything from the tiny transmission lever to the knob for operating the center stack, and a dated 7.0-inch touch screen itself seems to have been shrunk to scale. The rear seats are snug and the back-rest upright, so it鈥檚 not the best place for a larger-framed lad to spend a few hours, but for kids or the petite and nimble it鈥檚 perfectly fine. On the road, while the QX30 is no fire-breathing A45 AMG it鈥檚 decently responsive and pleasant enough to drive.

In urban settings it鈥檚 easily capable of getting away from the pack at the lights, the twin-clutch automatic transmission shifting smoothly and effortlessly up or down the ratios. But out on the open road the engine and gearbox combo feel just a little muted for my liking, even when in 鈥榮port鈥?mode. There are paddle shifts tucked away behind the wheel allowing you to take manual control, but even here the QX30 lacks the crispness and responsiveness of some rivals. Infiniti also confirmed recently that it was pulling out of the Western European market in 2020 to focus on the US and China, so UK production of this right-hook QX30 will cease later this year. With no replacement yet announced, this means the QX30 is soon to be an orphan within the Infiniti range and that will hurt its resale value. On the one hand, the astute buyer can likely snare an even sharper deal on this already well priced and generously appointed model. On the other, badge cachet counts for a great deal and Infiniti still has a long road ahead to convince Aussie buyers it鈥檚 on level pegging with the German prestige triumvirate.

I wish I could have got a photo. Once we wrapped up the tour, we headed back upstairs to the restaurant for our complimentary lunch. It was very chichi, white linen tablecloths and all. A little too fancy for my son. But he got some good grilled salmon, and I got a pot roast with funny noodles that looked like Cap鈥檔 Crunch. The best part was the dessert sample plate, which included a Mercedes star made from powdered sugar. After lunch, it was time to hit the road. We grabbed a couple boxes of Mercedes water, entered our destination in the GPS and slowly drove out the sliding glass doors. They wished us 鈥淕ute Fahrt鈥?(鈥淣ice Trip鈥?, much to our amusement. Fart jokes always hit the mark with 12-year-old boys. We spent the next two nights in Baltschieder, Switzerland, seeing the Matterhorn in Zermatt and attending a fun family barbecue with our hosts. My only regret is that we didn鈥檛 get to spend more time with our friends and exploring Switzerland.