The 2015 Infiniti QX80 is still a huge hunk of metal. The full-sized SUV is an imposing figure with a massive curbside presence. Piloting it around the cramped streets and tiny parking lots of San Francisco had me feeling just a tad self-conscious.
Overwhelming stature
The high SUV seating position for the driver offers a commanding view of the road ahead. You'll be practically eye level with city bus drivers and long-haul truckers. As a fan of low-slung sports cars and roadsters, even I have to admit that being able to see further down the road or to keep an eye on the two or three cars ahead of the car ahead of me is nice.
Being big on the outside means that the QX80 boasts plenty of space on the inside of cargo and people. To be exact, it's a seven-seater, but I think I'd consider it a six-seater due to the large, stationary center console on the second bench. According Infiniti's math, you have three seating positions on the third row; after squeezing back there I'm convinced that there's only room for two reasonably-sized adults. Giving credit where due, those two reasonably-sized adults will be reasonably comfortable for a short trip, but I wouldn't recommend anyone with a chassis larger than my 5-foot 10-inch frame attempt it.
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Adding a bit of convenience to the luxury SUV driver's day is keyless entry and start, a power lift gate, and power folding rear bench. By holding a button in the rear storage area, the owner can fold the third row bench flat, expanding the storage area. Doing so takes forever, but the simple motorization takes all of the guesswork and footwork out of getting those seats out of the way. The second row also folds forward with a more conventional lever to create a mostly flat loading floor that extends from the tailgate the the front seat backs. The bucket seats also flip forward and upwards to provide easier passenger access to the third row.
A "Split Bench Seat Package" option is available at no cost, which removes the second row console and adds an additional center seating position, bumping the officially stated capacity to eight souls.
Big SUV, big 5.6-liter V-8
When an automaker uses the word "proven" when describing an engine, it's usually code for "old." In the case of the QX80, "proven" also means "reliable." The 5.6-liter naturally aspirated engine is a workhorse mill that the automaker has been building in some form or another for over decade now. This latest version makes use Infiniti's VVEL (Variable Valve Event & Lift) technology and gasoline direct injection to produce 400 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque. The engine has a fairly flat torque curve and deliver is smooth and is well mated to the QX80's 5,878 pounds bulk. The vehicle gets out of its way well enough, but there's a reason that you won't hear a QX80 owner bragging about 0-to-60 times.
The V-8 sends power to the wheels via a single-option seven-speed automatic transmission. Shifts are smooth and, thanks to Adaptive Shift Control and Downshift Rev Matching software, fairly predictable. There's a manual-shift program available, but I never used it during my testing.
Our QX80 arrived in the standard rear-wheel drive, but an optional all-wheel-drive configuration is available. Fuel economy is rated at 14 mpg city, 20 mpg highway and 16 mpg combined, regardless of which drivetrain you choose. I averaged 14.1 mpg during my testing.
Antuan Goodwin/CNET
Independent double-wishbone suspension components at all four corners give the big-ass SUV a planted feel and a buttery-smooth ride, which is likely exactly what prospective buyers are looking for, and the massiveness of the vehicle itself makes the chassis difficult to upset at lower speeds. Hydraulic body-motion control (part of the $5,550 Deluxe Technology package) does its part to help keep the SUV flat when cornering and to control that boat-like bobbing that you typically get in these gigantic, softly sprung luxury land yachts.
RWD or AWD, the QX80 boasts no off-road traction management system, no custom terrain settings. (I've got a feeling, though, that the QX80 only needs to be optimized for one terrain type anyway: tarmac. Infiniti gets that most luxury SUV drivers aren't the trailblazing type.)
This full-sized soft-roader doesn't know the meaning of 'too big'
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