The SUV is the most popular style of vehicle on the market at the moment, with the high-riding models proving irresistible for most buyers. There is a wide range of different versions available, depending on the kind of budget and function a buyer would need their SUV to match, though the likes of the Infiniti QX80 and Lexus LX sit toward the top of the tree. Not only are they two of the biggest SUVs you can buy, seeing as they come with three full rows of seating, but they're also a pair of the plushest.Seeing as Lexus tends to demolish its Japanese rival when the total yearly sales charts come in, you'd assume that the LX would run rings around the QX80 in this regard. It hasn't quite worked out this way though, and the Infiniti has held a commanding advantage over the Lexus for some time now. You'd be forgiven for still opting for the Lexus given the brand's industry-envying reliability reputation, but the QX80 is getting the better of its LX for various key reasons. The QX80 Offers Vastly Better Value For Money Jared Rosenholtz/CarBuzz/Valnet One of the best ways to secure more orders than your rivals is by offering your product at a lower price. The QX80 does this by quite a margin, with the entry-level Pure RWD variant starting from $83,750, while the cheapest LX on the market will set you back a cool $106,500. You do get all-wheel drive as standard with the Lexus, though the equivalent QX80 Pure AWD is still much cheaper at $86,850.In addition, the Lexus comes with more equipment as standard versus the QX80, even if both present pretty much everything on the options list as standard anyway. Both get satellite navigation and powered tailgates, as well as multi-zone climate control and a natural light-boosting sunroof arrangement. Additionally, heated seats and a heated leather steering wheel also come as standard. The LX does get genuine leather, as well as cooling functionality with its chairs, as standard, but the QX80 has an answer for this, too. By opting for the Luxe AWD trim, you'll get both of these extras alongside larger 22-inch wheels, and four-way power seat adjustment as opposed to the standard two-way setup.You'll only have to hand over $93,950 for this spec, which is still around $13k better off versus the LX. In a world where money is as tight as ever, the QX80's considerably lower price counts for a lot, as will become immediately evident when reviewing the sales figures of both further down your page. Infiniti's Full-Size SUV Is Also Considerably More Practical Jared Rosenholtz/CarBuzz/ValnetBefore that though, it's important to review another feather in the Infiniti's cap; its cabin practicality. While both SUVs seat seven, the QX80 offers more head and legroom for passengers across each row when compared to the LX. Pretty much the only place the Lexus can match the Infiniti is in front seat hip room, though even then it loses out by a slender 0.3 inches. The QX80 has at least an inch over the Lexus across every other metric, ensuring it's the superior choice for those with larger families.This victory is further solidified by its total trunk capacity, with 20.4 cubic feet of space available even with all three rows erected. The LX can only muster 12 cubic feet of space behind the third row, while its max capacity of 64 cubic feet leaves it well behind the QX80's 101 cubic foot figure. The downside to all this extra room is that the QX80 is much bigger on the road. It's over 11 inches longer, five inches wider, and three inches taller, ensuring it won't be as agile or as maneuverable as the Lexus. That said, the LX isn't exactly a Fiat 500, so you may not notice much of a difference if you're used to piloting full-size SUVs such as these.This difference in both practicality and affordability is likely what's driving the QX80's sales success, providing the Infiniti with a notable sales lead over and above what Lexus is currently able to achieve with its LX model. The Infiniti QX80 Is Clearly More Popular Than Lexus' LX In 2026 Jared Rosenholtz/CarBuzz/ValnetRising gas prices are having an effect on gas-guzzling SUVs like the QX80 and LX at the moment, as illustrated by the fact that sales of the former are down by nearly half in Q1 2026 when compared to the same period last year. Still, the Infinit holds a clear advantage over Lexus' own contender, with its 2,885 sales performance in the US putting the LX firmly in the shade, courtesy of its 1,848 examples shifted.This is a bit of a turn-up for Infiniti, especially when you consider that the marque generally sells a small fraction of the vehicles that the mighty Lexus does on a yearly basis. Last year alone, Toyota's luxury marque delivered 370,260 vehicles to customers, whereas Infiniti barely cleared the 52,000 barrier. Lexus' vastly bigger model range can take some of the credit for this clear difference, though its dominant position as a consumer favorite due to the impressive value and running costs of its cars also helps considerably. The QX80 Has Held An Advantage For Some Time Infiniti Ultimately, the QX80's sales lead doesn't come as a massive surprise, considering it has had a clear lead over the LX in the US over the last decade. In fact, the LX got the better of its rival just once since 2015, which was when the fourth-generation variant was unleashed in 2021. That year, Lexus managed to send off just over 21,000 examples, as opposed to the 12,573 QX80s Infiniti shipped.The trend quickly reversed the following year though, with just 3,642 LXs sold versus 7,204 QX80s. The QX80 has remained the clear pacesetter ever since. It's an impressive feat for sure, and a rather rare one against the might of Lexus from Infiniti's standpoint. The QX80's Powerplant Promises More Grunt Jared Rosenholtz/CarBuzz/Valnet The wins keep on coming for the QX80, as its twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine also provides 450 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of pulling power, whereas the Lexus' similarly twin-turbocharged 3.4-liter V6 only has 409 hp and 479 lb-ft to play with. As a result, the QX80 can pull up to 8,500 pounds worth of cargo, whereas the LX can only deal with 8,000 pounds. Those who are concerned about the current extortionate fuel prices may be attracted to the lighter and more efficient Lexus, though even here its margin of victory isn't exactly huge. Its average 19 MPG figure is only one clear of the QX80, meaning fuel savings aren't going to be vast.Both come with a slick automatic gearbox sending the engine's grunt to the driven wheels, as well as adaptive damping systems that help to provide a smooth ride no matter the surface you're tackling. There's not much in it when it comes to reliability either, seeing as Infiniti's VQ35DDTT engine is a member of one of the most dependable V6 engine families ever. The V35 powerplant found under the hood of the LX is pretty tough for the most part, even if earlier examples needed to be replaced in mass numbers due to a production defect causing the engine to knock.So, to conclude, the QX80 is not only much cheaper than the LX, but it's also more practical, more powerful, and just as well-equipped. Plus, it lacks nothing when it comes to reliability, and is only a touch worse on fuel than its lighter rival. Yeah, it's not difficult to see why it has held a dominant market position over the LX for so long.Sources: Infiniti, Lexus.
+60 others
