~ A DriveWays Review ~
by Frank A. Aukofer

There was a time in the not too distant past when the 2023 Infiniti QX80 would have felt at home in a marketplace that favored powerful V8 engines to drive big automobiles and sport utility vehicles.

Now, as smaller crossover SUVs proliferate, the QX80 is something of an outlier. Among roomy luxury SUVs, it has plenty of competition. Think of the Jeep Grand Wagoneer, Cadillac Escalade, Chevrolet Tahoe, Hyundai Palisade, BMW X7, Mercedes-Benz GLS, Lincoln Navigator, Audi Q7, Volvo XC90, Lexus GX and Acura MDX.

Infiniti is the luxury marque of Japan’s Nissan and, as happens in the industry, pricey premium cars like the QX80 get spun off from less expensive models, and vice versa. In this case, the QX80 shares its basics with the Nissan Armada.

There are three versions, called trim levels in the industry. Prices start with the Luxe model at $74,395, including the $1,695 destination charge. That’s with standard rear-wheel drive; add $3,100 for four-wheel drive.

Tested for this review was the top-line Sensory model with four-wheel drive, which had a base price of $89,145 and, with options, had a bottom-line sticker of $91,580—out of mainstream territory.

As expected, the Sensory is loaded with performance, comfort and convenience equipment. Start with the powerful, 400-horsepower, 5.6-liter V8 engine that makes 413 pound-feet of torque, or twisting force. It is mated to a seven-speed automatic transmission with overdrive, a manual shifting mode and a two-speed transfer case for off-roading, enhanced by 9.2 inches of ground clearance.

The drivetrain setup is enough to send the three-ton QX80 Sensory to 60 miles an hour in less than six seconds, according to independent tests. It also has enough grunt to earn a towing capability of up to 8,500 pounds. The downside is a city/highway/combined fuel consumption rating of 13/19/17 miles to the gallon from the Environmental Protection Agency.

There are just two classifications for SUVs at the EPA: small and standard. The QX80, despite its size and heft, is listed as “standard.” Yet it is 17 feet 6 inches long and 6 feet 4 inches tall—so high that a smaller adult, even standing on tiptoes, could have difficulty reaching the switch to close the open overhead tailgate, and would have to use the remote.

Inside, there are seats for seven in three rows, who can stretch out in 153 cubic feet of passenger space. A three-passenger split bench seat in the second row can be substituted at no cost for captain’s chairs.

The Sensory tester also came with a complimentary dual screen rear entertainment package.

Luggage space behind the third row is a stingy 17 cubic feet given the QX80’s size but grows easily to 50 cubic feet by touching buttons in back to fold the third row.

The tester came with a suite of safety and driver assistance equipment, including automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, forward collision warning, blind spot warning and intervention, lane departure warning and prevention, and moving object detection with the around-view monitor.

Driver helpers included adaptive cruise control, hill start assist, trailer sway control, distance control assist, backup collision intervention, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror.

Infotainment and audio installations included wireless Apple Car Play and Android Auto, built-in Alexa communication, navigation system, Bose Performance 17-speaker audio, and Infiniti WiFi and In-touch services.

Though the QX80 could boast about its ample ground clearance and likely off-roading chops, its forte is comfortable long-distance cruising on paved freeways, where it delivers a steady ride and mostly silent running. Owing to its size and comfort orientation, however, it has a somewhat ponderous handling feel—not the sort of vehicle a driver would volunteer to make darting moves in heavy traffic.

Except for its height and enhanced visibility over surrounding traffic, the QX80 Sensory triggered memories of a young family with four kids who moved from the Midwest to the East Coast in 1970. Their conveyance was a 1970 Chevrolet Kingswood Estate station wagon, which had a 250-hp 400 cubic inch V8 and seating for eight.

It did not have the QX80’s height or visibility, and none of its cargo space, meaning most of the vacation stuff was stashed in a bag lashed to the roof rails. There were many 800-mile overnight trips with blankets and pillows coddling sleeping youngsters.

Specifications

  • Model: 2023 Infiniti QX80 Sensory AWD four-door sport utility vehicle.
  • Engine: 5.6-liter V8/ 400 hp, 413 lb-ft torque.
  • Transmission: Seven-speed automatic with overdrive, manual shifting mode, all-wheel drive and two-speed transfer case.
  • Overall length: 17 feet 6 inches.
  • Height: 6 feet 4 inches.
  • EPA/SAE passenger/cargo volume: 153/17 cubic feet (cargo 50 cubic feet with third row folded).
  • Weight: 6,085 pounds.
  • Range: 390 miles.
  • Towing capability: Up to 8,500 pounds.
  • EPA city/highway/combined fuel consumption: 13/19/15 mpg. Premium recommended.
  • Base price, including destination charge: $89,145.
  • Price as tested: $91,580.

Disclaimer: The manufacturer provided the vehicle used to conduct this test drive and review. Photos ©Infiniti