2021 Infiniti QX80

The Infiniti QX80 is offered in three trims with the QX80 Premium Select and Sensory trim levels being added to the list only last year with major revisions. Right from the base trim level, the car is very well equipped with self-leveling rear suspension, three-zone automatic climate control, leather upholstery, powered liftgate, dual touchscreen infotainment system and so on that make it hardly seem like the base trim.

Which trim should you buy?

Since the base trim level is itself very well equipped and since the SUV is aging a bit, we would not advise you to spend on the higher trim levels since they cost more than the competitors do. However, like we mentioned the base trim is far from being bare-bones as has second-row captain’s chairs, a 13 speaker Bose stereo system, in-dash navigation, adaptive cruise control, and so on.

Under the hood of the Infiniti QX80 is a 5.6L naturally aspirated V-8 engine that generates an excellent 400 hp and 413 lb-ft of torque. This engine itself is pretty athletic and capable of doing 0 to 60 mph in just 5.9 seconds which makes it very fast for an SUV. Especially when driving something this big, the acceleration feels very much adequate.

When it comes to quarter-mile acceleration figures the Infiniti QX80 performs very well again with a 14.9 second time which is definitely quick. The power delivery is also extremely smooth and the throttle response is excellent. The transmission shows some signs of age with its reluctance to be quick in terms of shifting speeds.

The Infiniti is one of the least expensive cars in this category when equipped with the base trim. However, it is the second most powerful car in its segment when you look at the figures on paper. The Cadillac Escalade has the most powerful engine but the Mercedes and the BMW are a bit faster in terms of real-life acceleration. However, the difference is only marginal and wouldn’t matter in the real world. However, one thing to note is that Infiniti has the best towing capacity of its category and by a good margin.

How well does the 2021 Infiniti QX80 SUV handle? 

The Infiniti QX80 does not appreciate being thrown around corners and feels a bit lethargic when doing so. However, when you factor in the fact that it is a 3 ton SUV it starts to make sense why the car is not very good to go around corners. There are much better handling cars in the segment which have set the benchmark for full-size SUVs and the. Germans especially seem to be good at hiding their weight.

When it comes to riding quality, however, Infiniti makes up for this. With its adaptive suspension which gives an excellent ride, one would certainly appreciate the Syrian. Steering feedback also feels nice and weighs rather nicely. When it comes to riding quality, Infiniti has done an excellent job because the SUV feels like it glides over imperfections on the road. 

2021 Infiniti QX80 SUV Braking Performance 

One of the biggest drawbacks of building cars that are this large and burly is that they tend to weigh a lot. At 5678 lbs, the weight does not do any favors in the braking department. The car is fitted with 13.8 inch rotors both front and back which are quite large but not in this category. These rotors are enough to bring the car to a halt from 60 mph in 137 feet.

The BMW is fitted with much larger rotors than the ones you can find in the Infiniti or just about any other car in its category and this difference certainly shows in the way it brakes. The BMW X7 is also the lightest vehicle in this category and the brakes bring it to a stop in just 105 feet which is very much impressive. The braking performance of the Infiniti is the worst in the segment with the stopping distance from 60 mph to 137 feet. The Mercedes is slightly better with the Cadillac gives it company with equally worse performance.

We can feel that the Infiniti is definitely dated when you look at its fuel efficiency figures despite having good performance. Engine technologies have come a long way from the time this car was released and one can see that from the EPA-rated fuel efficiency ratings of 14 MPG in the city, 20 MPG on the highway, and 16 MPG combined. This is not a very impressive figure and even with the fuel tank capacity being 26 gallons which are the largest in its class, this SUV is only able to return a range of 364 miles in the city and 520 miles on the highway.

Infiniti loses out to all its rivals again in terms of fuel efficiency figures. The BMW X7 and the Mercedes GLS are the most impressive because they deliver nearly 19 MPG in the city, 23 MPG on the highway, and 21 MPG combined. The Cadillac Escalade, just like the Infiniti is an old-school SUV and returns dismal fuel economy figures. So even with a much smaller fuel tank of just 23.8 gallons, the Mercedes-Benz has a much better range. 

The interiors of the Infiniti are a bit dated but one can never say that it is not comfortable. Other than being quiet and packed with features, the material quality is also definitely nice. The interior design is also nice to look at and offers a lot of functional storage spaces. Overall it is a very practical cabin and can definitely impress buyers.

The seats are also sufficient for seating for up to eight people. The seats are built very well and are supportive for passengers of all sizes as well. The controls are also very easy to use and the switchgear is placed very well so one can say that it is an ergonomic cabin. It is also easy for ingress and egress and remains a very likable cabin.

Despite how roomy the Infiniti has been, the competitors have become better at packaging and promises more space, especially in the third row. All cars offer seating for seven people and are all very roomy, to begin with. Cadillac has definitely given its interior space the longest thought because it provides both excellent passenger and cargo space. The BMW X7 has the lowest space in this category with just 12.8 ft.³. However, fold the rear seats and the cargo space can swallow up luggage like it’s nothing. Some standard features include:

• Cruise control
• Tinted rear windows
• Leather upholstery
• Panoramic sunroof
• Heated and powered seats
• Heated steering wheel
• Air filtration system
• Power adjustable steering wheel

What’s there to keep you entertained? 

The touchscreen system known as InTouch features and Infiniti models is very easy to use but the features provided are not very remarkable. There is enough responsiveness and so on but it does not become a good competitor to the very capable systems that are being offered in the market currently. 

The sound system, however, is very much excellent as it comes with a 17 speaker Bose premium sound system that delivers output much better than the competitors. A pair of 8-inch touch screens that we have seen in the rear seats is also a very welcome addition. Other features include satellite radio, a voice-activated navigation system, 4G Wi-Fi hotspot, and so on. Some features of the infotainment system include: 

• 8" InTouch touchscreen infotainment system
• Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
• SiriusXM radio
• Wireless charging
• Bluetooth connectivity
• Rear seat entertainment with two 8" displays (optional)
• 17-speaker Bose premium audio system
• Navigation

The Infiniti QX80 definitely does decent but is not remarkable in any way especially in the modern age. Since it has been around for a while, the SUV no longer looks as luxurious as the ones used to. It does not look as modern or sharp as its competition, with cars like the new Escalade and GLS looking much more modern and fresh. A refresh is definitely expected and very much necessary to keep the car relevant in the market.

Everything looks small next to the Cadillac Escalade and that is a fact. Even though all the cars in this category are as large as they come, the Escalade still manages to dwarf all of them. When it comes to Weight, the Mercedes-Benz is the heaviest and is followed by the Infiniti. Despite the heavyweight, luckily the Mercedes is not anything close to having the same dimensions as the larger cars in this class. The BMW excellent is much smaller and hence is lighter. Some standout features include:

• 22-inch aluminum-alloy wheels
• Chrome Window Trim
• Powered Lift-gate
• Fully Automatic Projector Beam LED headlights
• LED taillights 
• Heated and powered side mirrors
• Integrated rear spoiler
• 8 exterior colors
• LED taillights
• Running board

Although it is pretty much a given in this category that the car has to be safe, we’re glad that Infiniti has given a good amount of thought. The QX80 has a four-star crash test rating from NHTSA. However, it has not been evaluated by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety or IIHS. We can however assume that it is still a very safe car. This is due to having features like automated emergency braking, lane-keep assist, and blind-spot monitoring not as options, but as standard features. Some of the standout safety features include:

• ABS with EBD
• Driveline traction control
• INFINITI Connection Emergency SOS
• Airbags
• Adaptive cruise control
• Lane-departure warning
• Lane-keeping assist
• Automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection
• Around view camera
• TPMS

2021 Infiniti QX80 Vs. 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLS 450

The Infiniti has a more powerful engine on paper but in terms of rear left performance, the Mercedes-Benz beats it fair and square. The Mercedes is slightly heavier while also being smaller but is absolutely packed to the brim with luxury features. In all aspects, the QX80 is not a car that is competitive against the Mercedes.

2021 Infiniti QX80 Vs. 2021 BMW X7

 The BMW X7 is another car that beats the Infiniti fair and square in almost every category. While the Infiniti is not exactly a blast to drive, the BMW is, despite being heavy and large. The car also offers a lot of space in the interiors and a much better fit and finish overall than the Infiniti. In terms of fuel efficiency as well, the Germans have it much better.

2021 Infiniti QX80 vs. 2021 Cadillac Escalade

 The Cadillac Escalade is a car that remains comparable in terms of performance and driving dynamics to the Infiniti. However, the Escalade is much more modern in terms of its design and features and also offers some of the best infotainment systems in the business. Despite costing a bit extra, this car is a better pick.

 The Infiniti QX80 has been a platform that the brand has milked for a while now. And at this point in time, it does not have the flair it once had. It provides a good powertrain option that also has excellent towing capacity and so on but is not very exciting to drive. It can definitely be improved in terms of its fit and finish as well as the fuel efficiency but the company has not done so. Overall, it is not a car we would still buy in 2021.