REVIEW: 2022 Infiniti QX80

Even with refreshed looks and tech, it’s getting harder to make a case for Infiniti’s largest SUV.

A few months ago, we reviewed the Nissan Armada, which received a slew of updates for the 2021 model year. Now, the 2022 Infiniti QX80 has arrived, and it receives these same updates as the Nissan while applying the branding and veneer of the Japanese marque’s luxury arm.

I’ll preface this review in the same way as the last one, without meaning to come across as sanctimonious: in today’s automotive market, if you’re considering purchasing an SUV this large, it really ought to be because you truly need it. Behemoths like these are meant for owners who need to move six to seven adults, and all their stuff, and a boat or trailer that’s approaching the QX80’s 3,855-kilogram (8,500-pound) maximum towing capacity, all at once and on the regular. If that’s not you, there are plenty of slightly smaller luxury three-row SUVs out there that will likely suit your needs just fine.

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If you’re someone who does need all of that capability – or if you’re curious, which is also welcomed – here’s what’s new on the 2022 Infiniti QX80, which rings up as tested in its ProActive grade at $92,540 including a $2,095 destination charge.

The redesigned centre stack is the primary selling point. The dual-screen setup has been replaced with a single 12.3-inch high-definition infotainment screen that’s compatible with wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto. This screen sits high above dashboard level and is angled slightly backward away from the driver. While I’m still able to reach most functions even with my short arms, and the screen’s proximity to the driver’s view of the road is helpful, the angling does make it prone to glare.

Beneath the screen and HVAC controls, a new wireless charging pad sits behind a hinged door, which makes it a good place for an easily distracted driver to stow a phone out of sight. A subscription-based Wi-Fi hotspot is included, as is a 17-speaker Bose premium audio system, a rear-seat entertainment system with a pair of screens mounted into the front-row headrests, and a 360-degree camera (which is extremely helpful on a vehicle this large). There are a few exterior updates on the ProActive grade with this light refresh as well, such as 22-inch alloy wheels, dark chrome accents, and black mirror caps.

What’s unchanged for 2022 is the powertrain, which is still rumbling along with a 5.6-litre V8 producing 400 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque. The 7-speed automatic transmission comes with a manual shift mode and a rev-matching system for downshifts – it’s hard to imagine many people using this, but hey, it’s there – and four-wheel drive is standard on this body-on-frame SUV. It’s a lot of truck to pull around, and as rugged and capable as this powertrain is, it does take a while to get the QX80’s bulk moving. But its fuel efficiency is the bigger issue: Natural Resources Canada says to expect an average fuel consumption of 15.3 L/100 km combined, while our largely city-based test drive saw us average more than 20 L/100 km. Given that Infiniti recommends premium fuel for its vehicles and prices in the Greater Toronto Area are currently pushing $1.70 per litre for 91 octane, the prospect of filling this up regularly is eye-watering.

The QX80’s interior is slightly more fashionable than the Armada’s in some ways but not in others. The leather upholstery skips the Armada’s gathered look and instead leans more toward quilting, and the blond leather is a more modern-looking colour (although it has a slight yellow-green tint to it that comes through in some light and looks a bit unusual). But some of the switchgear, such as the buttons for the memory seat on the driver’s side, look like 10-year-old Nissan parts. Plus, the key fob is standard-issue Nissan and wouldn’t work for keyless entry unless I removed it from my purse. In the Armada, these things feel excusable. In the luxury segment, today’s buyers are expecting more.

Here’s what all of this boils down to: it’s hard to make a case for the 2022 Infiniti QX80, even with its updates. Its mid-$80,000 to $90,000 price point does hit a fair bit lower than a new Cadillac Escalade or Lincoln Navigator for those who can’t stretch into the six-figure range. But it does fall within the same range as the GMC Yukon Denali, which was redesigned last year and is just as luxurious with more modern amenities. And if you really don’t want to buy American, the QX80 doesn’t offer so much more than a Nissan Armada as to make it worth the extra $12,000.

On the other hand, if it’s Infiniti you’re looking for and you’re not of the boat-and-a-crowd persuasion, the Infiniti QX60, the brand’s smaller three-row SUV, was just redesigned and is being met with positive reviews. Consider giving that a closer look instead.

The vehicle was provided to the writer by the automaker. Content and vehicle evaluations were not subject to approval.