The 2022 INFINITI QX80 offers 3 trim levels to choose from. They include the base Luxe trim, the middle-ground Premium Select trim, and the top-of-the-line SENSORY trim. Each trim gets a V8 powertrain with RWD as standard. Unlike the Nissan Armada which includes 4WD as an option, the INFINITI QX80 only offers AWD as an optional upgrade for each trim. 

The QX80 comes pretty much loaded right from its base trim with almost every creature comforts that one would need on a daily basis. The Premium Select trim adds larger wheels and premium exterior and interior trims while the top-of-the-line Sensory trim features a heated rear seat, hydraulic suspension, rear-seat entertainment, and various other ultra-premium goodies. 

Which trim should you buy?

To keep things affordable within a budget, we recommend the base level Luxe trim as the best option while buying the INFINITI QX80. The base-level trim packs in plenty of luxury feature to keep your family snug and comfortable, like leather upholstery, heated front seats, a power-adjustable steering wheel with heating functionality, and second-row captain's chairs. 

2022 INFINITI QX80 Release Date

Infiniti has already launched the QX80 and one can get hold of one at all their dealerships across America. Expect the deliveries to begin shortly in the final quarter of 2021. 

The 2022 INFINITI QX80 features a robust 5.6-liter naturally aspirated V8 engine that can shell out a juicy 400 hp and 413 lb-ft of torque. The engine is paired with a 7-speed automatic gearbox as standard and power are sent to the rear wheels as standard. An optional all-wheel-drive system adds an extra bit of all-weather capability and off-road traction to the equation. The engine feels potent enough to carry the heavyweight of the SUV. The engine feels a breeze to drive within the corridors of the city, but the slow downshifts of the transmission take away some of the fun factors while on a highway cruise. With the V8 powertrain under its hood, the QX80 sees off the 0-60 MPH run in 5.9 seconds. The SUV punches above its weight and clocks in a quarter-mile timing of 14.5 seconds. 

The QX80’s monstrous towing capacity of 8,500 pounds might come in handy while towing a camper or a boat on your family getaways. The 2022 INFINITI QX80 drives pretty much like a family hauler. The SUV’s handling feels rather lazy, as the SUV takes a lot of effort to scale difficult corners. The adaptive suspension absorbs most of the incoming road shock to maintain the comfort factor of the ride. On the highest trim level, a hydraulic suspension setup is added to the standard equipment list, which boosts the ride quality to an even further extent. The QX80 is geared towards maintaining serene and comfortable ride quality, while the ride quality doesn’t inspire any thrill whatsoever.

The Lincoln Navigator dominates the power charts with its class-leading power and torque output but also has the highest asking price. Following it close behind is the Cadillac Escalade, and our INFINITI QX80 is in 3rd position. The BMW’s base powertrain may lack the power, but it outclasses all of its rivals in the speed charts. That being said, it lacks in terms of towing capacity where the Infiniti outperforms all other SUVs of its class. The Lincoln’s high engine output does not help much in the towing department.

The 2022 INFINITI QX80 is expected to retain the same EPA estimates as its 2021 predecessor. Subpar fuel economy figures aren’t a new deal for premium full-size SUVs. As expected, the QX80 returns a relatively low combined MPG of 16. With its massive 26-gallon fuel tank, customers can expect a city mileage in the range of 364 miles and highway mileage around 520 miles. 

The AWD trim level is even more awful in the fuel economy sector, as it loses 1 MPG off each of its fuel economy figures. This trim level is rated at EPA estimates of 13/19/15 for city/highway/combined. These figures are pretty disappointing and can take a toll on your wallet, especially if you are planning to haul passengers on a regular basis.

While all the SUVs in this class are literal lawnmowers in terms of fuel economy, the BMW X7 offers the most frugal fuel economy out of all these heavy gas guzzlers. The Bimmer leads the way with its class-leading mileage and respectable MPG numbers. The Lincoln Navigator and the Cadillac Escalade offer some sort of fuel-saving technology to save some fuel expenses for the customer. The INFINITI QX80, unfortunately, offers no such technology and suffers from its fuel-hungry powertrain.

The 2022 INFINITI QX80 will sport the same old interior design which has been in use for over a decade now. Still, the interiors manage to look upscale thanks to the fine selection of materials used throughout the cabin. This year though, the dashboard gets a visual upgrade to accommodate the all-new touchscreen. The HVAC system also enjoys a new layout with physical buttons to adjust the climate controls. The seats are a practical haven too thanks to their commodious interior dimensions. Rear passengers will feel at home seated within the standard second-row captain’s chairs. 

To seat in more passengers, drivers can switch out for a second-row bench seat. The third-row seats also offer plenty of comfort and versatility, although they are only ideal for children or small-sized adults. The QX80 is an excellent SUV in the cargo versatility sector too, as it offers the most interior cubby storage compared to any of its rivals. With the SUV offering about 16.6 cubic feet of space behind the 3rd-row seats, the QX80 fits a sizable amount of luggage. With both the 2nd- and 3rd-row seats folded, the SUV offers a wondrous 95.1 cubic feet of space, which makes it an excellent cargo hauler as well.

Front and rear passengers have less headroom and legroom inside the INFINITI QX80 compared to bigger utes like the Cadillac Escalade and others. With all the seats folded, the QX80 still offers less space in total compared to its massive Cadillac and Lincoln rivals. However, it manages to beat the BMW X7 in terms of total available cargo space. Some of the standout interior features are as follows:

• 10-way power driver's seat w/dual occupant memory system
• 8-way power Fold Flat passenger's seat
• Heated front seats
• Bucket Folding Bucket Manual Reclining Flip Forward Rear Seat
• Fixed 60-40 Split-Bench 3rd Row Seat w/Power Recline & Power Fold Into Floor
• Semi-aniline leather seating
• Power Tilt/Telescoping Steering Column and Heated Leather Steering Wheel w/Auto Tilt-Away
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob and Leatherette Door Trim Insert
• Tri-zone automatic temperature control system with voice activation
• Memory Settings for Door Mirrors and Steering Wheel

What’s there to keep you entertained?

The major addition for the INFINITI QX80 this year is catered towards the infotainment suite. The SUV is getting a larger 12.3-inch touchscreen, which in turn replaces the outdated and unintuitive dual-screen setup on the previous year’s model. This display sports the latest InTouch connectivity software as standard, which also includes navigation services as standard. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay will also remain standard, albeit they will now also support wireless connectivity, which is even more good news for prospective buyers. 

For entertainment purposes, the QX80 rocks a stellar 13-speaker Bose audio system as standard, that will blow your mind away with the awesome bass. Other high-tech features include wireless smartphone charging and a wide array of 4 USB ports. The Theater package adds an extra USB port and a 120 V power outlet to the equation. The flagship Sensory trim brings the party to the rear passengers with its rear-seat entertainment system, which consists of two 8-inch touchscreens fitted to the back of the front seat headrests and a higher-end 17-speaker Bose sound system. Some of the highlights of the infotainment system are as follows:

• A 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• 13-speaker Bose premium audio system w/2 subwoofers
• InTouch connectivity w/ 12-months of safety, security, and convenience services
• Navigation with lane guidance and 3D building graphics
• Android Auto and Wireless Apple CarPlay
• SiriusXM satellite radio w/90-day complimentary trial access
• SiriusXM Traffic & Travel Link w/4-year complimentary trial access

Based on the latest spy shots, the 2022 INFINITI QX80 doesn’t stray too far from its basic exterior design philosophy. The SUV looks commanding from every angle, just like what we expect from a full-size SUV of its stature. INFINITI has carved out many subtle curves and chrome accents to eliminate any signs of tackiness or boxiness in the exterior style. The base Luxe trim rides on 20-inch wheels while the higher trims command their prowess with their mighty 22-inch alloy rollers. 

The INFINITI QX80 is one of the bulkiest full-size SUVs, although it is still lighter than the likes of the similarly-sized Lincoln Navigator. The QX80 has a decent ground clearance, which is on par with the segment standards. The Cadillac Escalade is marginally larger in dimensions which explains its superior interior space, while the X7 is the most compact of them all which aids it in offering a superior ride and handling as compared to others in this comparison. Some of the standout exterior features are as follows:

• Manual-Leveling Fully Automatic Projector Beam Led Low/High Beam Daytime Running Auto High-Beam Headlamps
• LED taillights
• Power tailgate
• Running Boards and Lip Spoiler
• Heated and powered side mirrors w/Tilt Down, Auto-Dimming Side, and Power Folding
• Chrome Grille, Door Handles, Side Windows Trim, and Front Windshield Trim
• Express Open/Close Sliding And Tilting Glass 1st Row Sunroof w/Sunshade
• 20-inch Split 6-Spoke Aluminum-Alloywheels

In terms of crashworthiness, the INFINITI QX80 ranks the lowest safety scores compared to other rivals in the federal safety tests. The 2021 trim level received a 4-star overall safety rating in NHTSA’s 5-star safety scale. Some bad safety scores in the frontal crash tests dampened the overall safety score of the QX80 SUV.

Nevertheless, INFINITI doesn’t compromise on the overall safety features within its safety suite. We expect this splendid safety suite to be carried forward to the 2022 iteration, which includes a host of standout safety features like adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, and a rear-seat occupant reminder. The safety suite of the 2022 INFINITI QX80 includes the following:

• Automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection
• Predictive forward collision warning
• Adaptive cruise control
• Lane departure prevention
• Backup collision intervention
• Blind Spot Intervention
• INFINITI Connection Emergency SOS
• Front And Rear Parking Sensors w/360-degree view cameras

2022 INFINITI QX80 vs 2022 Cadillac Escalade

The Cadillac Escalade has set the golden standards for full-size luxury SUVs over the years. Against an opponent of such high stature, the INFINITI QX80 has no answer. The Cadillac outclasses the INFINITI in the power charts, by offering higher horsepower and torque with its base engine. Cadillac also offers a turbo-diesel engine option, which unfortunately isn’t available on its Japanese counterpart. The Escalade almost drives around like a car, paying no heed to its massive exterior dimensions while cruising around. 

The QX80 on the other hand still drives around like a boxy SUV. The Escalade also sports a plethora of luxury features and technology inside, and also keeps its passengers happy with its sensational interior space. The QX80 redeems itself with its all-new touchscreen and premium interior materials. In terms of safety, the QX80 adds in 1 or 2 extra driver assistance features than the Escalade but its safety scores aren’t on par with its rival. For the higher price tag, we believe the Cadillac Escalade is worth every penny compared to the QX80 and should be a clear winner in this duel.

2022 INFINITI QX80 vs 2022 Lincoln Navigator

The Lincoln Navigator is another stern American rival that is priced in a similar range to the Cadillac we compared earlier. The Navigator has the clear upper hand in terms of power, as it annihilates the QX80 with its monstrous torque. The Navigator also offers a 4x4 drivetrain as an option, whereas the QX80 buyers will only have to settle for an AWD drivetrain. 

Besides, all the iterations of the Navigator are more fuel-efficient than the comparable trim levels of the QX80. The Navigator’s interiors and infotainment suite have just been refreshed this year and look more upscale than the QX80. The Navigator also offers more cargo room than the QX80 to store your luggage no matter how you fold the rear seats. Overall, the Lincoln Navigator is the better SUV in almost every aspect.

2022 INFINITI QX80 vs 2022 BMW X7

The BMW X7 fulfills the true motives of a high-end Bimmer, which is to provide excellent driving dynamics, ride quality, and performance that thrills every driver. Although the QX80 takes the onus with additional power onboard, the BMW X7 is the better SUV to drive in everyday situations. The BMW also offers more in terms of interior dimensions and packs in a plethora of cutting-edge technology and luxury bits. However, the BMW’s 3rd-row seating is a bit impractical for adults with the limited shoulder room and legroom. 

The QX80 takes advantage by offering more space for passengers in the 3rd-row seats and also more luggage room behind those seats. The INFINITI QX80 is very well-rounded in terms of interior versatility and cargo management, making it a better family hauler. Although if you want to enjoy the adrenaline rush by zipping around in a full-size SUV, the BMW X7 is the best choice in the market.

The new INFINITI QX80 certainly has a lot of positive aspects to look forward to. The SUV’s powerful V8 powertrain charges the SUV ahead even when it is filled to the brim with passengers. The interiors are wrapped in premium materials all around and also sport impressive room for passengers to feel comfortable in. The addition of the new touchscreen unit and other high-tech features adds a lot of promise to the QX80’s infotainment suite. For the incredibly high price range of the luxury full-size SUV class, the QX80 is definitely the most affordable option for family buyers.