2015 INFINITI QX80 Review

Introduction

The 2015 INFINITI QX80 full-size luxury SUV gets a new exterior design, an upgraded interior, more standard features, and a new Limited Package.

Formerly called QX56, the largest vehicle from Nissan's luxury division was renamed QX80 for the 2014 model year. The QX prefix designates it as an SUV, while the 80 suffix denotes the largest model in the QX series, which includes the smaller QX50, QX60, and QX70.

Leading the changes to the 2015 INFINITI QX80 exterior are a revised front bumper, new grille insert design, integrated rear bumper protector, flush front and rear sonar sensors, new LED signature headlights with High Beam Assist, LED three-blink turn signals and fog lights, and new 20-inch and 22-inch wheel designs.

Inside, Mocha Burl trim (formerly available on the Deluxe Touring Package) replaces Tuscan Burl as the standard trim. A new burl trim, Strafford Burl, is added to the new Deluxe Technology Package. A Mocha Burl and leather-wrapped steering wheel comes standard on the 2015 QX80.

The new Limited Package, available on fully equipped 2015 QX80 AWD models, features dark chrome 22-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, dark chrome interior trim, stainless steel running board caps with rubber grips, under running board welcome lighting, darkened headlight inner lens, darkened taillight inner lens, dark chrome A-pillar covers and six exterior colors. The Limited Package's unique interior includes rich semi-aniline Truffle Brown leather appointments with a unique quilted pattern, open pore matte finish ash wood trim, Ultrasuede headliner and pillars, leather-covered grab handles and speaker grilles, unique floor and trunk mats and unique silver switchgear on the center stack.

Otherwise, QX80 is mostly unchanged for 2015. This second-generation version was launched as for the 2011 model year and was freshened for 2013.

INFINITI QX80 competes with seven-seat luxury SUVs Cadillac Escalade, Lincoln Navigator, Lexus LX 570, Mercedes-Benz GL-Class, and Range Rover.

QX80 comes with rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, the latter with a five-mode system. All models use a powerful 5.6-liter, 32-valve, double-overhead-cam V8 engine with direct fuel injection and variable valve timing and lift, making 400 horsepower and a hefty 413 pound-feet of torque. The 7-speed double-overdrive transmission enables good acceleration from the 5600-pound vehicle.

Fuel economy ratings for the 2015 QX80 are an EPA-estimated 14/20 mpg City/Highway, or 16 mpg Combined, whether with rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive. Premium gasoline is required.

We found the V8 engine very responsive and the transmission is very smooth, like it's not even there. The burly V8 is a satisfying engine, producing 413 pound-feet of torque at 4000 rpm. At lower rpm, there's strong torque for quick acceleration when merging onto a busy highway. The transmission has Adaptive Shift Control, matching a driver's style, and a manual shift mode that provides a sportscar-like downshift blip. INFINITI calls it Downshift Rev Matching. That's something you don't find on every giant SUV. When properly equipped, a QX80 can tow 8,500 pounds.

Ride quality is firm, overly so at times, but usually comfortable, with sharp handling for a full-size SUV, assisted by sophisticated electronics.

The all-wheel-drive QX80 has a five-mode dial on the center console: automatic, four-wheel-drive high, four-wheel-drive low, low lock, tow mode and snow mode. Automatic mode transfers engine torque between the front and rear axles, from 0 front/100 rear, all the way to 50/50. We found it felt secure underway, even on icy highways.

The QX80 big. It seats seven with second-row captain's chairs, or eight with a three-seat bench in the second row. Between the captain's chairs there's a gigantic console with two storage bins and two cupholders. Stepping in is relatively easy, and running boards help ease the entry process. Back in the third row, riders get good headroom and relatively good legroom, and the seats recline 20 degrees. Three's a crowd in the third row, though, so the QX80 is best thought of as a six-seater.

Cargo capacity is generous. There's a modest 16.6 cubic feet of cargo space with the third row up, good for a small grocery trip, close to 50 cubic feet with the third-row seat folded, growing to a whopping 95.1 cubic feet with both rows down. The power liftgate works well and the button to close it is conveniently located on the inside of the hatch. The 60/40 third-row seat folds nearly flat, by pushing a pair of power buttons located in the cargo space.

Lineup

The 2015 INFINITI QX80 ($63,250) comes standard with either rear-wheel drive, while the QX80 AWD ($66,350) is equipped with all-wheel drive. Each uses a 5.6-liter V8 and 7-speed automatic transmission.

Standard features include leather-upholstered seats; hard drive voice-command navigation with lane guidance, weather, traffic, and restaurant guide; 13-speaker Bose audio system with SiriusXM satellite radio, Bluetooth streaming audio and iPod compatibility. Also standard are 10-way driver and 8-way passenger power seats, tri-zone automatic climate control, a multi-function steering wheel, cruise control, and four 12-volt outlets. The standard seating configuration is two front bucket seats, two second-row captain's chairs with a center console, and a three-place folding rear seat. Optional for the same price is a split-folding second-row bench seat that brings total seating capacity to eight.

The Deluxe Technology Package ($5,550) includes Adaptive Front lighting System, semi-aniline seating, Hydraulic Body Motion Control system, Advanced Climate Control System, Blind Spot Intervention and other features. Other options: Driver's Assistance Package ($2,100); Split Bench Seat Package (no charge); Tire & Wheel Package ($2,450); Theater Package ($2,400); Limited Package ($10,000); Pearl Paint ($400); roof rail crossbars ($330); moonroof wind deflector ($190); carpeted cargo mat, cargo net and first aid kit ($100); all-season package ($300); illuminated kick plates ($440).

Safety equipment standard on all models includes frontal airbags, front side airbags, curtain airbags, front-seat active head restraints, second-row LATCH system, Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) with traction control, tire-pressure monitor, and ABS with Brake Assist. Optional all-wheel drive can enhance handling stability on slippery surfaces. The 2015 QX80 Driver's Assistance Package features Backup Collision Intervention, Blind Spot Warning, Intelligent Cruise Control, Distance Control Assist and Intelligent Brake Assist with Forward Emergency Braking and Predictive Forward Collision Warning.

Walkaround

The styling of the INFINITI QX80 was revised for 2015, with a new front fascia and grille, LED headlights and fog lights.

A full-size SUV, this is a big vehicle, but its dimensions are masked by curvy bodywork that makes it look less massive than other more boxy SUVs. When viewed from the front, the QX80 is not pretty. From the driver's seat, however, the hood is very attractive, with smooth, sophisticated lines that look classy.

In overall appearance, the QX80 is humped smoothly, at least at the hood and front fenders, although the headlights protrude sideways. At the liftgate and taillights, the bulges and lines seem to splay out everywhere, with two big slabs of chrome slapped on. The back end is cleaned up a bit by the rear bumper being integrated, and the tow hitch receiver is hidden behind a plate in the bumper.

Running boards are body-colored, as are splashguards built into the wheel arches. The running boards are tucked into the rocker panels rather than hanging down as attachments the way they do on full-size pickups. This looks nice but the platform for a foothold is smaller. At least the running boards don't pop in and out as they do on the Lincoln Navigator so there's no worry about smacking shins.

There's no chrome on the body sides like there used to be on such vehicles, except for the door handles. That's nice for appearance, but it could make the sides more vulnerable to parking-lot dings; we prefer the look and will park carefully to try to avoid the dings. The chrome outlines around the windows make the QX80 look even longer than its 17-foot overall length. However, the C-pillar is triangular, turning the chromed window outline forward at the cargo area. So, that makes it look like a smaller SUV, and not particularly sleek. That chrome line matches the chrome line of the portholes on the front fenders, which are a nice touch, especially since the left porthole is functional, sucking in air for the engine.

The optional 22-inch nine-spoke alloy wheels look better in pictures than in real life. Standard wheels are 20-inch, and we prefer them. We also prefer the slightly taller sidewalls that go with smaller-diameter wheels, which should offer better wheel protection from potholes and in theory should offer a slightly smoother ride.

The massive grille is unmistakably Nissan/INFINITI, and the headlamps are stylishly angled up and away, evidently bulging for style. The huge hood is like a hump, as are the front fenders. You really notice this from the driver's seat, and it's kind of nice. The QX80 is not lost in the crowd, at least from your point of view. The coefficient of drag is 0.36, which is good for a truck. INFINITI says there's zero aerodynamic lift, thanks to front underbody and liftgate spoilers.

Interior

INFINITI QX80 seats seven with second-row captain's chairs, or eight if a three-seat bench is installed in the second row. Take your pick, same price, although most models in showrooms will be seven-seaters. There's leather galore, including the wood/leather steering wheel; or premium leather with the Deluxe Touring Package.

The driver's seat is 10-way power-adjustable, and the passenger seat 8-way. Both provide two-way power lumbar support. Heated seats in front are standard; cooled seats are optional. We would have liked the seats to grip more, or else be a bit softer; but after all, the QX80 isn't exactly a driver's car. Wide, flat seats probably make more sense, with many front-seat parents often turning to the rear.

The second-row bench seat also is heated, but the captain's chairs are not. Between the captain's chairs, a gigantic console contains two storage bins and two cupholders. Those seats offer a generous 41 inches of legroom, and flip forward for access to the third row. It's an easy lever to pull, for anyone climbing in; still, a remote release button on the center stack and key fob is optional, allowing the driver to release it remotely.

Six grab handles are available, and needed, because it's such a tall climb into the front and rear; but there are none for passengers climbing back to the third row. The captain's chairs don't lock when they're manually flipped, so they might wobble when the third-row passenger uses them for support when climbing aboard. The optional illuminated kick plates look attractive and classy when the doors are opened at night.

Back in the third row there's good headroom and relatively good legroom, and the seats recline 20 degrees. Three seatbelts are provided, but we can't imagine all of them in use. With the Deluxe Touring Package, seats in all three rows feature perforated leather, with stitching.

The 60/40 third-row seat folds flat, with a power button located in the cargo space. There's 16.6 cubic feet of space with the third row up; a massive 95.1 cubic feet with both rows down. The space is as big as a queen bed. We mean it. We actually did carry a disassembled queen-sized bed and mattress back there. Sure, the mattress had to be bent just a bit to get it in, but then it fell pretty much flat. We had room for a short palm tree on the rear floor, too.

From the driver's seat, we liked the way-high seating position, and the large, clear gauges with luminescent white lighting. Clean graphics make instruments easy to read. Between the big tachometer and speedometer there's a window with a small amount of digital information, though not enough: just temperature, odometer and transmission gear. Far less expensive cars offer travel data and fuel mileage in this space.

Travel and fuel information is on the 8-inch touch-screen at the top of the center stack. You have to reach way over there and select the info from the menu, a distraction that compromises safety while driving. Worse, the Back button on the touch-screen menu, which you'll probably use often because of all the trial and error, is located at the top right of the screen, the biggest stretch of all. We don't like it.

Another thing we don't like is that the radio can't be tuned while the car is moving. Seventy-eight thousand dollars for a car that makes you pull over and stop every time you want to change the radio station. Well, to be exact, it could be tuned between satellite radio categories, and preset stations, but not to select new stations. The Direct Tune button is blacked out on the radio while the car is moving, presumably to reduce distraction. The best plan is to preset favorite stations then use the hard buttons to select among them.

The navigation system works reasonably well at directions once programmed and underway. We liked the voice in the navigation guidance, which sounded clear and intelligent. But on the screen itself, some things were too small to read. For example, the speed limit sign, whose icon is about the size of a postage stamp. Also the numbers for miles to destination, and other details. One passenger, a 14-year-old super geek, took one look at the navigation display and the way its functions were accessed, and pronounced it outdated. Programming destinations can be vexing, particularly when in a hurry. Spelling out a city street using the knob is tedious, and the knob is very sensitive when sliding it to the side to scroll over, causing incorrect information to be entered. Once, it auto-filled in the wrong street for us and we had to start the entire process over, very frustrating. The system uses an entire region rather than a state, so common street names have many more duplicates, an issue when trying to list them. Deleting a destination takes two steps.

We didn't like the display for the rearview camera. INFINITI brags about its 360-degree feature, but all we know is that even though we were paying close attention, we still backed (gently) into a pole one drizzly night, because the view didn't show the pole very well and the warning beep came too late. Our Technology Package gave us MOD (Moving Object Detection), so maybe if the pole had been moving, the camera would have seen it sooner.

Speaking of beeps, the horn blew car warned us of something every time we parked and took the key out, and we have no idea why. Maybe it was telling us we were parking and taking the key out. We also got four quick beeps periodically while underway. Also, the horn blew when we locked the car with the fob, a feature that likely can be turned off.

You might tell us to go read the manual. We tried. We always do. We've found that the more expensive the car, and the thicker the manual; the thicker the manual, the more confused it is. It did tell us that there are nine cupholders and four bottle holders in the door pockets. Instructions typically have to be studied carefully, and perhaps reread several times.

The dashboard is shaped like a huge arc, leaving no flat tray up there, but it looks okay. Our interior was two-tone leather, brown and wheat. So was the dashboard, with Mocha Burl trim as part of our Deluxe Touring Package. The center console is a big wide well, only one compartment, because it slides forward a few inches as an ergonomic armrest. The classic INFINITI analog clock is harder to read than a digital.

Driving Impression

The INFINITI QX80 offers solid handling, with electronic assistance all over the place. It feels confident and secure underway and rides nicely.

We kept the all-wheel-drive system set at Auto. INFINITI's All-Mode 4WD system has Auto, 4H and 4L modes. In Auto, up to 50 percent of the engine torque goes to the front wheels when needed for traction.

The torque and largely muted roar of the V8 are recognizably Nissan. We remember that feel from the Titan pickup truck. It's a satisfying engine, delivering 413 pound-feet of torque at 4000 rpm.

INFINITI makes ample use of modern engine technology. The 5.6-liter, 32-valve DOHC aluminum-alloy V8 features INFINITI's advanced VVEL (Variable Valve Event and Lift) technology and Direct Injection Gasoline (DIG) system. The VVEL system combines hydraulic-controlled variable valve timing and electronically-controlled variable valve lift on the intake side, to help improve performance and response. Throttle response is enhanced by directly controlling the intake valve. VVEL also offers improved emissions and fuel efficiency by reducing intake resistance. The direct-injection system provides better wide-open throttle performance and improved fuel economy/emissions, by improving combustion stability and offering more precise injection control.

The powerful engine smoothly drives the whopping weight of the QX80, reaching three tons with only a driver aboard. But when it does, you can't help thinking how much energy (spelled g-a-s) it takes. Premium gas, at that. The QX80 is EPA-estimated at 14/20 mpg City/Highway. In an earlier QX56 version, we got 17.1 mpg on the highway, most of it at a gentle 60 mph. Its greenhouse gas rating is an unimpressive 3 on a scale of 1 to 10, and its smog rating is a 5.

After driving this mighty luxury SUV for hours in a Kentucky rainstorm, we know the brakes work when wet. The vented brake rotors are big: 13.8 inches. We like the feel of the pedal, and the solid anti-lock brakes, as tested on snowy streets in Washington.

We also drove a QX80 in temperate and dry Midwestern weather. Performance in city/suburban driving echoed previous experience, including a comfortable yet neatly controlled ride, effortless acceleration, and overall pleasant demeanor. Engine sound fades away while cruising, while gear changes from the 7-speed automatic transmission are often imperceptible and never bothersome.

In northern New Jersey, we noticed the suspension felt quite firm on very rough roads.

The standard 20-inch all-season tires, slightly narrower, might be better on ice and snow than the optional 22-inchers, and they might offer a better ride.

Handling prowess belies the QX80's size and character, but it's marred by limited maneuverability. Struggling to contort this SUV into and out of a slim parking slot in a tightly laid-out lot can make a person forget the QX80's more favorable attributes.

In urban/suburban driving, our QX80 failed to reach the EPA's City rationg, scoring closer to 12 mpg than the EPA's 14 mpg.

Electronic systems that take over stopping and steering the car are available. The Intelligent Braking System (in the Technology Package) uses sonar ranging to stop the QX80 without the driver's input as it approaches a stopped vehicle. Distance Control Assist prompts the driver to release the throttle and applies the brakes in slowing traffic.

The Technology Package also includes Lane Departure Prevention, which responds to potential unintended lane departure with a buzzer. If the driver doesn't obey the buzzer and steer back, the system applies the brakes on the opposite side of the alleged wander, forcing the car back.

The QX80 has a rigid frame with thick side rails, and independent suspension. With the Deluxe Touring Package, ours had the Hydraulic Body Motion Control system. It's a closed hydraulic circuit that connects the shock absorbers and moves hydraulic pressure between them, to reduce body lean in corners. High-tech anti-sway bars, in effect.

The ride is firm but always comfortable.

INFINITI says that in the wind tunnel, the QX80 generates zero front and zero rear lift. Sounds great. The measurement is not something manufacturers include, and we wish we had the aerodynamic lift numbers from all the big SUVs, to compare.

Summary

The INFINITI QX80 has strengths and flaws, so we suggest careful comparison shopping in the luxury SUV category. Its strengths are powertrain, space and handling, while its flaws are mostly in touch-screen information functions and tight-space maneuverability. Optional packages drive the price up, and we don't think they're all worth it.

Sam Moses filed this NewCarTestDrive.com report after his test drive of the 2013 QX56 in the Portland area. James M. Flammang reported after his test drive of a 2014 QX80 near Chicago. Mitch McCullough contributed to this report after his test drive of a 2015 QX80 AWD in northern New Jersey.