Elegant, Powerful and Childproof – A Mom’s 2022 Infiniti QX80 Review

Car & Driver, blah, blah, blah. Edmonds, talk to the hand. All these vehicles reviewed by men who harangue and assault every vehicle that comes their way. What is it with men? LOL. Case in point, my husband. I got a hold of a beautiful, sleek, luxury 2022 Infiniti QX80 and, no holding back, I loved it. He has nothing but critiques and little slights about silly things. Why? Who knows, maybe it’s the price. Maybe it has to do with the fact that it’s a nearly $90K+ luxury SUV and he thinks it ought to fly and run all our errands by itself for that price. He drives a Silverado, with massive mud tires, he hauls things like tools and firewood, maybe he just doesn’t understand the klatch of mom’s who fancy luxury whilst hauling kids and gear.

About Moi

Now, I’m not a luxury vehicle driver, that’s not to say I don’t want to be (I do), it’s just fact. My excursions out are never solo, and always include children and a plethora of gear. Our extracurricular exploits do not often yield the cleanest or driest end. Hence, I drive a 2005 Cadillac Escalade, that was, no doubt, beautiful in times of yore. However, it is no more. The daily grind of everyday life, adventure and fulltime long distance travel has brought it to a timely demise. It should not still be performing.

So now you may be pondering the question of whether I’m now in the market for a new car? Well, I go back and forth. I like not worrying about throwing wet river gear or muddy boots into the rear, I like zero car payments, but I’m conflicted with the desire for luxe. See, you can’t judge a book by it’s cover, I’m a lover of luxe, I like to make an entrance.  All this has just been suppressed. I’m feeling like not for much longer …

Defining the 2022 Infiniti QX80

Enter the Infiniti QX80. It is sexy, smooth, and curvaceous. Another word that comes to mind classy, elegant even. More words. The 2022 Infiniti QX80 is beautiful, splendid, in fact. A woman’s SUV for sure. An SUV that drives with such grace that I was curious about the engine – I know, right? You will find out I like speed, power, performance, as much as I like luxe.

The question for me, once I got over the stunning exterior and interior design, was, does opulence equate to execution and, yes, power, and, always the comparison queen, where does the 2022 Infiniti QX80 fall within its price point?

Read on, I have much to say.

What We Drove

Inifiniti lent us a top-trim 2022 QX80 Sensory 4WD for a week to give us a scrupulous look at what this full size SUV is made of. We made sure to conduct short quick trips to the grocery store, the mountain, the gym, as well as a 3-hour drive to Denver.

2022 Infiniti QX80 Sensory 4WD

Seats: 7

Price: $87,985 ($69,145 base price)

Ext Color: Anthracite Gray 

Int Color:  Saddle Brown

Fuel Economy : 15 avg

Add Ons: Roughly $3,000

Dual Screen Rear Entertainment System

Infiniti Radiant Illuminated Kick Plates

Illuminated Cargo Scuff Plate

Roof Rail Cross Bars

Infiniti Radiant Interior Welcome Lighting

First Impressions

When I first laid eyes on the 2022 Infiniti QX80, I thought “whoa, it’s elegant”. It was chic, not flashy, but designed with style in mind. I love its curves and the fact that it does not resemble a box in any way, shape or form. The Infiniti QX80 looks posh. Everything from the 22″ alloy wheels to the aforementioned curves, trim and color lend to it’s flashiness.

Interior

Inside, the Infiniti is comfortable and quiet, something this mama insists upon.  My husband concurred. Where we differed was the seemingly unnecessarily huge center stack. It was everything you want it to be, a modern touchscreen, user friendly controls, etc, but his major critique was that it was entirely too large, which made it unsightly. I disagreed, but we have already established him as “hostile”.

I’m also happy to report, though most reviewers believe this to be a negative, that there is no head up display. I find them distracting, and my ADHD brain cannot avoid constant checking-in. The other downer according to many other reviewers is the lack of massaging seats. I’m heartsick to report that I have never experienced a vehicle with said seats. Apparently there is a fraternity of drivers I’ve never met, who expect massaging seats. However, I am relieved to find something lacking in the 2022 Infiniti QX80. Much to my dismay, there was not a panoramic sunroof, something I’ve come to expect from luxury vehicles. It’s the zenith of my driving reign to have a critique.

Color Combination

I loved the color combination in the Infiniti. The gray exterior combined with the Saddle Brown interior felt … opulent. Quilted seats up the luxury factor as do niceties like a heated steering wheel, heated and cooled seats in both the front and second row seats.

Spaciousness

The interior of the 2022 Infiniti QX80 is sincerely spacious, and as my husband pointed out, is well built and could withstand the whiles and carelessness of children. It comes with a standard third row, that can honestly accommodate adults. The QX80 has standard second-row captain’s chairs that can be swapped for a three-seat bench for those of us with capacity “issues”. And, as for gear, suitcases, grocery bags, etc … we had absolutely no problem finding enough space for both short term and long term travel needs.  The Infiniti has ample interior storage space, for those ipods, gloves, hats, and tablets none of us seem to be able to leave home without.

Comparison with Competition

Pros:

Infiniti held the most luggage behind the third row among similarly sized rivals.

Cons:

Third Row Seating is lacking in comparison. The QX80 has just 16.6 cubic feet of space, compared to the Yukon’s 25.5. Fold the third row down and the QX80 manages 49.6 cubic feet to the GMC’s 72.6 cubic feet. Fold both rear rows and the Yukon space extends to 122.9 cubic feet while the QX80’s is just 95.1.

Engine & Performance

Like I said, I like performance, execution, speed and maneuverability as much, as I like luxe. Upon starting it up and driving our winding mountain roads, I was impressed with how smooth, responsive and quiet the ride was.  I like the effortless V-8 powertrain in the 2022 Infiniti QX80 – it makes driving our mountain roads appear like nothing at all. 

Powered by a 400 hp, 5.6 liter, V8 with a 7-speed automatic transmission, the Infiniti moves with authority, though it is no race horse, believe me, I pushed it, though I can’t say how hard, for legal and other reasons. I can tell you that while it does a good job on the highway, it just feels a little soft. I like a lot of power. My dream car is an Audi R8, though I’ll be the first to tell you I ought never get one.

Around town, though, it feels light and sinewy, very responsive and uber comfortable. I can’t emphasize the level of comfort enough.

Towing Capacity

The QX80 can tow a whopping 8500 lbs! 

Comparison With Competition

Pros:

A rare driver would feel anything put power and sharpness coming from the 2022 Infiniti QX80.

Towing capacity puts the Infiniti square in the middle of it’s competition, outranking the Mercedes GLS class (by 800 lbs).

Cons:

All competitors, in scientific tests, were quicker in the 0 to 60 category than the 2022 Infiniti QX80.

Fuel Economy

Unfortunately, the 2022 Infiniti QX80 is destroyed by all its rivals in the fuel economy category. The QX80 is rated at 15 combined, 13 city and 19 highway, and it takes 6.7 gallons of gasoline to drive 100 miles. According to the EPA you will spend $8,250 more in fuel costs over five years, compared to the average vehicle. But does anyone buy a full size SUV for it’s gas mileage?

Safety

Perhaps the most important aspect of any vehicle, the safety features in the Infiniti are chock full of the latest technology! The 2022 Infiniti QX80’s safety features are comprehensive, discerning and intelligent. I can say as a mom I had total confidence while driving. Featuring an abundance of smart driver assist features, the Infiniti gives you peace of mind at every turn.

In addition to standards like air bags, head rests, etc, the sticker boasts High Beam Assist, Predictive FW Collision Warning, FW Emergency Braking2/ Pedestrian Detection, Blind Spot Warning, Blind Spot Intervention, Lane Departure Warning, Lane Departure Prevention, Around View Monitor w/ Moving Objection Detection (for parking), Front Pre-Crash Seat Belts, and more. Now, most of these I don’t employ, myself, as I much prefer to be in control of this large a momentum as much as possible.

Though I will say extras like the Smart Rear View Mirror that gives you a live feed of what’s behind you by utilizing a rear-mounted camera, instead of looking over the two rows of seats behind you, is not only clever, but extremely beneficial.

Technology

Blown away. That’s what I have to say about the post 2005 technology. I can search for gas stations near my location and find the cheapeest ones around. These are Denver prices, by the way.

In addition … 15 speaker Bose sound system? What? Front and Read Sonar? Uhh, submarines come to mind. Second row USB ports and on-board wifi? Roadschooling haven. I mean, in addition to the safety technology, the in-cabin accoutrements are phenomenal!

I enjoyed favored smartphone features, maps, media, wireless Apple Carplay and Android Auto, and more as they were all accessible on the 12.3″ touchscreen. Little travelers are kept busy with dual 8-inch rear screens that pair perfectly with available wireless headphones and remotes. Wireless device charging, multiple ports, 4 USB outlets, with an additional USB port and 120-volt outlet that comes with the Theater Package.

Warranty

The Infiniti QX80 comes with a 4-Year/60,000 Mile Basic Limited Warranty Coverage. A 6 Year/70,000 Mile Powertrain limited Warranty Coverage, a 7 Year/Unlimited Mileage Corrosion Limited Warranty Coverage, 24-hour Roadside Assistance and a Complimentary Service Loan Car.

Pricing and Comps With Competitions

Pricing for the 2022 Infiniti QX80 starts at $70,600. The QX80 Sensory 4WD like the one we drove has a base price of $84,850. On top of that price our test unit included Infiniti Radiant Illuminated Kick Plates ($485), Illuminated Cargo Scuff Plate ($390), roof rail cross bars ($410), and Infiniti Radiant Exterior Welcome Lighting ($455) for a grand total of $87,985 including $1,395 in destination charges.

This is not chump change. It’s a few thousand more than the GMC Yukon Denali that we are currently test driving, but still well short of others in it’s class.