The 2018 Infiniti QX80 gets a big refresh
The QX80 has a new look and an upgraded interior.
It might seem like everyone is driving crossovers these days, but there are still plenty of folks who want the convenience of a full-size SUV like the 2018 Infiniti QX80. It offers plenty of room for passengers and cargo, ample towing capability, and a beautiful interior befitting a luxury brand. The 2018 QX80 gets a refresh with a new exterior design, refined drive, and even more luxurious cabin.
There’s nothing demure about the QX80. Outside, the hood is longer and higher for a more commanding presence. The curves of the outgoing model are gone in favor of a more angular look. There are thinner tail lamps in back and a lower bumper that add to the QX80’s new, more aggressive stance.
Despite the bold exterior, the inside of the QX80 is all about elegance. Choose from a variety of trim materials from like Stratford Burl gloss wood, Espresso Burl, or a rich Charcoal Burl. There are soft touch surfaces throughout with quilted and perforated leather on the seats, doors, and armrests. Contrast double-stitching and leather piping complete the upscale look.
This is a full-size SUV with room for up to eight passengers, and Infiniti knows there’s a good chance some of them will be children. Those worried the beautiful interior of the QX80 won’t fare well when faced with the daily rigors of shuttling around the kids will be relieved to know the leather surfaces are stain and dirt resistant. This elegant SUV is fully prepared to be a family vehicle.
It’s comfortable and spacious with improved soundproofing that makes interior conversations easy. Newly added soundproofing throughout the cabin reduces road and wind noise and absorbs high-frequency vibrations. The result is an interior quiet enough that folks way back in the third row can easily hear and converse with the driver.
Infiniti improved the rear seat entertainment system to include larger 8-inch screens with higher resolution. The system now supports input from an auxiliary port for portable Blu-ray, DVD players, and game consoles. There are also headphone jacks for rear passengers and and each screen can display its own content to keep everyone happy.
Improvements are up front too, with the ability for front passengers to lock out control of the entertainment system from rear passengers. They can even turn displays on and off with switch inputs, which is a handy feature when the kids are too small to manage on their own.
The driver gets a new leather-wrapped gearshift and even the steering wheel is redesigned with wood and leather trims to match the rest of the interior. These subtle changes enhance the cabin’s appeal. The dashboard layout is revised, too, with a customizable touchscreen for the InTouch system. While the infotainment system is easy to use, the number of buttons on the dashboard looks cluttered and could use streamlining.
Power for the Infiniti QX80 comes from a 5.6-liter V8 engine with 400 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque paired to a seven-speed automatic transmission. It can tow up to 8,500 pounds and offers a choice of two- or all-wheel drive. That’s a lot of power, but this is a lot of SUV. It’s not light on its feet, yet the QX80 feels powerful and inspires confidence when you press on the gas. It easily accelerates into highway traffic without complaint.
The effort Infiniti put into creating a quiet cabin shows. This is a beefy V8 engine, but you’ll never hear it intruding to the cabin, even under hard acceleration. It’s not a performance vehicle and doesn’t pretend to be one. Instead, it’s a spacious and comfortable SUV focused on providing a luxurious experience for its occupants. The ride is smooth, even on rough surfaces, with good handling that requires minimal driver input.
The 2018 Infiniti QX80 is priced from $64,750 with two-wheel drive or $67,850 with four-wheel drive. Look for the 2018 Infiniti QX80 in dealerships now.
