How best to make a credible stab at taking on the German giants in the premium hatch game? Get one of them to build you a car.

To be fair on Infiniti, that’s not entirely what it’s done with the Q30. But its new hatch has more than a nodding acquaintance with the Merc A-Class – in the case of the 22d model tested here, this extends to its engine, a 2.2-litre diesel which in this application returns 57.6mpg and 127g/km.

It might be very Merc underneath, but Infiniti says the Q30’s suspension is all its own. Which is fine, but they’re not exactly laying claim to a ground-breaking dynamic performance.

Road-holding is good, with nothing in the way of hidden vices to report. It’s all just a bit grey, though, in terms of steering and suspension alike; it’s set up to look after you like a sensible babysitter, and it does exactly that – whether what you really want is a cup of warm milk or a partner in crime who’ll let you stay up late.

The Q30 is available in Premium Tech and Sport trim, each with its own suspension settings. The former is more comfortable but rolls a bit in corners: the latter is lower and stiffer, meaning it isn’t as comfy - but it’s still no hot hatch, even if body roll is better controlled.

Still on the comfort front, the front seats make it easy to relax. You do so surrounded by quality materials, too, styled into a cabin that shouldn’t offend anyone.

Unless they’ve got a particular bee in their bonnet about multimedia set-ups that are off the pace to follow, that is. Or rear seats that deprive you of headroom, kneeroom and daylight all at the same time. Still, those back seats might be for kids only, but at least there’s a man-sized cargo area in the boot behind them.

The cabin environment is nice and quiet, too, with an active noise cancelling feature that helps keep diesel rumble to a minimum. Wind and tyre noise get past it once you’re up to speed, though. But speed is something you can build with ease, thanks to the combination of a willing engine and smart seven-speed auto box.

The latter is standard, which helps make sense of a definitely premium price tag. But this last matter is what will stand most firmly in the Q30’s way.

Stack it up against the equivalent Audi A3, and it’s taking on a car that’s quicker, more entertaining, better in the cabin, cheaper to buy – and a known quantity.

Whether that final point is in Audi’s favour or Infiniti’s is what it boils down to. If you want to be the guy in the car no-one else has, the Q3 is perfect for you.

But if you want to be the guy in the best car? Keep looking. The Q3 is very good in plenty of ways – but thus far, the opposition still knows too much.

Infiniti Q30 22d

On sale: Now

Price: £31,180

Engine: 4 cyls, 2143cc, diesel

Power: 168bhp at 3400-4000rpm

Torque: 258lb ft at 1400-3400rpm; 0-62mph 8.5sec

Top speed: 134mph

Gearbox: 7-spd dual-clutch automatic

Kerb weight: 1622kg

Economy: 57.6mpg (combined)

CO2 rating & BIK tax band: 127g/km, 23%