INFINITI J Models/Series Timeline, Specifications & Photos

When Nissan introduced the Infiniti premium brand on the market, it made the cars based on Japanese domestic market vehicles, such as the Nissan Leopard, on which the J30 was based.

The J30 was a midsize luxury sedan that aimed at a market dominated by Lexus ES 300 and Acura Legend. It struggled to find its customers, but its policy with an impressive list of standard equipment paid off. Infiniti offered the car in two main trim levels: standard and T. The latter was for "touring" and offered a stiffer suspension, a small spoiler on the trunk, and wider tires on light-alloy wheels.

The curved exterior's lines were not everybody's cup of tea, especially due to the reduced trunk volume caused by the sloped trunk lid. It was a car designed at the beginning of the biodesign era, and that was obvious. A pair of small, elliptic headlights and a narrow oval grille formed the front fascia. The fog-lights placed in the lower part of the bumper were fitted as standard.

Inside, Infiniti J30 featured a long list of standard equipment, including a Bose sound system with cassette and CD-radio. Due to the rear-wheel-drive configuration, the center tunnel was big, causing trouble if there were three passengers in the back. The leather interior was extended from the seats to the door panels and the center console. A two-way sunroof and a tilt-steering completed the inside features.

Nissan offered the Infiniti J30 with one engine option and a 4-speed automatic transmission. The T-version added four-wheel steering.