PREVIEW: REDESIGNED 2025 INFINITI QX80 COMMANDS A FULL-SIZED SIX-FIGURE PRICE TAG
Power, luxury, and safety features move this big SUV further upmarket
By Jeff S. Bartlett
The 2025 Infiniti QX80 joins the six-figure club in its highest trim, as the redesigned full-sized SUV piles on power, luxury, and safety features. The automaker says this is the first model in its new product renaissance, giving importance to the styling and equipment as previews of things to come in other body styles.
The QX80 is more modern and upscale than the long-running SUV it replaces. This redesigned model has 50 more horsepower, and its premium features and aesthetic move it even further away from its corporate sibling, the Nissan Armada.
Tech such as a wide-view front camera, large screens, Klipsch premium audio, second-row massaging seats, and the latest ProPilot Assist 2.1 active driving assistance system position the GX80 among prestigious, European rivals.
Prices start at $82,450 for the Pure trim in rear-wheel drive, to Luxe 4WD ($92,650), then step up into six figures: Sensory 4WD ($100,645) and Autograph 4WD ($110,595). That marks a significant increase over the outgoing 2024 QX80, whose price spans $74,150 to $88,450. The destination charge remains among the very highest in the land at $1,995.
This big SUV has a lot going on. Here’s what we know so far.
What it competes with: BMW X7, Cadillac Escalade, GMC Yukon Denali, Jeep Grand Wagoneer, Land Rover Range Rover, Lexus LX600, Lincoln Navigator, Mercedes-Benz GLS
Powertrains: 450-hp, 3.5-liter turbocharged V6 engine; 9-speed automatic transmission; rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive
Price: $82,450-$110,595
On sale: Summer 2024
Beyond badging, the Autograph trim is distinguished by a two-tone roof and unique 22-inch wheels.
Photo: Infiniti
CR's Take
The outgoing 2024 Infiniti QX80 is ripe for a redesign, with a model run that extends more than a decade and showed lackluster performance in our tests. It currently ranks as the second-lowest full-sized SUV in its class, putting it a notch ahead of the Lincoln Navigator only thanks to slightly higher predicted reliability and road-test scores. That QX80 is powerful, quiet, and roomy, but its clumsy handling and low fuel economy on premium fuel are among its demerits.
The redesigned model looks to build on the established strengths, while significantly upgrading comfort, convenience, and technology. That sounds good, but those enhancements come with a price—one that can extend well past the $100,000 mark for the hedonistic Autograph trim.
As the price climbs and the features get layered in, reliability becomes a greater concern; the Autograph has a lot of bells, whistles, screens, and motors that could glitch over time. The outgoing QX80 has average predicted reliability—but just barely. And its owner satisfaction is below-average. Despite the promises, the smart move for shoppers is to give Infiniti a year to refine its production processes and wait to see how the vehicle performs in our tests and surveys.
Outside
The fresh body styling features a clean, smooth design. Once again, it is a rather upright, two-box configuration, but it flattens some of the previous curves. The front fascia makes particular use of angled lines, tightly positioned, in the enlarged grille and slender LED headlamps. These are said to be inspired by a bamboo forest. (They remind me of a pinstriped suit.) The grille-mounted Infiniti logo is illuminated.
The sides are smoothed with retracting door handles, a feature more commonly associated with electric vehicles, and stamped wheel arches, rather than prominent flares.
The tail lights follow a similar theme, with a series of segmented red LEDs spanning the wide rear of the vehicle.
The two-tone roof shown on the Autograph masks that all trims have blacked-out door pillars, contributing to the artful design. Wheel sizes span from 20 to 22 inches.
The overall dimensions are a near match for the previous QX80, with a slightly greater width being the exception.
The dash features two 14.3-inch screens for instruments and infotainment, with a third lower screen for climate and comfort functions.
Photo: Infiniti
Inside
Infiniti explains that the interior is inspired by Japanese artisan culture, as reflected in the use of layered, soft-touch materials and flowing designs. Wood, suede, and leather are used throughout, with the top Autograph trim shown here showcasing the QX80’s peak luxury. Each trim has a different level of upholstery.
The dash features two 14.3-inch displays. Their close proximity makes it appear like one large, horizontal screen. The instrument panel can be configured in three motifs: Classic, Elegant, and Enhanced. A color head-up display is available.
There are several camera views available, including one showing immediately in front of the SUV and another that gives a wide, 170-degree view to the side. These camera views are shown on those big screens to enhance visibility during low-speed maneuvers. Beyond parking, Infiniti suggests these may be helpful in negotiating drive-thrus and automated car washes.
A 9-inch touchscreen below the infotainment screen serves as the control interface for climate functions, and seat heating and cooling settings. An example of the flowing design can be seen in the transition from the high-mounted infotainment screen sweeping down to the passenger-side dash in the photo above.
The infotainment system uses Google, with natural-language voice commands, Google Maps, and the ability to add functionality by downloading apps from the Google Play store.
Audio in the Pure and Luxe trims is pumped out via a 600-watt Klipsch stereo. The Sensory and Autograph trims see the audio system upgraded to a 1,200-watt, 24-speaker Klipsch system. This uses myriad technologies to create a mobile theaterlike experience. An interesting application for the front head restraint speakers is that some audio, such as navigation guidance, can be targeted at the driver.
Ambient lighting can be adjusted from among 64 colors, with thin illuminated piping throughout the cabin.
There are eight USB-C charge ports to provide each passenger with a means to replenish their devices.
The front center armrest console can be upgraded to a cool box that pipes in air conditioning to keep up to six drinks chilled.
The front- and second-row chairs can be had with a massaging feature, depending on the trim. And all rows have heated seats in the Autograph.
Further spoiling passengers in Sensory and Autograph trims is a “Biometric Cooling” feature that uses an infrared sensor to detect when passengers are getting hot. If so, it will adjust the temperature and airflow accordingly. Infiniti suggests that this might be appreciated by young athletes who are picked up after a game. (With all the attention lavished on the exquisite interior, loading the SUV with sweaty, dirty soccer players was the last use case that this author would have conjured.) Second-row passengers can set their own climate preferences via controls on the back of the front center armrest console.
Infiniti claims that cargo space behind the third row, when upright, has increased 30 percent over the previous QX80, and space is greater than before when that third row is folded, as well.
The rear liftgate operates hands-free, and it has a height setting to avoid striking garage doors.
The premium seats in the Autograph have power movement and recline, four-way lumbar adjustments, heated and ventilated functions, and a massaging feature.
Photo: Infiniti
What Drives It
The QX80 is powered by a mighty 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine, teamed with a nine-speed automatic transmission. It produces 450 horsepower and 516 lb.-ft. of torque—gains of 50 horsepower and 103 lb.-ft. versus the outgoing QX80’s 5.6-liter V8. (Quotable trivia: The 2025 QX80 boasts the highest torque output in the corporation’s history.) The SUV is available in rear- and four-wheel-drive configurations. 4WD has an Auto mode, so drivers can set and forget. Premium gas is recommended.
Each QX80 has driver-selectable modes that tune engine and transmission response, steering effort, driver-assistance systems, and, if equipped, alter the active suspension. The modes include Standard, Eco, Sport, Snow, Tow, and Personal settings. When properly equipped, this body-on-frame SUV can tow up to 8,500 pounds.
The available adaptive air suspension lowers the SUV by 1.2 inches on the highway to improve aerodynamics. It can be lowered 2.8 inches when parked to improve access. Conversely, there is an off-road setting that raises the vehicle 2.8 inches higher than its normal ride height. It is standard on all trims except the Pure.
Active Safety and Driver Assistance
As expected at this price, the QX80 comes with automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind spot warning with trailer mode, rear cross traffic warning, and lane keeping assistance.
Plus, it has a clever-sounding parking feature that remembers your preferred spot, and it preemptively provides onscreen guidance into the spot when approached.
The Pure, Luxe, and Sensory trims come with ProPILOT Assist 1.1, which combines adaptive cruise control with lane centering assistance to relieve some stress when driving. This system combines information from sensors and data from the navigation system to provide driving control assistance, proactively adjusting speed for curves, interchanges, and other driving scenarios.
Optional on Luxe and Sensory, and standard on Autograph, is ProPilot Assist 2.1. This steps up the aids to allow drivers to take their hands off the wheel in some highway conditions. When we tested ProPilot Assist 2.0, it impressed us with its capabilities and performance, and it worked better than Tesla’s Autopilot.
The QX80 has a very traditional two-box silhouette that reminds of a Land Rover Range Rover.
Photo: Infiniti
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2024-03-25T18:17:53Z dg43tfdfdgfd