Three tons of fun, but not much space for stuff
DIGITAL EDITOR ANDREW STOY: Mass still sells, whether it’s in bigfoot houses on teeny urban lots or traditional SUVs plying suburban shopping mall parking lots. Especially in this less-than-$ 3-per-gallon economy, full-size luxury SUVs have been cash cows for automakers, and Infiniti’s enormous QX80, while not the newest design on the block, is up 20 percent in sales this year despite prices ranging from $ 65K to our tester’s completely bonkers $ 90K sticker.
Crazy? Or is it? Granted, the luxury package added an instant $ 10K to our loaded QX80, but man, it’s positively gorgeous inside. From a quilted leather throne that feels about 9 feet high, the driver surveys what appears to be a full 4×8 sheet of matte ash punctuated with leather and brushed metal. The passenger seat, over it its zip code, gets a similar view, while the second-row seats are heated, individual buckets with a massive center console and rear-seat entertainment screens.
Don’t confuse mass with space, though — while occupants have tons of leg- and shoulder room, cargo capacity, even with the third row folded, is nowhere near as usable as that in a more-pedestrian minivan or crossover. The liftover in back — the distance from the ground to the load floor — will have anyone under 6 feet looking for a stepladder, and the underfloor cargo compartment won’t hold anything larger than a box of Whitman’s chocolates.
Like all these huge ’utes, the QX80 hides its size well from behind the wheel; it’s not nearly as unwieldy as it would seem in traffic or on narrow roads, and tight parking spots are made easier thanks to multiple exterior cameras, birds-eye views and an array of proximity sensors (though the need for so many assists calls into question the silliness of trucks this size). Power from the 5.6-liter V8 never fails to impress and trans tuning is near perfect; the only weirdness is some driveline rubber-banding in traffic — it’s like there’s some looseness between the engine and the wheels for which the transmission attempts to compensate, resulting in a fore/aft wiggle when the throttle is applied, released, and applied again.
For me, the QX80’s looks are polarizing; personally, I detest it — with the huge wheels and chrome side vents, it looks like a Conestoga wagon that stopped at a Donner Pass Pep Boys. In profile, the bulbous hood drop-off over the headlights looks exactly like a hulking Cro-Magnon brow. Then I pull into my kids’ school parking lot and a lady I’ve never met runs over and compliments my gorgeous car.
I tried to trade it for her ATS but she wasn’t biting.
Your personal preferences will likely determine whether you’re looking at one of these or a short-wheelbase Cadillac Escalade, or possibly a Lexus LX570; dark horse competitors might include the Mercedes GL500 and Range Rover, but I’m not convinced those customers are going to cross-shop Japanese brands. Pricing differences between them come down to a thousand bucks here and there, so it’s really about whether the super-chiseled Caddy, spindle-grilled Lexus or curvy Infiniti best complements your McMansion.
2015 Infiniti QX80
EDITOR WES RAYNAL: I do love me some big trucks. Pickups, SUVs, whatever. I’m a full-size truck fan (and I’m not the only one — look at the sales charts) and this baby is definitely full-size. Speaking of sales, the QX80 (formerly the QX56) is up 20 percent this year.
Why? One reason might be that it actually drives quite well — better than its size and weight would lead you to believe. Underneath is the Nissan Patrol, a big full-frame SUV we don’t get here. The Patrol platform is the base for an ultra-smooth ride no matter the pavement. Potholes? What potholes? The V8 has smooth, good power and you can’t really tell the trans is shifting unless you’re watching the tach. It’s really quiet on the road, double glass and the like…
The interior is comfortable and beautiful with nice materials, top-notch build quality and Infiniti’s swoops and curves, all well assembled. A soothing place to spend time, to unwind at the end of a long day.
I can’t say why exactly, but lately I find myself liking Infiniti’s SUVs more than its cars. This might be an example of why: If you need to tow big heavy stuff (8,500 pounds worth) and want to do it in a stress-free environment, this might be the ticket.
2015 Infiniti QX80
ASSOCIATE EDITOR GRAHAM KOZAK: I understand the point of backup cameras — thanks to the rise of slitlike windows and high beltlines, they’re practically mandatory on even the sportiest of modern-day coupes.
But front-view cameras?
On a leviathan like the QX80, they actually make sense, which should tell you everything you need to know about just how big it is. It’s not that it’s bigger than anything else on the road — a Chevrolet Suburban is well over a foot longer and marginally wider — it’s that it feels truly, distinctively massive in a way I’m struggling to qualify. Just look at a picture. See what I mean? It’s a brick. I’m sure enough time at the helm would have me whipping this boat around like a pro, but knowing what I am about to crush beneath its mighty bulk (thanks to the front-view camera) is reassuring.
The QX80 isn’t just big, though. It’s apparently well-built, with a far greater attention to detail than, say, comparable Lexus offerings. The interior provides near-total isolation from the road. Quiet and cushy, it’s like floating on a cloud, if clouds were a sort of bronzey mauve, weighed 3 tons and had alcantara linings.
It’s definitely meant for people, though — not gear. I’ll echo Andy here: whatever the actual interior volume may be (I checked, but Infiniti doesn’t exactly make it clear), space for cargo doesn’t live up to the expectations raised by the vehicle’s ample exterior proportions. Rear seats fold flat, and middle seats fold forward…and you’re left with a honkin’ middle-row console in the way of whatever you’re trying to toss in there. Though I managed to load a lot of crap in the back, I was paranoid about busting one of the second-row video screens or tearing any exposed leather. A rough-and-tumble utility vehicle, the QX80 is not.
But it’s been a while since SUVs went heavy on the sport at the expense of utility. As Wes notes, you could haul something big with this, but anything dirtier than a boat and you’d be better off with a full-size pickup. They might not have front-view cameras — or alcantara headliners — but they’re getting to be fairly luxurious these days, too.
With the QX80, you’re definitely making a $ 90,000 style statement. And I’m OK with that — so long as you’re honest about your intentions — even if I don’t quite understand it. As far as style statements go, this is at least a supremely comfortable one.
2015 Infiniti QX80
Options: Limited package including truffle brown semi-aniline leather interior, open-pore matte-finish ash wood trim, unique seat quilting, ultrasuede headliner, leather-covered grab handles, truffle brown leather steering wheel, dark chrome finish 22-inch wheels, dark chrome exterior trim, darkened headlight inner lens, darkened taillight inner lens, stainless steel running board caps, under running board welcome lighting, dark chrome roof rail crossbars and illuminated kick plates ($ 10,000); Deluxe technology package including hydraulic body motion control system, climate-controlled front seats, semi-aniline leather appointed seating, Stratford Burl trim, Stratford Burl and leather wrapped steering wheel, blind spot intervention, lane departure warning and lane departure prevention ($ 5,550); Tire and wheel package including 22-inch, 14-spoke forged aluminum-alloy wheels with all season tires ($ 2,450); Theater package including dual 7-inch color monitors, heated second row seats, and remote tip-up second row seats for easy third row entry/exit ($ 2,400); Driver’s assistance package including blind spot warning, backup collision intervention, intelligent brake assist with forward emergency braking and predictive forward collision warning ($ 2,100)
