Infiniti - standing out from the crowd

Look around any car park and you'll see what I mean. And how many times have you seen people scanning

said car parks to try to find their wheels?

Not because they've forgotten exactly where they are but because they have become confused with the rows and rows of 'identikit' vehicles.

Not so with the Infiniti Q50, and that's just one of the reasons why I like it. It has a bold grille and sweeping lights which make it stand out – especially against opposition such as the BMW 3 Series and Audi A4 .

So we'll start with the looks and styling, inside and out. While it may be a fairly standard four-door saloon, it has more creases and smooth curves along with some nice chrome touches. In fact the curves are made big play of in Infiniti's promotional literature and advertising, with the slogan 'Since now, the perfect line is a curve' adorning much of it.

The interior is relatively classy and hi-tech thanks to the dual touchscreens mounted in the centre console. There's a twin clock binnacle and a steering wheel well covered with minor controls along with two big LCD touchscreens in the centre console and a wheel controller. It's all well put together and there's plenty of kit even in the entry-level SE version which gets 17in alloy wheels and run-flat tyres, LED rear lights, scratchshield paint, chrome-trimmed twin exhaust pipes and halogen daytime running lights. Then there's the six-speaker stereo with Bluetooth streaming, USB/iPod connectivity and voice operation.

Spend a bit more and you can upgrade to a Bose system with DAB radio. Also fitted as standard is a dual-zone adaptive climate control system, 60/40 split rear seats with a ski hatch (not on Hybrid), a multi-function leather-bound steering wheel and front aluminium door sill protectors are included.

There's cruise control as well as a speed limiter, stop start, hill start assist, rear view camera, rain sensing wipers and keyless entry. Safety systems include vehicle dynamic control, including active trace and traction control, tyre pressure warning and brake assist.

The UK's compact executive market is currently largely driven by sales of diesel cars but the petrol engine has not disappeared yet.

The latest generation of efficient small capacity turbocharged petrol engines is taking buyers away from the oil burner. Infiniti has given the Q50, along with its diesel, a lightweight 1991cc turbocharged petrol four-cylinder engine which develops 350Nm of torque and 211PS of power. Now that's good going made better by Infiniti sending its 211PS to the rear wheels via a slick seven-speed automatic transmission with a flat torque curve beginning down at 1250rpm. That means you can get to 62mph in a very respectable 7.2 seconds.

Specify the car in Sport trim, or pay £800 extra, and you get a world first on a production car with the inclusion of Direct Adaptive Steering (DAS) 'steer by wire' technology. It provides the driver with the ability to adjust both the steering's response and weight to suit personal preferences and type of driving. You turn the wheel, and it decides how much turn to apply by a motor on the rack. Then a motor at the steering wheel supplies the feedback it believes you need.

This is a most comfortable car. It works very well on country roads and really comes into its own when cruising along the motorway. It's very well made with an understated but hi-tech interior.

Prices for the Q50 range start at £27,950 on the road for the 2.2d 6MT. The test car, the 2.0T Sport Automatic is £34,125.

By Sharon Walters