In terms of luxury large SUVs, the 2022 Infiniti QX80 is ranked fairly low. The QX80 has a strong V8 engine, an easy-to-use infotainment system, and a high predicted reliability rating, but the interior is dated, the third row is stifled, and the driving dynamics are unimpressive. This 2022 Infiniti QX80 Review contains all the information you need.
Infiniti QX80 Review: Overview
The 2022 Infiniti QX80 has a stylish, upscale exterior, a solidly constructed interior, and satisfyingly smooth ride and a powerful engine. Theoretically, all these characteristics ought to result in an alluring large, three-row, luxury SUV. That is incorrect because, aside from the Infiniti badges, it is essentially a Nissan Armada that has been dressed up and is also much more affordable. Although there are a few minor differences between the two, they are not sufficient to justify the price increase or close the gap with the QX80’s more appealing rivals, such as, well, everything else in this class. For those who are still interested in the largest Infiniti, its fully independent suspension offers a comfortable ride, and its 400-hp V-8, despite being fuel-hungry, sounds good and has plenty of thrusts. The 2022 QX80 is still largely outmatched by its more modern and ritzy competitors.
Rankings & Research
Based on how well the 2022 Infiniti QX80 performed in the category of Luxury Large SUVs, it is ranked #7. Based on our evaluation of 69 pieces of research and data elements from various sources, the Infiniti QX80 currently has a score of 7.1 out of 10.
- 7 in Luxury Large SUVs
- 19 in Luxury SUVs with 3 Rows
2021 VS. 2022 Infiniti QX80: What Is The Difference?
Infiniti replaces the QX80’s outdated infotainment system in 2022 with a 12.3-inch touch screen. Two smaller displays were used in the prior arrangement. Along with wireless device charging, Infiniti also offers wireless connectivity for Apple CarPlay.
As of recent years, the Infiniti QX80 has undergone the following significant changes:
- 2022: upgraded infotainment system with a 12.3-inch touch screen, wireless Apple CarPlay, and wireless device charging
- 2021: revised trim lineup; standard adaptive cruise control
- 2020: Apple CarPlay and Android Auto added
- 2019: forward collision warning and forward automatic emergency braking became standard
- 2018: refreshed exterior styling including headlights, taillights, hood, and bumpers
To help you decide if an older model is right for you, make sure to read our reviews of the 2019 QX80, 2020 QX80, and 2021 QX80. To find out more about discounts and savings on new cars, visit our pages on the best new car deals and the best new car lease deals.
What’s New For 2022?
The QX80 gains a brand-new infotainment system and redesigned center stack for 2022. The unremarkable climate controls and the confusing dual screens are no longer present. There is now a prominent 12.3-inch touchscreen with more appealing features, like wireless Apple CarPlay. Directly below it is a newly created HVAC control panel with classier-looking buttons and knobs that is simpler to use than the old one. Additionally, the QX80 now includes a wireless smartphone charger that is concealed beneath the climate controls behind a retractable panel.
2022 Infiniti QX80 Review
Performance: 12/15
The QX80’s powerful, torquey engine allows it to perform well despite its size, though its handling occasionally feels hazy and disjointed. There is only one drivetrain available for it: a naturally aspirated 5.6-liter V8 engine with up to 400 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque. A 7-speed automatic transmission powers the engine. It has velvety shifts, linear acceleration, and a solid, smooth feel. With its standard trailer sway control, the QX80 can tow up to 8,500 pounds. Most towing requirements can be satisfied with that.
Sporty driving dynamics are not present in any of the QX80 trims. Nevertheless, there is consistency in the steering, braking, and acceleration characteristics that suggests a silent heft, giving the impression that the controls are almost viscously dampened. While traditional sedan or sport coupe drivers may initially find it distracting, it lessens fatigue on lengthy highway excursions.
Style & Design: 8/10
Despite being loud and clumsy and far from being sleek or seductive, the QX80’s quirky proportions manage to stand out in a sea of generic SUVs. Everything is trimmed in shiny chrome, including the air intakes, door handles, and roof rails, which draws attention to rather than downplays the car’s enormous size.
The cabin’s burl wood interior has a refined appearance but isn’t overly ornamented. The second row, which is roomy and equally well-appointed as the front, has typical Captain’s chairs that look like living room furniture and are equally comfortable. Everything is organized and easily accessible thanks to a sizable central storage space. The generously furnished and well-proportioned theme is carried on by the third row, which is powered. The Sensory trim offers an even more luxurious interior thanks to features like semi-aniline leather, a tricot headliner, and a second-row entertainment system.
Fuel Economy: 8/15
Even though the full-size luxury SUV market isn’t known for its fuel economy, the QX80 is one of the least frugal models. According to the EPA, two-wheel-drive, 5,600-pound vehicles can achieve 14 mpg in the city, 20 mpg on the highway, and 16 mpg overall. This decreases to 13, 19, and 15 mpg when four-wheel drive is used.
With a twin-turbo V6 engine, the Lexus LX achieves 19 mpg overall and 17 mpg in the city. It also achieves 22 mpg on the highway. Following closely behind is the twin-turbo 3.5-liter V6 powered Lincoln Navigator, which achieves 16 city mpg and 22 highway mpg. The Cadillac Escalade, which squeezes 14 mpg in the city and 19 mpg on the highway out of its 6.2-liter V8 engine, is the only rival that consumes more fuel than the QX80. A more fuel-efficient 3.0 liter turbodiesel inline-six engine is optional and available with it, unlike the Infiniti, at no additional cost. Despite the Escalade’s significantly larger size, that engine offers the best fuel efficiency in its class.
Safety And Driver Support Technology: 10/15
The QX80 receives good but not exceptional safety ratings, despite the fact that its size and weight provide a significant amount of inherent safety in collisions with other vehicles. The QX80 has a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), while the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has not tested it in any way. The NHTSA’s mediocre rating and the absence of IIHS data hurt the QX80’s performance in our scoring.
Infiniti doesn’t charge extra for the vehicle’s safety technology, in contrast to the majority of luxury brands that do. Adaptive cruise control, rear emergency braking, blind-spot warning, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assistance are all standard on the Luxe model. Adaptive front headlights with auto-leveling are an extra that is added when upgrading to the Sensory trim. While not considered safety equipment, a standard digital mirror rearview shows what is behind the car. In order to navigate confined parking spaces, a 360-degree camera and sensors are used.
Infotainment: 12/15
New for the 2022 Infiniti QX80 is a standard 12.3-inch center-mounted touch screen with navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay, wired Android Auto smartphone integration, and mobile device charging. The outdated HVAC controls and wireless phone charger are concealed behind a retractable panel below, replacing the previous dual-screen setup.
Standard features include lane guidance, navigation, and five years of free use of MapCare and premium traffic software. The Luxe and Premium Select trims come standard with a Wi-Fi hotspot, a 13-speaker Bose audio system, and four USB ports. A second-row entertainment system with twin 8-inch screens and a 120-volt outlet in the front center console are added by upgrading to the Sensory model.
Storage And Cargo Space: 9/15
The QX80 comes in just one body size, in contrast to the Escalade and Navigator. With every row of seats in place, the Infiniti’s abrupt vertical tail limits cargo space to 16.6 cubic feet. Folding the third row increases volume to 49.6 cubic feet, while folding the second row increases it to 95.1 cubic feet.
With 19.3 cubic feet behind the third row and 57.5 behind the second, that’s less than the Lincoln Navigator. It falls even further behind the Cadillac Escalade, which offers 25.5 cubic feet and 72.9 cubic feet respectively behind the third and second rows. However, it provides more storage than the Lexus LX, which has a maximum volume of 41 cubic feet behind the second row and 11 cubic feet behind the third row. A standard power liftgate makes it simpler to load luggage in the Infiniti, which is a plus. Its storage capacity is also increased by the addition of standard silver-painted roof rails.
Comfort & Room: 11/15
The base QX80 comes equipped with heated front seats, heated leather-wrapped steering wheel, standard second-row Captain’s chairs, and Napa leather-appointed seats in all three rows. The luxurious top-of-the-line Sensory model has heated second-row outboard seats, semi-aniline leather upholstery up front, and a sophisticated climate control system.
The QX80 has enough legroom for most adults to spread their legs, with 39.6 inches in front and 41 inches in the second row. The Lexus LX has 41.1 and 36.6 inches of length, whereas the Cadillac Escalade has 44.5 and 41.7 inches. Only 28.8 inches of legroom in the third row makes it uncomfortable for adults. Comparatively, the Lexus LX has 31.1 inches more space. The largest rear seats in the Lincoln Navigator or Cadillac Escalade, which have 34.9 inches and 40.9 inches of legroom, respectively, are far more spacious than this one.
User Friendliness: 12/15
Like its mainstream sister brand, Infiniti uses convenient buttons to activate multiple warning and preventative systems at once. These buttons are located in this case on the steering wheel and close to the driver’s left knee. The adaptive cruise control’s following distance can be changed using a button on the steering wheel, and each one can be managed separately via the instrument cluster screen.
The rest of the interior controls, which include the infotainment system, numerous tactile climate control buttons and dials, audio volume and tuning knobs, and more, are largely just as simple and intuitive. However, useful information like audio or even weather can be called up on the right side of the screen. Unfortunately, Apple CarPlay doesn’t project in the same widescreen format as the display itself, using about two thirds of it instead.
Value: 9/15
With a vehicle like this, value can fluctuate wildly. Due to the fact that the QX80 is thousands of dollars less expensive than the majority of its rivals, with even this top trim costing $91,790 before taxes but including its non-negotiable $2,095 freight charge. (In addition to pearlescent paint, this tester cost $92,540 before the government’s share.) The Lincoln Navigator and Cadillac Escalade can both easily reach six figures, even though both are significantly more up to date, while the Lexus LX costs about $17,000 more. The gap in price is further widened by the QX80 Luxe, which has an MSRP of $83,790 before tax.
What Is The Price Of The Infiniti QX80?
The base MSRP for the 2022 Infiniti QX80 is $70,600, making it the luxury large SUV with the lowest starting price. For the midrange Premium Select trim, the cost increases to $75,385; for the top-of-the-line Sensory trim, it rises to $82,235.
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What Is The Price Of Insurance For An Infiniti QX80?
A number of variables, such as your insurance deductible, the degree of coverage you desire, and the kind of insurance you select, will affect the cost of insuring a Infiniti QX80. Your insurance rates may vary depending on your age, gender, location, credit score, and driving history. To find the right plan for you, refer to our guide to car insurance.
Is The QX80 From Infiniti A Good SUV?
The Infiniti QX80 is a respectable large luxury SUV from 2022. The QX80 has a potent V8 engine that provides quick acceleration and significant towing capacity. The QX80 is equipped with a wealth of driver assistance features and has an intuitive infotainment system. Additionally, the first and second rows have roomy seating and plenty of cargo space.
The age of the QX80 is the issue. Its third row is small, the interior appears and feels dated, and it gets terrible gas mileage. Several of its competitors have been able to improve upon its truck-like ride and difficult handling. These criticisms might not matter as much for a non-luxury SUV, but they are very important for the QX80, which costs $70,00 and up.
Infiniti QX80 Review In 2022: Is It Worth?
The base 2022 Infiniti QX80 Luxe is practically a steal in the full-size luxury SUV segment and provides the best value for buyers, with a starting price of $71,995, including a $1,395 destination fee. The interior is made of leather and burl wood, the front seats and steering wheel are heated, and a new infotainment system that supports all the necessary features, like wireless smartphone integration and navigation, is standard. The suite of advanced driver assistance systems is comprehensive and contains the most useful technology, even though it isn’t as innovative as some rivals’ offerings. These include blind-spot warning with intervention, lane-keeping assistance, adaptive cruise control, and a digital rearview mirror.
However, even the higher trims fall within the range of more affordable luxury SUVs. Dark chromed 22-inch alloy wheels and matte interior trim are included with the Premium Select upgrade ($76,780 total including destination fee). The top-of-the-line Sensory ($83,630 with destination fee) darkens the exterior chrome and adds charcoal burl trim and quilted semi-aniline leather to the cabin for a more upscale look. It also has an entertainment system for the second row and an adaptive hydraulic suspension system, which helps to lessen body roll and sloppy handling.
Conclusion
Unfortunately, the 2022 Infiniti QX80’s age is difficult to ignore, especially when compared to more recent competitors like the Escalade and Navigator, which are available with massaging seats and partially autonomous technology befitting of their flagship status. That same status isn’t so much earned as it is given in the case of the QX80. The only real distinction that distinguishes it as Infiniti’s crown jewel is that it is the largest vehicle available from the manufacturer.
The Nissan Armada is another option; it is mechanically identical to the QX80 and includes a host of advanced safety features as standard equipment, such as adaptive cruise control, all for a starting price that is roughly $11,000 less than the QX80. However, the QX80’s hydraulic body control system is not available in Armada trim, which is good enough to cause some serious thought.
Of course, this enormous family hauler’s age alone does not qualify it as a poor choice of vehicle. Contrary to popular belief, it actually has a certain charm that comes with a car that is so deeply ingrained in the past, despite lacking the flashy frills of the competition. Few in the segment deliver with the same kind of moxy as the 2022 Infiniti QX80 for those seeking a straightforward, spacious, and conventionally capable sport utility with just enough luxury to get by – and who don’t mind the big fuel bill that comes with it.