Connect with us

Auto

2019 Infiniti QX80 Review

Published

on

The 2019 Infiniti QX80 brings together a new Limited trim level with a redesign from 2018, offering an imposing profile and set of features in the Luxury SUV space, but it’s still in need of a few key upgrades to rank as high as you sit in this bold three-row SUV.

The 2019 Infiniti QX80 delivers big and bold styling.

The 2019 Infiniti QX80 delivers big and bold styling.

The QX80 makes a statement especially in the Limited trim level with AWD that I tested out, and that’s what you expect from a $91,000 SUV.

A powerful 5.6L V8 engine provides plenty of power to meet your needs and this large SUV never feels slow. It’s also quite comfortable thanks to the great seats and a comfortable ride. The 2019 QX80 offers good handling, more standard safety features and a lot of cargo room.

While there is a lot to love about the QX80, the infotainment system desperately needs an update to add at least Apple CarPlay and an updated infotainment interface.

[letsreview]

2019 Infiniti QX80 Driving & Performance

The 2019 QX80 defies expectations when you get behind the wheel and start driving. While it is a big vehicle, the 5.6L V8 under the hood makes more than enough power, delivering good acceleration and plenty of power while at speed on the highway. Handling is good, especially for such a large SUV and it’s quite easy to comfortably haul friends and family around without worrying about the overall size holding you back.

There's plenty of power under the hood, but it's definitely not sipping gasoline.

There’s plenty of power under the hood, but it’s definitely not sipping gasoline.

Ride quality is good, even with the 22-inch wheels on the Limited Trim. With great ground clearance and 4WD, it’s ready for wet and slippery winters. It also handled a steep grade to get into a ravine for an afternoon of outdoor activities. Part of this ride quality comes from the Hydraulic Body Motion Control system, which is a fancy way of saying that the suspension adapts to minimize leaning around corners and to help smooth the overall ride. This is something that makes a noticeable difference in a big vehicle like the QX80.

There are plenty of driver-assist features, but you won’t find Pro Pilot Assist which is a semi-autonomous driving mode that you can option on the Infiniti QX50.

If you’re ready to take a small camper or toys to the lake, the QX80 is capable with a maximum 8,500 lb towing capacity.

Fuel economy is a rough spot as this V8 isn’t sipping as you drive. You can expect 14 miles per gallon in the city and 20 miles per gallon on the highway. That’s behind the competition.

2019 Infiniti QX80 Interior & Design

Inside is a spacious and luxurious interior.

Inside is a spacious and luxurious interior.

The 2019 QX80 interior is spacious and luxurious with a high seat position and a nice mix of high-quality leather and beautiful grey woodgrain in the Limited trim level I reviewed.

One of the hallmark features of the QX80 and the Armada is the high seat position. It works really nicely in the QX80, where it feels natural and works with the overall size of the three-row SUV.

The front seats are very comfortable and adjustable. The heated and cooling came in handy during a warm June week. The large center console offers a lot of room for storage and there are several cubbies available.

Playing on the strengths of size, even more, is the spacious and still very luxurious second row, which is well suited for adults with two captains chairs and a center console. It’s also great for kids thanks to the theater package in our model, which includes two screens and headphones to keep kids entertained. It would be nice to see an option for a panoramic sunroof in the back to bring more light into the back rows.

In the third row, legroom is limited, but it’s great for kids. Thanks to the longer vehicle length there is an impressive amount of storage space in the back of the QX80 even with the third row in use. When you need more room the third-row folds down with the push of a button. There is also a small storage area under the main cargo compartment to keep odds and ends organized.

I’m a fan of the big design that catches the eye on the road and in a parking lot. The QX80 sits high and with the vehicle length and pleasing lines it’s sharp-looking Luxury SUV.

2019 Infiniti QX80 Infotainment, Tech & Safety

The QX80 needs an update to the infotainment system, which is outdated when you compare it to the competition. The 8-inch touch screen is easy to use and you can turn on a hotspot to share the Internet connection, but the interface looks and feels out of touch with the rest of the QX80. There is also no support for Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, which would make the state of this system easier to live with.

The infotainment system feels dated and doesn't support Android Auto or Apple CarPlay.

The infotainment system feels dated and doesn’t support Android Auto or Apple CarPlay.

A 15 speaker Bose sound system delivers excellent sound quality throughout the cabin and the Bluetooth system works well for phone calls.

The Limited trim level tested came with the Theater package that adds two 8-inch screens in the back that can play media from the built-in DVD player or over an HDMI port. This package also includes a 120V outlet and another USB port so that you can plug in a game system or other device and play on the screens. The sound comes over the SUV’s speakers or through the two included wireless headphones.

There are an array of driver convenience and safety features including intelligent cruise control that keeps you with the flow of traffic, lane departure warning, and prevention, blind-spot warning and intervention as well as Backup collision intervention. Lane departure and blind spot features are not standard.

The rearview mirror packs a nice trick, turning into a screen that displays a rearview stream from your backup camera so that you can always see out the mirror even if there are people or cargo in the way.

Standard on all trim levels is Forward Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection, which is great to see. It also comes with standard automatic high beams. The 360-degree camera system is a must and makes getting in and out of tight parking spots easy.

Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.