Monday, June 20, 2022
Even though the QX80 has been around for a while, this 2022 brings about some new changes that help keep it a strong candidate in the large SUV segment. The exterior hasn’t changed much but there are some LED headlamps, LED driving lights, and plenty of chrome trim around key design elements that help give it some pop

20-inch wheels are standard but our test model was outfitted with the optional 22-inch — they look really great in blackened chrome. Its bulbous backend hasn’t changed, it still helps tie in all of the curvaceous body lines of the QX80.
Powering all QX80s is a 5.6-liter, 32-valve V8 engine that puts out 400 horsepower and 413 lb-ft of torque. Power is delivered to all four wheels by a 7-speed automatic transmission that has adaptive shifting. Look for zero-sixty times in about 6.9 seconds. There’s a whopping 8,500-pound towing capacity which is at the top of its class. The combined fuel economy is 15 miles per gallon. Infiniti uses its intelligent all-wheel-drive system that monitors traction on all four wheels and will adjust power accordingly. This all-wheel-drive system does add $3100 to the price of the QX80.

Infiniti uses a double-wishbone suspension system with a body sensory system. This helps keep body roll to a minimum and the overall handling of the QX80 is very good. In fact, it feels smaller than it is, on the road. There’s a smooth transition between speeds and the cabin remains very quiet, even at freeway speeds.
In terms of nice features, there’s a rearview mirror that doubles as a rear view camera, and an around-view camera with a warning system in the event of oncoming traffic or pedestrians.
This seven-passenger SUV has very comfortable front and middle row seats with captain chairs. Both front seats are heated and cooled with full lumbar support and the second-row captain chairs are heated as well. Third-row access is easy to achieve with a simple flip-down lever on the second-row seats. While there’s not a ton of leg-room in the third row, it is good for small kids or larger people in the event of a quick trip. Additionally, the steering wheel is heated. If you want to keep your kids entertained on long trips, there is also an available rear entertainment system that places LED screens on the backs of the front seats and features two pairs of wireless headphones.

When it comes to safety, this QX80 includes forward-collision warning, blind-spot assist, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, traction control, and pedestrian warning.
For some reason, Infiniti uses the same low-grade-looking infotainment user graphic interface that looks rather dated. While there’s support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, it’s hard to feel like you’re driving a premium brand vehicle when the screen graphics look identical to Nissan’s. The Bose entertainment system delivers good audio quality but is far from being the best in class. We’d love to see Infiniti make adjustments to its infotainment/audio systems to be as premium as the rest of the vehicle.

We love how soft-to-the-touch everything is inside. Its Nappa leather and stitched leather do help make the QX80 feel special inside – and it is. There’s tons of room, the QX80 simply feels large and unrestrictive. Visibility is excellent for the driver and even the blind spots aren’t bad, thanks to the blind-spot monitoring.
Behind the 3rd row is 16-cubic feet of storage and that expands to 5 cubic feet and with the 2nd row down, it grows to 96 cubic feet.
Pricing starts at $70,600 for the base model, go to the sensory edition and that climbs to $83,000. Tack on the all-wheel-drive for $3,000 and you’re up to over $86,000. Clearly, there’s a great deal of competition at this level and we’ve driven them all. Make sure to check out our reviews and book a test drive to see if the QX80 is right for you and your needs.
Lauren Fix, The Car Coach®, is a nationally recognized automotive expert, sector analyst, journalist, author, keynote speaker and television host. A trusted car expert, Lauren provides an insider’s perspective on a wide range of automotive topics and aspects, energy, industry, consumer news and safety issues. Her analysis is honest and straightforward.
Lauren is the CEO of Automotive Aspects and the Editor-in-Chief of Car Coach Reports, a global automotive news outlet. She is an automotive contributor to national and local television news shows including Fox News, Fox Business, CNN International, The Weather Channel, Inside Edition, Community Digital News, Local Now News, NewsMax and more. Lauren also co-hosts a regular show “His Turn - Her Turn” on ABC.com; “Total Car Score” podcast and hosts a weekly radio segment on GCN Radio.
Lauren is honored to be inducted into the Women’s Transportation Hall of Fame and a Board Member of is the Buffalo Motorcar Museum and Juror / President for the North American Car, Utility & Truck of the Year Awards.
Lauren is the author of three books and inherited her love of all things automotive from her father. She has been advising drivers for almost all her life.