THE delivery driver had just handed me the keys of the Inifiniti M30d when he dropped his bombshell: "The last person to drive this was Sebastian Vettel."

The Formula One world champion had apparently been on his way to the Top Gear track to record a lap time for the BBC's petrolheads programme in the ‘reasonably priced car' and had taken the M30d to get there.

It was a little spooky sitting at the wheel of a motor that had been under the control of the best driver in the world - but any illusion it was going to infect me with even a modicum of his ability was quickly dispelled as I trundled out of the car park.

I'd love to know what he thought of it. Whereas for me the 0-62mph time of a shade under seven seconds is pretty quick, no doubt for Sebastian it is like driving through a vat of honey.

Similarly the ride and handling would surely for him have been on the watching paint dry-side of boring while for me they were smooth and accurate.

GT Premium models put the emphasis on comfort first so there's no racing car heroics although the four-wheel steering system means the car turns into bends quicker.

The M30 is Infiniti's executive saloon powered by a three-litre V6 turbocharged diesel unit that is a powerful performer without being dangerous, while also offering average fuel economy of 38mpg - not bad considering the performance on offer.

The seven-speed automatic gearbox offers seamless changes allowing the M30d to reach its cruising speed with the minimum of fuss.

This is a refined beast with double glazing helping to keep wind noise to a minimum while leather seats and a luxury fit and finish show that care and attention are top priorities for the luxury arm of Nissan.

The cabin is very easy on the eye benefitting from the use of quality materials. Few if any mod cons are excluded and even the steering wheel is heated.

The M30d is a spacious motor with plenty of room for four adults with a fifth accommodated at a push as the wide transmission tunnel does interfere with leg room for the central rear passenger.The boot isn't enormous but can still do plenty of damage being able to take 450-litres of luggage or shopping if the credit card allows.

Getting comfortable behind the wheel is an easy process as the front seats and steering wheel are electrically adjustable. The settings can be saved so if someone else uses the car and moves the position you can simply press a button to return it to the optimum spot.

Everything is well set out and logically sited which is just as well as there is loads of kit included such as touch-screen navigation with voice recognition, an excellent sound system with an iPod connection, cruise control, Bluetooth connectivity, electric windows and heated folding door mirrors, climate control, an electric sunroof, front foglights, plus a rear parking sensor and camera.

Safety systems are also pretty comprehensive with six airbags, side impact bars fitted as standard, a clever blind spot warning system, a forward proximity alarm, lane departure alerts, intelligent braking, anti-whiplash front head restraints and stability control.