Infiniti QX80 Review | A Question of Image

Infiniti promises a lot, but so far delivers little. We were expecting an armada (no pun intended) of electric vehicles, but Nissan’s luxury brand persists and signs a fourth generation of a utility vehicle that few people are crazy about. Especially in Quebec (294 units sold in the last two years). For Infiniti, the number doesn’t really matter. It’s the image that counts.

There are nights when Infiniti no longer dreams of conquering the world. In fact, the luxury brand has closed shop in several places where it had taken up residence in recent years. Even its Hong Kong headquarters has been abandoned. Now, it is in the city of Yokohama, Japan, that Infiniti executives are orchestrating the big maneuvers.

Some people will not fail to classify the 2025 QX80 in the category of soporific evolutions. The shortcut is tempting, but does not do justice to the work accomplished by its designers. Far from it. The basic architecture may be the same (a ladder chassis), but several of the components grafted onto it bear the stamp of novelty. Starting with the engine. Infiniti’s engine designers say sayonara (goodbye, in Japanese) to the gluttonous 5.6-litre V8. They replaced it with a 3.5-litre V6 supercharged by two turbochargers that is barely less voracious (13.8 L/100 km compared to 15.2 L/100 km for the V8). In the category, there are better (Lexus LX), but also worse (Mercedes GLS). That said, the Infiniti engine still has its merits. It is quicker to catapult the QX80 towards the horizon and, in doing so, is quieter. It is also just as sturdy, since the towing capacity remains the same (3,856 kg) as before. The automatic transmission now has nine gears instead of seven and it shifts smoothly.

The newfound momentum its six-cylinder engine gives it makes the QX80 a remarkable workhorse, not a racing beast.

Despite a sophisticated air suspension and a more rigid structure, this Japanese luxury utility vehicle abhors being mishandled, even if the steering, with its well-measured assistance, suggests otherwise. Also, when used too much, the brakes struggle to keep up with this pace. On the other hand, the QX80 loves wide boulevards and endless highways. Even more so if they are properly paved. Despite all its prowess in keeping this vehicle’s attitude stable and stopping body movements, the suspension sometimes gets distracted by irregularities in the pavement. As a result, it shakes the occupants on board even more.

Considering budgetary constraints (Infiniti is not rolling in money), without forgetting the strengths and weaknesses of its competitors, the designers of the QX80 have managed to pull out all the stops. This does not mean, however, that the QX80 is devoid of any advances. To improve active safety, for example, Infiniti uses a greater number of cameras to prevent us from making mistakes. Like crushing the children’s bike or scraping the 22-inch rims against the sidewalks. In addition, the QX80 is launching version 2.1 of its semi-autonomous driving system (ProPilot Assist), which now assists the driver in changing lanes. A maneuver that this Infiniti performs more timidly than a Cadillac equipped with a similar system (SuperCruise).

Like in his living room

If you saw the QX Monograph concept study revealed last year at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, then the QX80’s shapes will come as no surprise. They’re virtually the same. They’re the first aesthetic signature – especially the headlight design – that future products (including electric vehicles) will adopt in the future.

The interior design also gives an idea of ​​the direction Infiniti is pursuing. The finish is impeccable and the materials are of quality overall. There are some false notes, such as the steering wheel controls or the “piano black” appliqués of dubious taste for a vehicle of this price. Some consumers will be equally surprised that such a large cabin – up to eight people can sit – has so little storage space on board. Others, on the other hand, will rather welcome the presence of eight USB-C ports or the increased volume of the trunk due to the compactness of the rear suspension. On this subject, let us point out that the latter has a device that allows it to be lowered to facilitate loading.

Warm as a handshake, the front seats are perfectly designed for long-haul trips.

The middle row seats aren’t bad either. However, the backrests lack a bit of softness to allow them to be folded flat if necessary. Only children will enjoy being completely in the back.

Without any hesitation, this new version relegates the previous one to the rank of antique. It also offers features that do not fear comparison with its main competitors. That said, the QX80 still lacks elements to convince people who can count (and who like to impress especially), now that its price has happily crossed the $100,000 mark. At this price, brand image plays a big part and in this area, the brand’s story is rather short.

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