2021 INFINITI QX80 Review

Name: 2021 INFINITI QX80 Review
Brand: INFINITI
Price: 31198 USD
Rating: 3.3 (27 reviews)

2021 INFINITI QX80 LUXE 4dr SUV Exterior

+400

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INFINITI QX80 model years

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2021 Infiniti QX80 Review

byKurt Niebuhr^{Senior Vehicle Test Editor
Kurt Niebuhr has worked in the automotive industry since 2005. A automotive photographer by trade, Kurt is now one of Edmunds' high-performance test drivers. He's driven and photographed hundreds, if not thousands, of vehicles all over the world, so Kurt's library of automotive experiences would certainly make for a good book. When not dreaming about getting his racing license or trying to buy out-of-date film for his cameras, Kurt can usually be found cursing at his 1966 Mustang.}

Pros

Powerful V8 engine delivers strong acceleration and a high tow rating
Commendable handling and braking for a big SUV

Cons

Interior design lags behind luxury competition
Engine is thirstier than others in the class
Optional 22-inch wheels can make for a poor ride

What's new

Standard safety aids now include adaptive cruise control and lane departure mitigation
Revised trim levels
Part of the second QX80 generation introduced in 2011

Overview

The 2021 Infiniti QX80 combines the rugged construction of a traditional SUV and the upscale appointments of a luxury car. This is Infiniti's biggest SUV, and its most capable. It's got seating for up to eight people, for instance, and its standard V8 engine makes a robust 400 horsepower. And with 8,500 pounds of maximum towing capacity when properly equipped, the QX80 is ready to haul your recreational gear, whether it be a pair of dirt bikes or a good-size travel trailer.

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2021 INFINITI QX80 LUXE 4dr SUV (5.6L 8cyl 7A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $4.45 per gallon for premium unleaded in Ohio.}

Monthly estimates based on costs in Ohio

$333/mo

$254/mo

Avg. Large SUV

Calculate my fuel costs

On the downside, it's been more than a decade since this SUV received a full redesign. It doesn't have the fresh look of its competitors, and its ride comfort and fuel economy are subpar for a luxury SUV. While there's still some charm left in this big Infiniti, overall we think more highly of the redesigned Cadillac Escalade, the Lincoln Navigator and the Mercedes-Benz GLS.

Which QX80 does Edmunds recommend?

The top-of-the-line Sensory trim makes the best case for the QX80. It ensures you get ventilated seats, Infiniti's hydraulic body control system, a powerful audio system and higher-quality leather upholstery.

2021 INFINITI QX80 models

The QX80 is offered in three trim levels: Luxe, Premium Select and Sensory. Rear-wheel drive is standard and four-wheel drive is optional. All QX80s are powered by a 5.6-liter V8 engine making 400 horsepower and 413 lb-ft. It's connected to a seven-speed automatic transmission. Highlight features include:

Luxe
Comes well equipped from the start, with:

20-inch wheels
Self-leveling rear suspension (helps for towing and heavy payloads)
LED headlights
Three-zone climate control system
Power liftgate
Leather upholstery
Power-adjustable and heated front seats
Second-row captain's chairs (bench seat is optional)
Heated steering wheel
Dual touchscreen infotainment system
13-speaker audio system
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility
Navigation

Every QX80 also has:

Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the QX80 and the car in front)
Blind-spot monitor (alerts you if a vehicle in the next lane over is in your blind spot)
360-degree camera system (gives you a top-down view of the QX80 and its surroundings for tight parking situations)
Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios)
Lane keeping assist (steers the QX80 back into its lane if it begins to drift over the lane marker)

Premium Select
Adds different style with:

22-inch wheels
Dark exterior trim
Unique interior wood trim
Additional leather upholstery colors

Sensory
Ups the luxury with:

Hydraulic roll-stabilization suspension (for less body roll when cornering)
Cabin air filtration
Unique interior wood trim
17-speaker audio system
Ventilated front seats
Upgraded leather upholstery
Heated outboard second-row seats
Rear-seat entertainment system

Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

4/5Above Average

#1 out of 20 among Luxury Fullsize SUVs

RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.

Cost

^{The average total annual cost for unscheduled repairs and maintenance across all model years of the INFINITI QX80 from 2008-2022.}

$621/yr

vs. $735/yr
for Average Luxury Fullsize SUV

Frequency

^{The average number of times this model is brought into the shop for unscheduled repairs and maintenance in a single year. RepairPal calculates this metric by tracking millions of unique vehicles over multiple years to determine an average number of visits per year (omitting small routine visits, e.g., oil changes).}

1.01x/yr

vs. 1.83x/yr
for Average Luxury Fullsize SUV

Severity

^{The probability that a repair will be a major issue, meaning the repair costs 3x the average annual repair cost for all models. This threshold will be higher for vehicles that have higher labor rates and parts costs (such as a premium brand).}

8.5%

vs. 16.5%
for Average Luxury Fullsize SUV

powered by RepairPal ^{Based on RepairPal reliability data as of 8/23/2023. Ratings are provided by RepairPal and Edmunds is not responsible for their accuracy.}

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the Used 2021 INFINITI QX80.

5 (30%)

4 (18%)

3 (19%)

2 (22%)

1 (11%)

3.3

27 reviews

Write a vehicle review See all 27 reviews

Most helpful consumer reviews

My 5th INFINITI

JTitan, 04/21/2020

2019 INFINITI QX80 LUXE 4dr SUV 4WD (5.6L 8cyl 7A)

This is my fifth INFINITI product, I had have many of their smaller cars and suvs in the past and was very happy. I decided to get something bigger for family use to travel comfortably. The ride quality and interior are excellent, safety systems work great! Reliability keeps me coming back to the brand as all of my INFINITI products have been flawless! This is a very comfortable long …

QX number 2

Murray, 02/04/2020

2019 INFINITI QX80 LUXE 4dr SUV 4WD (5.6L 8cyl 7A)

Its is my seconf QX since the updated body. I had a 2011 QX56 (Vin 1499). In case you didn't know, The first 1500 of these had bad timing chain tensioners and oiling issues. Mine started to rattle at about 83000 miles. Infiniti was VERY good to me and offered me a nice trade as well as a very nice price to move into my 2016 QX80. There isn't much difference over the years with these. …

Faulty sensors

Picklla, 11/17/2020

2020 INFINITI QX80 LUXE 4dr SUV (5.6L 8cyl 7A)

I’ve enjoyed my new QX80 for three years until my sensors started buzzing for no apparent reason. Although, the car is under warranty, Infiniti will not cover the cost to replace three sensors which have paint chipping from usual wear and tear from driving, thus setting off the sensor. $1500 to replace three. Doesn’t it seem that a three year old car sensors on a front bumper should be …

Still got it

Said, 06/01/2020

2020 INFINITI QX80 LIMITED 4dr SUV 4WD (5.6L 8cyl 7A)

I have had the 2011 original model, and recently upgraded to 2020 facelifted model. This is not a high tech car like the audi q7, but it's spacious, comfortable and reliable and that's all I need.

We have a limited number of reviews for the 2021 INFINITI QX80, so we've included reviews for other years of the QX80 since its last redesign.

See all 27 reviews of the INFINITI QX80

Write a vehicle review

2021 QX80 Highlights

Trim:

LUXE

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$69,150
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	16 MPG
Cost to Drive	$333/month
Seating	7 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	16.6 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	rear wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 60,000 miles

See all features & specs

Safety

Our experts like the QX80 models:

Distance Control Assist: Works like adaptive cruise control but only brakes as you approach a vehicle. The driver retains control of the acceleration pedal.
Around View Monitor: Stitches together views from the front, rear and side cameras to make a 360-degree top view of the entire car.
Automatic Collision Notification: Calls emergency services in the case of an accident and can notify owners of a stolen vehicle.

NHTSA Overall Rating

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
Overall3 / 5
Driver2 / 5
Passenger3 / 5
Side Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Side Barrier Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Combined Side Barrier & Pole Ratings
Front Seat5 / 5
Back Seat5 / 5
Rollover
Rollover3 / 5
Dynamic Test ResultNo Tip
Risk Of Rollover23.7%

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2021 INFINITI QX80 Review

2021 Infiniti QX80 Review

Pros

Cons

What's new

Overview

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2021 INFINITI QX80 LUXE 4dr SUV (5.6L 8cyl 7A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $4.45 per gallon for premium unleaded in Ohio.}

Which QX80 does Edmunds recommend?

2021 INFINITI QX80 models

Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

Cost

Frequency

Severity

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the Used 2021 INFINITI QX80.

Trending topics in reviews

Most helpful consumer reviews

My 5th INFINITI

QX number 2

Faulty sensors

Still got it

2021 QX80 Highlights

Safety

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2021 INFINITI QX80 Review

2021 Infiniti QX80 Review

Pros

Cons

What's new

Overview

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2021 INFINITI QX80 LUXE 4dr SUV (5.6L 8cyl 7A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $4.45 per gallon for premium unleaded in Ohio.

Which QX80 does Edmunds recommend?

2021 INFINITI QX80 models

Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

Cost

Frequency

Severity

Most helpful consumer reviews

My 5th INFINITI

QX number 2

Faulty sensors

Still got it

2021 QX80 Highlights

Safety

People who viewed this also viewed

Related Used 2021 INFINITI QX80 info

Vehicle reviews of used models

Shop similar models

Shop used vehicles in your area

Popular new car reviews and ratings

Research other models of Infiniti

Research similar vehicles

Other models

Join Edmunds

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2021 INFINITI QX80 LUXE 4dr SUV (5.6L 8cyl 7A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $4.45 per gallon for premium unleaded in Ohio.}