THE Infiniti badge sits on some of the most distinctive, powerful and luxurious cars in the world— and the chances are you might never have heard of it.

Infiniti is not a car model, but a marque, which is determined to catch the eye of discerning buyers in the premium car sector.

Like Toyota and Lexus, and Honda and Acura, Nissan has produced in its Infiniti luxury brand, a range of cars that stand out from the crowd.

Everything about the EX30d, Infiniti’s coupé crossover is eye-catching. From bold external styling to the sumptuous interior, with its height halfway between a BMW X3 and the 3-series coupé, the car oozes executive appeal.

A crucial element in that appeal is that the car now comes with a diesel engine, an absolute necessity to capture sales among European high-fliers, with Infiniti estimating that the diesel model will account for eight out of 10 EX sales in the UK and the rest of Europe.

But like every other aspect of the car, this engine is top-end. The 3.0-litre V6 pumps out 235 horsepower, and combined with an all-wheel-drive system and a seven-speed automatic transmission scampers from 0-62 mph in 7.9 seconds.

More importantly it also guarantees effortless overtaking and economical cruising.

Riding on 18-inch, eight-spoke light alloy wheels, the sports coupé-inspired sports utility vehicle is the second Infiniti to be powered by diesel.

It inherits the same engine as that used in its big brother, the FX30d, and was developed to deliver better fuel consumption and lower carbon emissions than the brand’s petrol V6.

Smooth, responsive and lag-free, the V6 diesel has even been tuned to sound like a petrol V6 engine.

Executive express performance is backed up by a truly lavish interior, blending black lacquer and brushed aluminium trim, full leather and subtle chrome highlights, with a classy analogue Infiniti clock.

Dual zone climate control is fitted with rear air conditioning vents, illuminated vanity mirrors and powered, up and down, folding rear seat back rest.

Safety systems are, as you would expect in a top-end vehicle, first rate with six airbags, active front headrests and automatic sensors for both lights and wipers, along with xenon follow-the-road headlights which are fitted with washers.

Cruise control and a speed limiter are standard as are front and rear parking sensors with display, and a seven-speaker audio system.

Standard on the GT Premium are a range of cameras to make parking even easier and a system that not only warns the driver if they drift out of their lane, but also automatically gently returns the car to its correct position on the road.

If you want to take a closer look at an Infiniti, the nearest centres – nothing so common as a showroom – are in Reading and Birmingham.

Auto facts Infiniti EX30d

  • Price: £45,270
  • Insurance group: 46 (1-50)
  • Fuel consumption (Combined): 33.2mpg
  • Top speed: 137mph
  • Length: 465cm/183in
  • Width: 180cm/71in
  • Luggage capacity: 12 cu ft
  • Fuel tank capacity: 17.6 gallons/80 litres
  • CO2 emissions: 224g/km
  • Warranty: 3 years/60,000 miles