The I30's long wheelbase and 70-inch width combine to provide a roomy
interior, among the most spacious in its class. Rear seat leg room is particularly
generous, and the large door openings make entry and exit more convenient
than in a good many of the I30's competitors.
Not only is there ample room for five passengers, the I30 can also carry
their belongings handily, with 14.1 cubic feet of cargo capacity. Additional
cargo space for long items, such as skis, is available with the standard
rear seat armrest pass-through.
Trimmed with wood and leather upholstery, the interior has a warm, plush
ambiance. The seats, though they could use more lateral support, are quite
comfortable. Visibility is exceptionally good from any seat.
Controls and gauges are logically situated and easy to operate. The
center dashboard is home to a digital clock, the standard automatic climate
control system and the standard Bose audio system with cassette and in-dash
compact disc player.
In terms of amenities, there's just not much to add.
The I30 comes in three trim levels--the standard model; the Leather
Appointed edition; and the Touring version. Each contains various levels
of standard equipment, all comprehensive.
The Leather Appointed I30 includes, above and beyond the base model,
leather interior, of course, standard automatic transmission, power sliding
glass sunroof, and automatic anti-glare inside rearview mirror. An eight-way
power driver's seat and four-way front passenger's seat feature what Infiniti
calls "extended pelvic lumbar support," designed to help prevent
fatigue on long drives.
An Integrated HomeLink Transmitter comes standard on some I30 models.
It allows the driver to control up to three radio frequency-activated devices,
such as garage doors, security gates or home interior lights from the car.
Two option packages are available-- heated seats (for Leather Appointed
models, $400), and a traction enhancement package ($830), as are a few
stand-alone options, including power sunroof.
Standard safety equipment on all I30 models consist of dual air bags,
four-wheel disc brakes with antilock, an anti-theft system and, like all
1997 models, side impact protection.
Other standard equipment on all I30 models includes power windows, door
locks, antenna, trunk and fuel filler door releases as well as cruise control
with steering wheel mounted switches and pre-wiring for a cellular phone.
Nissan officials seem to cringe at any suggestion of similarity between
the I30 and Maxima. They shouldn't. The strong mechanical underpinnings
the I30 shares with the Maxima uphold Infiniti's tradition for performance.
Both the I30 and the Maxima are powered by Nissan's outstanding 3.0-liter
24-valve dohc V6 engine, rated at 190 horsepower. The engine provides smooth
and quick acceleration that will easily lead the way when the light turns
green, yet yields fuel economy that won't drain the wallet.
Isolation from the road provides a quiet and comfortable ride but the
driver maintains a strong connection with the road. The rear Multi-Link
Beam suspension combines elements of multi-link and torsion beam suspensions,
resulting in the tires maintaining optimum contact with the road.
While maintaining a strong performance orientation, the I30 also lives
up to its luxury lineage. The suspension from the Maxima has been tuned
to provide a softer ride in the I30. Extra sound deadening materials have
been added to the I30 to create a quiet cabin. Thankfully, they didn't
deaden the refined growl of the engine.
The $31,995 Touring model--the I30t--is even more performance oriented
with the five-speed manual transmission as standard equipment, performance
tires, sport-tuned suspension and rear deck lid spoiler. Add $1000 for
the automatic transmission with this package.
While it's impressive from the driver's vantage point, we also found
the I30 to be a pleasant package from a passenger's point of view--even
from the rear seat. The back seat can pleasantly accommodate three adults
and is far more comfortable, quieter and smoother than that of many cars
in its class.