2019 Infiniti QX80 Road Test and Review

Infiniti occupies a special place in the luxury car market. Where others simply give you a smooth, quiet ride in perfect comfort, Infiniti always adds a dash of performance as well. Even in the Infiniti suv line, you always get something special.

The 2019 Infiniti QX80 is a flagship SUV for the brand. The QX80 is a full-size, three-row all-purpose vehicle, and it doesn’t try to hide that fact. Unlike smaller crossovers, the QX80 uses a traditional truck frame. The body is manufactured as a separate unit and mounted on the frame, which helps reduce cabin noise. The QX80 provides seating for seven or eight passengers, and you can use it to pull a trailer. Again unlike most of today's SUVs, the QX80 comes with a traditional four-wheel drive system with high and low-range gears in case you ever need to go off-road. Yet at the same time, it’s a first-class luxury SUV.

The big news for 2019 is the launch of the high-end QX80 Limited trim. Our test vehicle was equipped with this package. Ultimate luxury and a unique street presence are the goals for this trim level. Dark 22-inch forged alloy wheels together with stainless steel running boards, satin chrome highlights, and available dark anthracite gray paint color exclusive to the Limited trim create an undeniably upscale and modern look.

The Limited trim doesn’t skimp on the interior luxury, either. If it’s in the option book, it’s in the Limited. All QX80 Limited vehicles come with leather/Alcantara upholstery, an Ultrasuede headliner, leather-wrapped touch surfaces, and open-grain wood trim. Tech is also top tier, with a full set of advanced driver assistance features. Adaptive cruise control and a full set of collision avoidance technologies are all standard in this model. The 2019 QX80 Limited carries an MSRP of $90,100.

If you want to save a few dollars but still get the Infiniti QX80 experience, there are two additional trim levels you can select. The QX80 Luxe is still a very well-appointed luxury vehicle and includes many of the base features that make the Limited so appealing. For example, 20-inch wheels are standard, along with the same 5.6-liter V8 engine as the Limited. It also includes heated leather front seats, soft-touch cabin surfaces, wood trim, second-row captain’s chairs, and remote start capability. The Luxe trim is available in rear-wheel drive and has a sticker price of $65,400.

If you want four-wheel drive, it’s an easy upgrade to the Luxe 4WD trim for $68,500. This model has all the same features as the Luxe trim, plus Infiniti’s dual-range 4WD system. In addition to traditional high range and low range, the Infiniti system offers Automatic mode, which functions like the single-range all-wheel drive in a crossover SUV.

The QX80 follows the standard design for a full-size SUV. To get the best cabin and cargo space, the QX80 is boxy, but it’s got a few gentle curves and generally more style than many other brands. The QX80 looks solid and substantial without appearing to be too heavy. All trims include full LED headlights and fog lights, and all marker and signal lights are LEDs as well.

All QX80 trims include a power rear liftgate, privacy glass for the second-row seats, and a powered moonroof made of deeply tinted glass. For practical purposes, all trims of the QX80 come with a Class IV trailer hitch and seven-pin trailer wiring connector as standard equipment. Both the RWD and 4WD models will tow up to 8,500 pounds.

As a full-size SUV, the QX80 can offer plenty of room for all three rows of passengers. A second-row bench seat option allows for eight people to ride, but most QX80 models are configured with captain’s chairs for seven passengers. There is 16.6 cubic feet for cargo behind the third-row seat, or 49.6 cubic feet behind the second row, and a cavernous 95.1 cubic feet with both sets of rear seats folded down. That’s enough space to haul a standard refrigerator with room to spare.

The driver’s seat is 10-way adjustable, including four-way power lumbar support. The front passenger seat is eight-way power-adjustable. Every QX80 has heated front seats, and front seat ventilation is optional on the Luxe trim and standard on the Limited. Finally, the QX80 is supremely quiet inside. The cabin is noise-isolated, with door seals that reduce wind whistling at speed.

As a flagship luxury model, the QX80 comes with state-of-the-art technology. On the dashboard, you’ll find an 8-inch touchscreen with support for Infiniti’s voice controls, onboard navigation, and InTouch apps and services. The standard audio system is a 13-speaker Bose surround-sound setup with dual subwoofers. Two more speakers come standard with the Limited trim. There’s a CD/DVD/MP3 player, as well as Bluetooth for streaming and satellite radio capability, plus aux and USB ports.

An optional Theater Package includes 8-inch screens on the backs of the front seats for second-row passengers to watch videos or play games. The driver and front seat passenger have control of the entertainment system, however, and can pause or mute rear seat sound, even on the headphones. One special feature to mention on the Limited trim is the smart rearview mirror, which can function as a regular mirror or present a camera feed that gives a clear view even when the rear window is blocked by passengers' heads or cargo. 

The QX80 is heavy, weighing in at 5,921 pounds. Infiniti powers all that mass with a 5.6-liter V8 engine rated to produce 400 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque. Power is passed to the rear or all four wheels by a seven-speed automatic transmission. When equipped with rear-wheel drive, the QX80 returns EPA-estimated fuel economy of 14 mpg in the city and 20 mpg on the highway. If you select the 4WD system, those figures drop by 1 mpg.

Infiniti’s "All-mode 4WD" is a smart, electronically controlled system that provides a traditional high range for typical road speeds, and a low-range reduction gear that offers more traction and torque for serious off-road use. There’s also an automatic mode that allows the system to function like the all-wheel drive on a crossover SUV.

As we mentioned, the QX80 is both large and heavy. However, Infiniti has done a great job with the QX80 suspension, and a lot of that comes down to the fact that the QX80 rides on a four-wheel independent suspension. Some competitors still use a solid rear axle, similar to a truck, and that simply won't ride or handle as well.

The QX80 also offers a Hydraulic Body Motion Control system. This is an option on Luxe trims and standard equipment with Limited trim. HBMC is a high-pressure hydraulic system that monitors body movement while cornering and adjusts the suspension to keep the QX80 level. This high-performance touch is pure Infiniti, and it really works to keep the hefty QX80 under control.

Living with the QX80 is easy, provided you drive on the kind of roads with enough room to get a big SUV around. Urban environments with narrow driving lanes can be stressful with a larger SUV. The QX80 likes open roads and big parking spaces.

Overall, the ownership experience with any Infiniti is good. You’ll look forward to the comfort and amenities when you’re behind the wheel of your QX80, especially if you bought the Limited trim. You’ll also appreciate the safety and driver assistance features. The around-view bird’s-eye camera in particular is a godsend for parking. If you have a larger family or group of friends to carry around, the QX80 is an excellent choice. 

There are still quite a few full-size luxury SUVs on the market to compete with the QX80. Among imports, the 2019 Lexus LX 570 has been the closest direct competitor for several years. The European brands are catching up, however, with new offerings like the 2019 BMW X7 and the 2019 Audi Q8. Mercedes-Benz also offers a full-size SUV in the 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLS. The market leader for European luxury SUVs is Land Rover, of course, and the 2019 Land Rover Range Rover is a benchmark for the segment.

Domestically, the 2019 Cadillac Escalade and the 2019 GMC Yukon are the premier offerings from General Motors, while the luxury side of the Ford family offers the 2019 Lincoln Navigator. Any of these would be a worthy competitor to the Infiniti. If you really want to go upscale and price is no object, consider the 2019 Bentley Bentayga or the 2019 Rolls-Royce Cullinan.

The 2019 Infiniti QX80 is a solid choice if you’re looking for a full-size luxury SUV. At $65,400, the QX80 carries the lowest starting price of any of its luxury-branded competitors. We'd pay a little bit extra for the 4WD, though, if we were spending our own money; it's more than a luxury unless you live in the Sun Belt.

There’s a big price jump to get into the QX80 Limited trim at $90,100. The top trim is loaded with great luxury and technology features, but at that price you can be shopping Range Rover and Mercedes on an equal footing. But whatever your budget and needs may be, it’s certain there’s an Infiniti QX80 you will like.