AutoTrader SCORE
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STYLING7.0/10
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Safety7.0/10
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PRACTICALITY8.0/10
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USER-FRIENDLINESS6.5/10
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FEATURES9.0/10
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POWER9.0/10
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COMFORT9.0/10
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DRIVING FEEL7.0/10
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FUEL ECONOMY6.0/10
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VALUE7.0/10
Japanese companies have proven themselves remarkably adept at studying industry leaders, then attempting to make better versions of their own.
Their takes on American-style cruiser motorcycles seemingly set aside the best practices for refinement and performance in order to deliver the authentic low-revving lumpiness of a big V-twin with better build quality. The Nikka is a celebrated Japanese whisky, masterfully distilled to become an award-winning spirit that delivers an impressive replication of a single-malt scotch.
And now Infiniti has seemingly looked at Land Rover’s luxurious Range Rover and decided to create its own variation, while presumably aiming for superior reliability and durability than the grand British SUV is known for. The result is the 2025 Infiniti QX80 — a sport utility that mimics Range Rover in ways both good and bad.
Styling: 7/10
The previous QX80 resembled a beluga whale with its low headlights and tall, bulbous forehead-like protrusion above the grille. It got a bit better looking over time, but the leap to this new design is remarkable. The QX80 is still a towering, imposing structure, but it’s far more contemporary and refined than before.
The front, with its piano key-like running lights high in the corners, contrasts the tall grille that’s meant to look like a bamboo forest punctuated by an illuminated Infiniti logo. The grille is more ostentatious than that of the dignified Range Rover, but far from the monstrosity found on the Lexus LX — arguably this Infiniti’s closest competitor.
The rear features a full array of LEDs that might’ve been inspired by the back of a sci-fi spaceship, while the profile is smooth and slab-sided, not unlike a Range Rover. It even features similar retractable door handles.
Coupled with the top Autograph trim’s black roof, this tester’s grey paint provided a suave look, but the various angles applied to the front bumper and fenders reflect light awkwardly, giving it the look of a bad bodyshop repair job from some angles. Then there was this tester’s orange peel paint finish that shouldn’t be found on a vehicle of this calibre.
The QX80’s interior is lovely, especially at the top of the lineup. The burgundy leather feels properly decadent and is nicely contrasted by the metal accents of the speaker covers and the open-pore wood on the dash and doors with their LED pinstripes. The thick black carpets should feel like home to anyone who’s been in a Range Rover. The only letdowns are the gloss-black plastic panels throughout the cabin that quickly get smudged and unsightly.
Comfort: 9/10
Unsurprisingly, comfort is one of the QX80’s greatest strengths. The front seats in particular are divine, offering support in all the places needed for long distance travel, yet there’s enough suppleness to feel luxurious, too. Top that with the top trim’s massage settings for not only the front occupants, but also those in the second-row seats, and a quartet of travellers can arrive at their destination well-kneaded.
The third row even gets heated seats in the Autograph trim, and is pleasingly comfortable, too, although headroom could be more generous for adults. It should be noted that accessing the third row is a relatively easy climb thanks to generous openings provided by the second-row seats motoring well forward and out of the way.
Ride quality from the air suspension is impressive, as is the sound insulation from the engine. Wind and road noise, meanwhile, is negligible.
Features: 9/10
For 2025, the QX80 gains a bunch of new features, many of which are technology-based. The mood lighting can be set to any of 64 different colours. There’s a generous panoramic sunroof, and in addition to those swanky seats, there’s an infrared sensor that can determine if rear-seat passengers are too warm and automatically redirect the climate control to help chill them out. Meanwhile, the centre console between the front seats can chill a half-dozen beverages in the standard cooler box. Then there’s the 24-speaker stereo that offers powerful audio, but it also does an amazing job creating distinct, clear sound, helping to isolate different nuances to songs.
Safety: 7/10
The features spill over to the safety suite as well, where Infiniti is using the QX80 as a showcase for its latest safety technology. Automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, parking sensors, and an assortment of helpful camera angles make this big Infiniti easier to navigate safely in tight spaces.
Some of the QX80’s advanced driver aids are overeager, with the lane-keeping assist snapping the vehicle back into place with startling aggression, and the lane-departure warning buzzing almost constantly in narrow urban settings. Likewise, the driver attention monitoring system is a bit too quick to scold even the slightest change in head positioning.
The Autograph features Infiniti’s ProPilot Assist 2.1 system that enables hands-free driving and automated lane changes on certain stretches of highway. It’s available only in certain circumstances and locations, but during this test, the QX80 was never willing to take control — yet when I would initiate a safe lane change, the steering would suddenly fight me mid-way through the manoeuvre. At best it was annoying — at worst, frightening and dangerous.
User-Friendliness: 6.5/10
The driver’s view is a commanding one, especially to the front and sides, while the controls are all displayed across a pair of enormous 14.3-inch screens — one for the instruments, and the other touchscreen for the infotainment system. Unfortunately, there’s a third haptic panel for the climate control that’s needlessly fussy, often requiring multiple taps to get any result.
The infotainment system employs a Google-based operating system that generally works well. The system allows wireless smartphone connectivity to Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, although despite my iPhone being the newest model with the freshest operating system version, the QX80’s system frequently had trouble connecting.
Power: 9/10
Replacing burly V8 engines with six turbocharged cylinders is the way of the world now. I’ve bemoaned the loss of smooth, rumbly V8 harmonics in other luxury machines, but the old QX80’s engine was gruff and truck-like, and the new twin-turbo 3.5L makes more output. It does so effortlessly, too, and while the nine-speed automatic transmission is kept busy frequently shifting up and down, it’s mostly unobtrusive and helps the big Infiniti hustle to highway speed and snap off brisk passes with urgency. It’s a very likeable drivetrain that doesn’t feel strained, despite hauling around more than 2,800 kg (6,173 lb) — a greater mass than any of its key competitors.
Fuel Economy: 6/10
Beyond offering more power, the smaller V6 is meant to be more efficient than the older engine — and it is. The new QX80 delivers official figures of 15.1 L/100 km in the city, 12.2 on the highway, and 13.8 combined. That’s notably better around town, but its highway — and, consequently, the combined — figures are very similar to the V8’s. Still, the QX80 is only slightly thirstier than the Lexus LX and Lincoln Navigator, and a bit better than the V8-powered Cadillac Escalade. Like its competitors, the Infiniti requires premium-grade gas.
Driving Feel: 7/10
While Infiniti has refined the QX80’s suspension to manage body motions impressively well, it’s still an enormous machine that’s nearly 60 mm (2.4 in) wider than the Cadillac Escalade and more than 120 mm (4.7 in) wider than the Lexus LX. That kind of width — plus all its weight — is ever-present, especially when wheeling around the tight confines of urban and suburban life. It feels enormous and heavy. The brakes, to their credit, can effectively haul this brute to a stop with strong power, but with a pedal that’s very firm and offers little modulation.
Practicality: 8/10
Despite the impracticality of its size on urban streets, the QX80 can very comfortably accommodate seven adults, and a reasonable 623 L of luggage behind them. Its tall ride height and standard four-wheel drive mean it can get through a significant snowfall, or down a rough cottage road without trouble. And if the third row is folded forward, the cargo hold expands to a sizable 1,670 L. The QX80 is rated to tow 3,856 kg (8,501 lb).
Value: 7/10
All QX80s are mechanically the same, with just the finishes and features separating the entry-level Luxe from the mid-grade Sensory and this top-tier Autograph. Each of them starts at more than $100,000 now, which is considerably more than before. The Autograph rings in at $124,995 before the optional two-tone paint ($1,200), freight ($2,495), and luxury tax ($5,961). That makes this a nearly $135,000 SUV — and that’s before conventional taxes.
However, the posh finishes and powerful, refined drivetrain make the QX80 feel like a decent value. That’s especially true since it’s competitively priced against similarly-trimmed Cadillac, Lexus, and Lincoln models, and significantly less than an optioned-up Range Rover.
The Verdict
With the Range Rover being an iconic machine for the well-heeled, it’s a natural target for competitors. Infiniti has done a decent job making its flagship model a valid competitor within the segment in many respects. Mechanically, the 2025 Infiniti QX80 is an impressive machine, and the interior features and comfort are as good as any of its competitors. It’s just a shame that the glitch-prone driver aids and infotainment copy Range Rover a little too closely.
| Engine Displacement | 3.5L |
|---|---|
| Engine Cylinders | Twin-turbo V6 |
| Peak Horsepower | 450 hp @ 5,600 rpm |
| Peak Torque | 516 lb-ft @ 3,600 rpm |
| Fuel Economy | 15.1 / 12.2 / 13.8 L/100 km cty/hwy/cmb |
| Cargo Space | 623 / 1,670 / 2,860 L behind 3rd/2nd/1st |
| Model Tested | 2025 Infiniti QX80 Autograph |
| Base Price | $124,995 |
| A/C Tax | $100 |
| Destination Fee | $2,495 |
| Price as Tested | $135,751 |
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Optional Equipment
$7,161 — Graphite Shadow paint w/black roof, $1,200; Luxury tax, $5,961
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