The Infiniti I30 is a midsize car built from 1996 to 2001 over 2 generations. Most were assembled in Japan — 100% of those on record. Between 1996 and 2001 it grew 10 cm longer and gained 85 kg. Engines offered: V6. Worth buying? It depends heavily on which year you buy at 3.5/5 — and the year you pick matters far more than the badge (best and worst years →).
What the I30 is
The Infiniti I30 is a midsize car that Infiniti built from 1996 to 2001 — 6 model years. Our measurements put it at 2 generations, the current one starting in 2000. It has been offered with V6 power. Its closest siblings in the Infiniti range: Q50, Q70, M56.
Where the I30 is built
A badge says where the company is registered; the VIN says where the car was bolted together. We counted the first three characters — the manufacturer identifier — across 183 I30s on record.
| Assembled in | Share | VIN starts with | Years seen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | JNK | 1996-2001 |
Check your own: the first three characters of a Infiniti VIN decide which of these 2 lines your I30 belongs to. What every character in a I30 VIN means →
Got the full 17 characters? A free VIN check on a Infiniti I30 adds what the decoder can't see: open recalls, theft and total-loss records, and the safety ratings for that exact build.
I30 generations, and what changed
These boundaries are not copied from a brochure — they fall out of the measurements. Where the I30's length or wheelbase jumps between consecutive model years the platform changed: a facelift moves a bumper by centimetres, a new generation moves the whole car — for the I30 that gives 2 distinct generations below.
| Generation | Length | Wheelbase | Weight | vs previous | Weight change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996-1999 | 482 cm | 270 cm | 1431 kg | - | - |
| 2000-2001 | 492 cm | 275 cm | 1516 kg | +10 cm | +85 kg |
Between 1996 and 2001 the I30 gained 10 cm in length (+2.1%) and 85 kg in weight (+5.9%). Cars did not so much grow as thicken — crash structures, airbags and equipment weigh more than the metal they replaced, and on the I30 that is 85 kg against 10 cm. Full dimensions by year →
Infiniti I30 tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment I30 owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.
Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.
What engines does the Infiniti I30 have? Power & range
The Infiniti I30 is offered with 1 powertrain — 3L 6-cyl. Here's the lineup by engine, transmission and drivetrain — 1 for the Infiniti I30, against one or two on most rivals.
| Engine | Displacement | Transmission | Drive | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| V6 | 3.0L · 6-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | FWD | Regular |
Horsepower, torque and fuel-tank size decode from your VIN — exact figures vary by engine and trim.
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov (engines, drivetrain, range, charge time). Horsepower & torque from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
The I30 by the numbers
What the federal and market records say about the Infiniti I30. Each line opens the full breakdown by year.
| Topic | I30 | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Recalls | 9 campaigns | NHTSA, all years |
| Owner complaints | 265 filed | What breaks and when |
| Reliability | 3.5 / 5 | Best and worst years |
| Used value | 20 listings | What it sells for now |
Frequently asked questions
What kind of car is the Infiniti I30?
The I30 is a midsize car, built from 1996 to 2001 across 2 generations. Engines offered: V6.
Where is the Infiniti I30 made?
Across 183 cars in our records the split is: Japan (100%). The first three characters of a VIN identify the plant's manufacturer and country — that is where these shares come from, not from a press release.
How many generations does the I30 have?
2 by our measurements, the latest starting in 2000. We draw the boundaries where length or wheelbase jumps between model years — a facelift moves a bumper, a new generation moves the whole car. Over its life the I30 grew 10 cm longer and gained 85 kg.
What is the Infiniti I30 warranty?
New models carry 4 years / 50,000 miles basic cover and 6 years / 70,000 miles on the powertrain. Worth knowing: across our complaint records the typical car reaches the halfway point of its faults at five years, so most repairs land after the basic warranty ends.
Is the I30 reliable?
It scores 3.5/5 in our data. The honest answer depends on the year far more than the model — see the best and worst years, and when this car starts to break.
How do I check a specific I30?
This page describes the model; it cannot tell you whether that car has an open recall or a branded title. Run its VIN against the records — free, and matched to the exact production run.
More in Infiniti
| Model | Years | Recalls | Best MPG | ForCar score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Infiniti Q50 | 2014–2026 | 31 | 31 mpg | 4.5/5 |
| Infiniti QX60 | 2014–2026 | 33 | 26 mpg | 4.5/5 |
| Infiniti QX80 | 2014–2026 | 31 | 18 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Infiniti G37 | 2008–2013 | 22 | 22 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Infiniti G35 | 2003–2009 | 19 | 20 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Infiniti Q60 | 2014–2022 | 16 | 25 mpg | 4.0/5 |
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