seat passengers alike. Up front there is an open and airy feeling, with exceptional

all-around visibility. In the back, there is room for three across seating when

needed. Here the I30 exceeds others in its class - like the ES300 and 328i - and

rivals some bigger cars too. (Infiniti likes to boasts the I30 has more interior room

than a Rolls Royce Silver Spur III.)

Ergonomically, there are no qualms to be had with the I30. It benefits from

typical Japanese execution. All controls are logically arranged and easy to reach,

with switches and buttons positioned and marked in such a manner that there is no

confusion over function. To top it off, the wood trim and leather upholstery helps

convey a warm and luxurious feel.

The only reservation about the interior execution of the I30 is the optional front

seat heaters. They were somewhat anemic in operation, even when on the highest

setting.

The Bose audio system, standard on all I30s, is simple to operate and a pleasure

to listen to. Two hundred watts, four amplifiers and six speakers release sound into

an well-engineered interior cabin, resulting in clear, full sound. A CD player and

cassette deck are standard, and conveniently placed within easy reach of the driver or

passenger. For those of you with big CD collections, there's an available multi-disc

trunk-mounted auto changer as an option.

A unique feature on the I30t and the Leather Appointed Model is the Integrated

Homelink Transmitter. Each vehicle's Homelink system can be programmed to replace

radio controlled devices such as garage doors or front gates. Even your home alarm or

lighting systems can easily be manipulated by using the handy controls mounted in the

driver's sunshade. It's a thoughtful safety feature that also reduces clutter in the

car.