Despite having a market presence in North America for over 30 years, Nissan's luxury arm Infiniti has always struggled to carve out much of a market share. While rivals like Lexus and Acura have steadily grown a base of loyal customers and fresh faces over the years, Infiniti has remained down at the bottom of sales tables and found it difficult to differentiate itself from the rest. When the QX80 luxury SUV was introduced in 2017, it seemed like the company might have another shot at the big leagues, especially since the demand for SUVs has kept increasing since then.
But, so far at least, the QX80 and Infiniti as a whole haven't managed to capitalize on the sector's rapid growth. Now they're back for 2022 with a refresh that sees a few new features and upgrades, plus a slightly larger price tag. When it's taken on its own, the QX80 seems like a decent proposition: plenty of power, decent looks, and a plush interior. But can it compete against the segment's best? Let's take a closer look and compare it to its rivals.
10 Lots Of Power
Any luxury SUV in today's market needs to come with a powerful engine, and the Infiniti doesn't disappoint here. The only engine option is a 5.6L V8 that makes 400 hp—enough to shift it from 0-60 mph in under 6 seconds.
It's not the fastest SUV in its class, but there's plenty of power on tap across the whole rev range, and that V8 never seems to lack low-end grunt even with a heavy load on board. It's smooth, responsive, and generally a very impressive start from Infiniti.
9 Disappointing Handling
Some luxury SUV buyers want a car that's athletic and sharp, and the QX80 isn't for them. Instead, it's set up for drivers who prefer to feel like they're driving a 2.5-ton beast, albeit a smooth and refined one.
The downside to that is that it doesn't really do brisk overtakes in the same manner as some of its rivals do, preferring a relatively slow and steady approach. Although, push its limits a little, and drivers are rewarded with a surprisingly throaty exhaust note, not what one would expect from this otherwise rather unassuming car.
8 Fresh Styling
Styling is always a subjective matter, especially in the luxury SUV segment where cars like the Lexus LX and BMW X7 continue to polarize with their designs. In comparison, the QX80 won't be causing much controversy, as it's a relatively safe design that doesn't deviate much from the rest of the brand's current design language.
It certainly has some flaws, as one review compared its front end to that of a beluga whale. But, overall, it's an unoffensive car that will slip by in traffic mostly unnoticed. The flipside of that, however, is that some could argue that its lack of unique styling makes it look less expensive than its rivals, at least at first glance.
7 Slightly Dated But Opulent Interior
Looking at the interior of the QX80, it's hard not to feel a little underwhelmed. Infiniti's cabin styling has barely changed for the past ten years, and despite the large, modern center console, the rest of the inside looks a little more dated compared to its rivals.
It's not as suave as the likes of the BMW X7, and it's not as warm and inviting as the likes of the Jeep Grand Wagoneer. This wouldn't be a problem on a cheaper car, but considering well-optioned QX80s can cost over $85,000, it doesn't feel like buyers are getting great value for money.
6 Ample Interior And Cargo Space
One area where the QX80 cannot be faulted is its spaciousness, which is among the best in its class. All three rows of seats are generously sized, with even the third row able to fit adults at a push. There is also an option for the second-row captain's chairs to be replaced with a three-seat bench.
Fold the rear seats down and there are huge amounts of space, with enough room to transport bulky items like furniture if needed. Even with the third-row seats up, the QX80 provides the most luggage space of any luxury SUV in its price bracket.
5 Modern Infotainment
New for 2022, Infiniti has revised the infotainment system from a dual-screen setup to a larger, single-screen 12.3" control unit. All the usual connectivity features are present, including Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
There are two 8.0" screens fitted to the rear of the front seats for entertaining passengers in the back, but curiously, those are reserved for the top-spec Sensory trim. Bose stereo speakers, wireless charging, and four USB charging ports also come as standard.
4 Underwhelming Fuel Economy
Considering the QX80's tendency to appeal to the 'sensible' luxury car buyer, it's surprising that its fuel economy is quite so bad. Even sportier rivals like the Mercedes-Benz GLS Class and Range Rover aren't quite as fuel-thirsty.
Given the current rising gas prices, EPA ratings of 14 mpg city and 20 mpg highway will no doubt be a cause for concern among buyers. Car and Driver conducted a real-world test of the car, and it even underperformed its official rating, achieving just 17 mpg on the highway.
3 Below-Average Safety And Warranty
In terms of safety and driver-assistance technology, the QX80's standard suite of tech is toward the back of the pack. The usual forward-collision warning and automatic emergency braking features are included as standard, but a lot of the most cutting-edge features are only available as pricey optional extras.
Its warranty is much more competitive, as Infiniti offers the longest limited warranty in the class, at four years or 60,000 miles. The powertrain warranty covers five years or 70,000 miles, but there's no complimentary maintenance like some other rivals offer.
2 Price
The QX80 starts at around $71,000 for the base-spec Luxe trim, rising to $76,000 for the mid-tier Premium Select and $83,000 for the top-spec Sensory trim. It's worth remembering, too, that some of the car's best luxury features are only available as optional extras.
Its base-spec price puts it roughly on par with an entry-level Cadillac Escalade or Mercedes-Benz GLS Class, which seems reasonable. But, in top-spec, fully-optioned form, this is an $85,000 car, putting it close to the territory of the Jeep Grand Wagoneer and Lexus LX, both of which offer more features, more power, and a more luxurious interior.
1 Verdict
The QX80 has a lot of strong points, and if it were cheaper, it would be a real dark horse in the segment. The trouble is, it struggles to compete when it's compared to its similarly-priced rivals, especially in top-spec form.
There's also the elephant in the room: the QX80 is essentially a dressed-up Nissan Armada, and the Armada offers many of the same features as the Infiniti, only it's $25,000 cheaper. It seems like the company nearly managed to get it right with the QX80, but its unremarkable interior and disappointing gas mileage stop it from being genuinely competitive in the luxury SUV segment.