2019 INFINITI QX80 Review

　　

zzdcar' Expert Review

byKurt NiebuhrSenior Vehicle Test Editor

　　Kurt Niebuhr has worked in the automotive industry since 2005. A automotive photographer by trade, Kurt is now one of zzdcar' high-performance test drivers. He's driven and photographed hundreds, if not thousands, of vehicles all over the world, so Kurt's library of automotive experiences would certainly make for a good book. When not dreaming about getting his racing license or trying to buy out-of-date film for his cameras, Kurt can usually be found cursing at his 1966 Mustang.

　　

What's new

New Limited trim levelMore safety features are now standardPart of the second QX80 generation introduced in 2010

　　For buyers looking for a strong, do-it-all people mover with an abundance of luxury appointments, the 2019 Infiniti QX80 is one of just a few suitable choices. With available four-wheel drive, genuine towing capability, a feature-rich interior and no shortage of options, the full-size QX80 is built to handle just about any situation.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2019 INFINITI QX80 LUXE 4dr SUV (5.6L 8cyl 7A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.78 per gallon for premium unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$283/mo  for QX80 LUXE

　　QX80 LUXE

　　LUXE 4dr SUV (5.6L 8cyl 7A) - $65,500 MSRPLUXE 4dr SUV 4WD (5.6L 8cyl 7A) (Most Popular) - $68,600 MSRPLIMITED 4dr SUV 4WD (5.6L 8cyl 7A) - $90,200 MSRP

　　vs

　　$229/mo

　　Avg. Large SUV

　　The striking, if polarizing, styling of the 2019 QX80 carries over unchanged from last year's refresh. It's distinctive and modern, and it signals the QX80's status as a member of the luxury class. Beneath the new-ish sheet metal you'll find essentially the same mechanical components from previous years. A robust V8 engine helps the QX80 tow 8,500 pounds, and when equipped with four-wheel drive, this Infiniti can take you pretty far off the beaten, or any, path.

　　Nothing much has changed on the inside either, and that's the biggest letdown with the 2019 QX80. Compared with key rivals, the QX80 has a less advanced infotainment system, a cramped and difficult-to-access third-row seat, and a cabin that falls short in overall look and feel. The QX80 has enough pros to keep it relevant in 2019, but we advise shopping around some before settling on this Infiniti.

　　Notably, we picked the 2019 Infiniti QX80 as one of zzdcar' Best 3-Row SUVs for 2020.

　　

zzdcar' Expert Rating

7.2 / 10

　　

Trim tested

　　Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The ratings in this review are based on our full test of the Infiniti QX80 Limited (5.6L V8 | 7-speed automatic | 4WD).

　　

Scorecard

Overall	7.2 / 10
Driving	8.0
Comfort	7.0
Interior	7.0
Utility	8.0
Technology	7.0

　　

Driving

8.0

　　There's no getting around the fact that the QX80 is a substantial vehicle that weighs nearly 3 tons. That said, Infiniti has done a solid job of engineering solutions to the problems that come along with moving so much mass. There's really nothing here that lets the big SUV down.

　　

Acceleration

8.0

　　The 400-horsepower V8 motivates the QX80 to gallop from 0 to 60 mph in 6.3 seconds. It's an impressive and smooth engine with more than enough grunt to hustle this massive vehicle along. Most competitors at this price point post similar or quicker times, but you won't want for power.

　　

Braking

9.0

　　The brake pedal's action is soft but linear and offers some feedback. There is a lot of nosedive when braking hard, which might shake your confidence but doesn't hurt performance. In zzdcar testing, our QX80 stopped from 60 mph in 116 feet, which is very impressive for such a heavy vehicle.

　　

Steering

7.0

　　Steering is very light but more communicative than most. It does the job of making you confident about moving such a large object around on crowded roads. Tight maneuvers at low speed can be annoying due to the massive turning radius and many times you need to spin the steering wheel.

　　

Handling

8.5

　　Infiniti's trick self-leveling hydraulic suspension keeps the QX80 stable in turns and controls body roll very well. This SUV is not upset by midcorner bumps or corrections. Stability control is always on and steps in decisively before the QX80 can reach its limits.

　　

Drivability

7.5

　　The QX80 is generally predictable. But there is a delay between putting your foot down for max acceleration and when it actually happens. Also, the transmission's eagerness to upshift makes it difficult to maintain a constant speed on uphill climbs.

　　

Off-road

8.0

　　The QX80's trick suspension allows for better articulation than many competitors, and off-road traction settings mean this big beast should be competent enough in most situations. But the 22-inch wheels are less than ideal for off-road applications.

　　

Comfort

7.0

　　The QX80 can't quite hide its utilitarian roots. While the seats look nice, they aren't up to the standards of similarly priced vehicles, and the climate control is unrefined. Also, the big wheels diminish the ride quality at times.

　　

Seat comfort

6.5

　　The front seats don't offer enough adjustability for this class of vehicle. Unfortunately, the only upgrades are aesthetic and not functional, which means not everyone will be able to find a comfortable seating position. The second-row captain's chairs are less adjustable versions of the front seats.

　　

Ride comfort

7.0

　　Big bumps are handled well by the clever suspension, but the QX80 gets bouncy when driving over uneven paving. The massive 22-inch wheels and slim tire sidewalls create more harshness than we'd like. With smaller wheels, the ride could outshine many other luxury offerings.

　　

Noise & vibration

8.0

　　The QX80's cabin is generally quite well-insulated from outside sounds and road noise. At partial throttle, the V8 can sound a bit trucky, but it's not intrusive. The QX80's biggest weakness here is moderate wind noise at freeway speeds.

　　

Climate control

7.0

　　On automatic, climate control alternates between too passive and too aggressive, and it doesn't maintain the temperature so much as charge toward it then back off for a while. The seat heating and cooling both work very well. The controls aren't the best we've seen, but they are straightforward enough to use.

　　

Interior

7.0

　　There's plenty of interior room. And in spite of the thick roof pillars, outward visibility is good because of the high seating position and big mirrors. The control layout was class-leading when this generation QX80 was first introduced, but it now feels dated. The large and wide cabin means some controls require a bit of a reach.

　　

Ease of use

7.0

　　The basic driving controls are easily accessible, but you'll need to lean and reach to get to some of the controls on the big center stack. Also, the distinctly last-generation button layout and user interface require a bit of getting used to.

　　

Getting in/getting out

6.0

　　This Infiniti is a tall SUV, and it takes a bit of a climb to get into. The grab handles and a generous running board — along with high, square door openings — help. The third row can be a struggle for an adult to access because its floor is higher and the folding second-row seats don't create a very large opening.

　　

Driving position

7.0

　　The driving position is commanding and upright, and there's enough adjustability for shorter and taller drivers. However, the steering wheel is awkwardly canted up toward the driver. Some controls are hard to reach from a comfortable sitting position.

　　

Roominess

8.5

　　The first and second rows offer plenty of head-, legroom and shoulder room. You'll never feel cramped in those seats. The third row is more limited, but it's better than what you'll find in some rival SUVs. Shorter adults will fit in a pinch, and children should have no problem with the space.

　　

Visibility

8.0

　　The big windows help with side visibility, as do the large side mirrors and 360-degree parking camera system. However, the thick front roof pillars can obstruct your view through turns, and the third-row headrests compromise rear visibility.

　　

Quality

7.0

　　The surface materials are nice, and nothing rattles. However, Infiniti could have gone much further with the interior upgrades. While there's lots of leather around, it mostly just covers the hard, plasticky truck-based Nissan Armada underneath.

　　

Utility

8.0

　　Thanks to the folding seats and great towing capacity, the QX80 offers s a lot of utility. However, the SUV's design hurts accessibility and usability. The high liftover and big rear bumper make loading heavy items problematic, and you can't open up a completely flat cargo space as in some competitors.

　　

Small-item storage

7.0

　　Storage is sufficient, but it's not as clever or well-integrated as what many competitors offer. There's a large center armrest bucket as well as door pockets for water bottles. The cupholders don't have any restraint system, which has become a common feature, and there are no good spots to put a cellphone.

　　

Cargo space

7.5

　　Folding the third row provides quite a bit of room. The second-row center console is fixed in place, so unless you option second-row bench seats, the QX80 can't provide the same kind of cavernous cargo space as competitors. The cargo floor is also very high, and the big rear bumper forces you to reach.

　　

Child safety seat accommodation

8.0

　　The spacious second-row bucket seats will accommodate most car seats, and the LATCH points are easy to find. The second-row headrests are removable and the seatbacks recline for larger-seat fitment. The vehicle's height means you'll have to lift infants up, but running boards make it easy for toddlers to hop right in.

　　

Towing

9.0

　　The stated towing capacity is 8,500 pounds, which is quite respectable. The suspension offers load-leveling, and an integrated tow hitch and seven-pin wiring harness are standard equipment.

　　

Technology

7.0

　　There are a lot of features in the QX80, but many of the technology ones seem outdated. The quality of the screen and graphics, operation of the interface, and options for connectivity and driver aids are generally a generation behind.

　　

Audio & navigation

7.0

　　The audio quality from the Bose system is acceptable and fills the cabin without distortion, but it's nothing special. The navigation doesn't have the best resolution, but it does display upcoming directions, which is a nice touch.

　　

Smartphone integration

6.5

　　A total of five USB ports and an HDMI connector update this older-tech platform. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto aren't offered. Bluetooth works OK, but setting a phone as an audio source takes an extra step.

　　

Driver aids

6.5

　　The features are there, but the execution isn't stellar. The adaptive cruise control system is sluggish to accelerate and brakes aggressively and late. Distance Control Assist works, but it's an odd adaptive cruise alternative that handles braking and tasks the driver with acceleration.

　　

Voice control

6.0

　　Voice recognition requires very specific phrases. In our testing, it was prone to misunderstanding commands. Voice command options also aren't as extensive as the majority of rivals. There is a visual menu you can use to help find what you want, but that means taking your eyes off the road to look at it.

　　

Which QX80 does zzdcar recommend?

　　We suggest going straight to the new Limited trim level. It comes standard with all the features you'll want, such as four-wheel drive, an upgraded suspension, 22-inch wheels, two-tone leather, heated and cooled front seats, a 15-speaker Bose audio system, and all of the QX80's available advanced driver safety features.

　　

2019 INFINITI QX80 models

　　The 2019 Infiniti QX80 is a full-size luxury SUV that provides seating for up to eight passengers. It's offered in two well-equipped trim levels: Luxe and the fully loaded Limited. Both have a 5.6-liter V8 (400 horsepower, 413 pound-feet of torque) and a seven-speed automatic. The Luxe offers a choice of rear- or four-wheel drive, while the Limited is 4WD-only.

　　There are quite a few standard features on the QX80 Luxe, including 20-inch alloy wheels, automatic LED headlights, LED foglights, automatic high beams, a sunroof, roof rails, power-folding and auto-dimming mirrors, a power liftgate, a 360-degree parking camera, front and rear parking sensors, keyless ignition and entry, and forward collision warning with pedestrian detection and automatic emergency braking.

　　Also standard are tri-zone climate control, a heated power-adjustable steering wheel, leather upholstery, heated power front seats (eight-way driver, six-way passenger, two-way lumbar adjustment for both), driver-seat memory settings, second-row captain's chairs, and a power-folding 60/40-split third-row seat. For the second row, a three-passenger, 60/40-split bench seat is available as a no-cost option.

　　Standard infotainment features include Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity, an 8-inch touchscreen, a navigation system, voice controls, four USB ports, and a 13-speaker Bose sound system with a CD player, satellite radio, an auxiliary audio jack and a media player interface.

　　Most of the QX80 add-ons come in the form of packages, with very few stand-alone options. If you're a fan of advanced safety features, as we typically are, the ProAssist package is a good value, bundling adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, lane departure warning and intervention, and secondary driver services such as geofencing and maximum speed notifications.

　　Note that all other available packages require that you equip your QX80 with the ProAssist package as well as the 22-inch wheel package. These include the Theater package with a rear-seat entertainment system and the Sensory package, which offers a 15-speaker Bose audio system, quilted leather surfaces, an air purification system, and heated second-row seats with remote tilt-up for third-row access.

　　There's also a ProActive package It includes hydraulic body roll control, speed-sensitive steering, adaptive and auto-leveling headlights, upgraded seat belts, and a rearview mirror that can also function as a live-view rear camera.

　　In the QX80 Limited trim, all the above optional packages and four-wheel drive are standard. It also enjoys its own selection of paint, exterior styling differences, and interior leather and trim colors.

　　

2019 QX80 Highlights

Trim: LUXELIMITEDLUXE

　　

Base MSRP	$65,500
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	16 MPG
Cost to Drive	$283/month
Seating	7 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	16.6 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	rear wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 60,000 miles