Big luxury SUVs like the 2016 Infiniti QX80 inspire reactions, both positive and negative. They announce your arrival in no uncertain terms. Climb down from the back seat of a full-size SUV, and onlookers will wonder if you’re a captain of industry or a media star. But drive around in an empty luxury yacht, and expect to attract dagger-like stares from Prius drivers and spandex-clad bicyclists.
Still, some people need big SUVs. And if you’re one of them, and you want to buy a unique, sophisticated luxury version, you’ll want to consider the QX80.
Launched in 1989, Infiniti is the luxury division of Nissan. QX80 descends from a line of SUVs that started with 1997’s QX4 through 2005’s QX56 to the current generation QX80, which received a facelift for the 2015 model year. QX80 shares underpinnings with the Nissan Armada, but wears a different body and unique interior.
Like most beefy SUVs, QX80 features body-on-frame construction. Almost all sedans and crossover SUVs get unibody construction nowadays, which results in lower relative weight and greater torsional rigidity. But pickup trucks and big SUVs have discreet frames, and the body parts are bolted, welded and glued on to the underlying structure for a more robust build.
QX80 doesn’t conform to all of the big SUV/truck tropes, though. It features double-wishbone setups front and rear -- fully independent suspension. Most competitors, like the Cadillac Escalade, use a solid rear axle, which requires complex intervention like Magneride to deliver a composed ride. Independent rear suspension also allows QX80’s designers to lower the lift-over height for the rear, and to make the third row roomier and more comfortable for passengers – nobody’s sitting over the solid rear axle, because there isn’t one. QX80’s handling, thanks to the great suspension system and power-assist rack-and-pinion steering, surprises with its sportiness and agility. My test vehicle came with optional all-wheel drive, which further enhanced the sense of maneuverability and stability. Rear-wheel drive is standard.
The SUV’s exterior design also goes its own way. Rounded corners and a swooping roof line define a profile that looks low and long, and the family resemblance to other Infiniti vehicles stands out. Infiniti has always had great fit and finish, and QX80’s rich paint, lush chrome and elegant curves display a high degree of craftsmanship.
Inside the QX80, the theme continues. Thick, smooth leather seating surfaces, open-pore matte finish ash wood trim and high quality metal and plastic components make up the comfortable, elegant design. The QX80 driver’s seat defines command driving position, with a great view of the road through the big windshield and a minimum of blind spots all around.
One of Infiniti’s strengths over the years has been smart integration of technology for infotainment, vehicle setup and safety systems. Some drivers may be initially overwhelmed by the array of buttons and knobs on the center stack, but I found the layout to be logical and easy to navigate. Some of the tech highlights include a great around-view camera, adaptive LED headlights, Intelligent Cruise Control with Distance Control Assist, predictive forward emergency collision warning and emergency braking, blind spot warning and intervention, lane departure warning and intervention and backup collision intervention, among many others.
QX80 gets power from a 5.6-liter V8 engine with direct injection (400 hp/413 lb-ft of torque), which delivers purposeful acceleration through a 7-speed automatic transmission with manual shift mode and downshift rev matching. There’s a penalty for power and weight, as fuel economy ratings from the EPA top out at 18 mpg highway/13 mpg city/15 mpg combined. Ouch.
But as I stated earlier, some people need a full-size SUV. QX80 transports 7 people in comfort and style, and can even be ordered with a bench seat in the second row for 8-passeger capacity, and you’ll still have 16.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row.
There are three trim levels of QX80 for 2016: QX80 RWD ($63,250); QX80 AWD ($66,350); and QX80 AWD Limited ($88,850). My test vehicle was a Limited, and carried an as-tested price of $89,845 including a $995 destination fee.
The shrinking pool of body-on-frame full-size luxury SUVs still includes the Cadillac Escalade, GMC Yukon Denali,
If a full-size luxury SUV fits your needs, the 2016 Infiniti QX80 has a lot to offer, and is worthy of your consideration.
Disclaimer: The manufacturer provided the vehicle used to conduct this test drive and review.
