Used 2020 INFINITI QX80

Top 6 Features of the 2020 Infiniti QX80

#1. Size matters
It’s big, naturally, because the 2020 QX80 is a full-size SUV with three seating rows. But it also has an imposing presence that makes a virtue of its dimensions.

#2. Luxury matters, too
Leather upholstery is just one of the QX80’s standard features. A 13-speaker Bose audio system with two subwoofers is another.

#3. Muscular V8
No small-displacement engine trying to compensate with a turbocharger here. This mighty 5.6-liter motor develops 400 horsepower.

#4. Impressive towing ability
That gutsy engine and traditional SUV body-on-frame construction results in a tow rating of 8,500 pounds. That’s great for the class.

#5. Standard-issue driver aids
Some manufacturers charge extra for blind-spot monitoring and Backup Collision Intervention, but Infiniti doesn’t with the 2020 QX80.

#6. Smart keys
The QX80 recognizes which key fob is being used and can automatically adjust things like seat positions, cabin temperature and infotainment settings.

Overview

As the company’s flagship SUV, the 2020 Infiniti QX80 touts the biggest and best the luxury brand has to offer. Under the hood, a 400-horsepower V8 offers up plenty of power for towing and passing, but it is extremely fuel thirsty. Not that such issues matter to luxury buyers. Inside, the QX80 pampers its occupants in luxurious leather seating with room for up to eight people.

Regrettably, the QX80’s aging platform means it’s missing the latest high-tech features. Luxury buyers may take umbrage at these oversights, leading them to newer models like the Lincoln Navigator, Mercedes-Benz GLS and BMW X7. Buyers looking for better fuel economy can find it in hybrid models like the Volvo XC90 T8, Lincoln Aviator Grand Touring and Acura MDX Sporty Hybrid.

Infiniti’s QX80 for 2020 projects a powerful image backed by an equally powerful drivetrain. The standard 5.6-liter V8 pumps out an impressive 400 horsepower, enough muscle to propel the nearly 6,000-pound QX80 to 60 mph in under six seconds. This impressive feat comes at the cost of fuel economy, however, making the 2020 QX80 one of the least efficient vehicles in the segment.

The big V8 is smooth and silent, and what little V8 growl it does make is shut out by the well-insulated cabin. Wind and road noise also suffer the same fate, and that’s a good thing. Once underway, the QX80’s considerable heft becomes more apparent. The steering assist is on the lighter side, requiring more attention in curves than in a Mercedes-Benz GLS or Acura MDX. The ride is exceptionally comfortable, thanks in no small part to Infiniti’s Hydraulic Body Motion Control system. We think this setup gives the QX80 a softer ride than some leading rivals, including the Cadillac Escalade.

Infiniti says it drew inspiration for its 2020 QX80 interior from luxury jets. We’ll take their word on that, but can confirm that the new QX80 offers a comfortable interior, with expensive-looking quilting and piping. The seats are also protected from stains.

Rear-seat passengers can be entertained by an infotainment system, and there’s an updated infotainment system with a dual-screen setup found in other Infiniti vehicles. Finally this year Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also onboard. However, despite the comfortable seating, the big Infiniti’s 2nd-row seats don’t slide forward, limiting 3rd-row legroom. The old black-and-white information display between the analog gauges is replaced this year with a nice 7-inch color display.

A recent makeover banished the odd nose, droopy headlights and ill-conceived fender vents of the first-generation QX80. In their place is fresh sheet metal in front that not only gathers this full-size luxury SUV into the rest of the Infiniti design fold, but makes it a genuinely handsome vehicle. It doesn’t disguise the big Infiniti’s size though, and at nearly 209-inches long and nearly 80-inches tall, this is a big SUV. Still, we like it. The proportions are spot-on, we like the kick-up of the rear-side windows even if it does limit rear visibility, and the tasteful tailgate and fender vents give the 2020 Infiniti QX80 the kind of style that stands out for all the right reasons.

DISTANCE-CONTROL ASSIST
Working independently of the adaptive cruise control, the DCA system monitors traffic and alerts the driver if the vehicle ahead begins to decelerate. The system will lift the accelerator pedal beneath the driver’s foot, signaling the need to slow down. DCA will also automatically slow the vehicle and can even bring it to a complete stop.

HYDRAULIC BODY-MOTION CONTROL
In the past, the best way to control body roll and lean in a vehicle as large as the QX80 was to install a heavy set of steel springs and thick stabilizer bars. Knowing this solution also results in a stiff ride, Infiniti devised a set of active hydraulic shocks that work to stabilize the vehicle in curves and deliver a smooth ride on flat surfaces.

Standard equipment on the Luxe trims includes leather seating, navigation system, power liftgate, tri-zone climate control, moonroof, heated front seats and steering wheel, power tilt/telescoping steering wheel and Around View monitor with Moving Object Detection. You also get luxury touches like power-folding mirrors, a leather-wrapped instrument panel, and 2nd-row captain’s chairs.

There’s one year of complimentary subscription to the Infiniti Connection telematics system, which includes concierge service and vehicle information sent to your phone, a 13-speaker Bose AM/FM/CD/DVD Premium Audio System with USB connection, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Bluetooth streaming, and front and rear sonar parking sensors. Standard driver assists include forward-emergency braking, lane-departure warning, rear cross-traffic detection and blind-spot monitor and Rear Door Alert.

Option packages on the 2020 QX80 include a ProActive Package that adds the Hydraulic Body Motion Control suspension, adaptive front lighting, pre-crash seatbelts and headlight washers. The Theater Package adds dual 8-inch rear screens mounted in the front-seat headrests, along with wireless headphones and a remote.

The ProAssist Package bundles a camera-based smart rearview mirror, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure prevention, blind-spot intervention and Distance Control Assist (see Favorite Features). The Sensory Package brings a 17-speaker Bose audio system, semi-aniline quilted leather seating, climate-controlled front seats, heated 2nd-row seats and more. The Limited trim includes all these option packages as standard.

The only engine available for the QX80 is Infiniti’s 5.6-liter V8 driving either the rear or all four wheels through a 7-speed automatic transmission. It’s an impressively powerful engine, with 400 horsepower and 413 lb-ft of torque, and it lets the body-on-frame QX tow up to 8,500 pounds, quite a lot for a luxury SUV.

Both rear- and all-wheel-drive (RWD, AWD) models come with Hill Start Assist and Snow Mode to help you get moving when roads are slick. Opt for AWD and you get a full-time system, and the ability to shift into a 4LO mode in case road conditions turn exceptionally rugged. But don’t expect good fuel economy: The best EPA number is 20-mpg highway for rear-drive models, and we’ve seen averages of around 14-15 mpg in mixed driving.

5.6-liter V8
400 horsepower @ 5,800 rpm
413 lb-ft of torque @ 4,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 14/20 mpg (RWD), 13/19 mpg (AWD)