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The Infiniti QX80 is a sad story of what could have possibly been an impressive SUV. This three-row SUV is basically a Nissan Armada in a tuxedo. For those who know these vehicles deep down, the QX80 is a glorified Nissan with a steeper price tag! The only saving grace is its rugged yet beautiful design language and a few superior comfort and luxury features. While it has been a sinking ship for the luxury arm of Nissan, Infiniti has still taken the bold step of updating the QX80 for 2023.
The changes are subtle but relevant in today's tech-oriented car culture. The new QX80 indulges the occupants more with voice commands and haptic feedback for safety features. It also receives a more inclusive maintenance program. The agenda is to make this sharp and bulky luxury three-row SUV easy to live with. There are no changes to the already desirable naturally aspirated V8 engine. All of these updates come at a price.
The 2023 Infiniti QX80 is now dearer by $2,100. And while it still manages to undercut most of the luxury three-row SUVs out there, being gravely outdated with the QX80 still in the second-generation run that came out back in 2011, doesn't work in its favor. The 2023 Infiniti QX80's far superior competition includes the likes of the BMW X7, Land Rover Range Rovers, Mercedes-Benz GLS, and the new Cadillac Escalade.
Despite being an all-rounder, the updated 2023 Infiniti QX80 SUV with new technology features and a maintenance package, still struggles against its far superior three-row counterparts.
2023 Infiniti QX80: Trims And Bumped-Up Pricing
The 2023 QX80 continues to be offered in three trim levels - Luxe, Premium Select, and Sensory. The base Luxe trim starts with an MSRP of $72,700; Premium Select from $77,300; and the top-spec Sensory from $84,350.
RWD is standard for all, and if you are keen on slapping on 4WD, then it's an additional $3,100 option on all trim levels. The 2022 QX80 started from $70,600 and topped out at $85,350. The bump in pricing this year is for the added technology and reliability upgrades.
2023 Infiniti QX80 Interior Gets Improved Voice Commands
The most notable update for the 2023 QX80 comes in the form of added support for Amazon Alexa. This opens up a cozy new world of comfort and convenience for occupants when it comes to controlling in-car entertainment commands. Alexa extends voice command support for playing music, placing calls, and controlling other in-car and external smart devices linked to the car.
Apart from the addition of voice commands, the comfort appeal of the QX80 remains unchanged. But Infiniti has not tweaked much of the cabin design since the current generation launched back in 2011 and that makes the QX80 interior boring compared to its peers. Also, the absence of basic luxury features like a panoramic sunroof and massaging seats is a bummer.
The only upside to having a dated dashboard layout is the presence of tactile physical buttons which we are missing more and more in modern cars. The quality of materials is top-notch, but we wish Infiniti had better planned the third-row seating; it's unusable for adults.
Technology seems to be the only aspect that is keeping up with modern times. The 2023 QX80 gets a large 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment display with standard Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and even onboard navigation. A 13-speaker Bose audio system is standard, and so is wireless charging and four USB ports.
2023 QX80 Safety & Reliability Features Get A Refreshing Update
Another subtle yet notable upgrade comes in the form of haptic feedback on the steering wheel when the Lane Departure Warning system comes into play. This is a very intuitive and natural way of reminding the driver to stay in lane.
The safety suite of the 2023 QX80 is wholesome and comes standard with features like Forward Emergency Braking, Rear Automatic Braking, Blind Spot Warning, Lane Departure Warning, and High Beam Assist to name a few.
Another notable addition for the 2023 QX80 to make life easier is the Infiniti Premium Care program. This is a maintenance package that includes up to three years of inspections, oil changes, and tire rotations to elevate Infiniti's already solid reliability quotient.
2023 Infiniti QX80 Continues To Look Bulky And Sharp
A cool aspect of the 2023 Infiniti QX80 is got to be its design. Despite the design language being over a decade old, it still doesn't look outdated. The QZ80 continues to flaunt a fine balance of sharp and bulky lines and makes this behemoth of a three-row SUV look sporty.
This also has us intrigued about the next generation of the QX80 which is slated for 2024. We expect it to flaunt a lot of design feature evolution from what have on the new Infiniti QX60 which in turn got its flair from the QX60 Monograph concept.
2023 QX80 Engine And Performance Is Unchanged
Performance figures remain unchanged as the 2023 Infiniti QX80 continues to be powered by a tried-and-tested 5.6-Liter naturally-aspirated V8 engine. It churns out 400 hp and 413 lb-ft of torque via a seven-speed automatic gearbox to either the rear wheels (as standard) or all four wheels. Coupling the persistent V8 to the "bring it on" body-on-frame chassis, the 2023 QX80 can tow up to 8,500 pounds.
To provide for a bit of athleticism on the roads, this luxury three-row SUV comes equipped with self-leveling rear suspension as standard. If you want the SUV to be a lot cozier and flexible in driving dynamics, then the top-spec Sensory trim adds a Hydraulic Body Motion Control suspension system.
Source: Infiniti