2017 INFINITI QX80 Review

Standard features on the base QX80 are abundant, so you won't be missing out on much, especially if you choose a few of the available options packages. The Limited model is a good option for buyers who just want to check every box and get all the equipment the QX80 offers.

There are quite a few standard features on the QX80, so calling it a base model is misleading. Nonetheless, even in the base trim level, it comes with a 5.6-liter V8 engine (400 horsepower and 413 pound-feet), a seven-speed automatic transmission, rear-wheel drive (four-wheel drive with low-range gearing is optional), 20-inch alloy wheels, automatic LED headlights and foglights, automatic high-beam control, a sunroof, roof rails, power-folding and auto-dimming mirrors, a power liftgate, front and rear parking sensors, keyless entry and ignition, automatic tri-zone climate control, leather upholstery, an eight-way power-adjustable and heated driver seat (with two-way power lumbar adjustment), a six-way power front passenger seat, driver-seat memory settings, second-row captain's chairs (a 60/40-split bench seat is available as a no-cost option), a power-folding 60/40-split third-row seat, and a power-adjustable, heated steering wheel.

The QX80 is also packed with quite a bit of technology, most of which you would expect at this price point. Standard features include a 360-degree parking camera, Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity, an 8-inch touchscreen display, a navigation system, voice controls, and a 13-speaker Bose sound system with a CD player, satellite radio, an auxiliary audio jack and a USB port.

If you're looking to add a few more items to your QX80, you'll find that options are arranged in packages, some of which require other option packages as prerequisites. If it's advanced safety features you're after, the Driver Assistance package comes with adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, lane departure warning and intervention, forward collision warning (with pedestrian detection), stolen vehicle notification and secondary driver services such as geo-fencing and maximum speed notifications. If you have the Driver Assistance package, you can also add the Theater package, which includes a dual-screen rear entertainment system, a 120-volt household-type power outlet and heated second-row seats with a power tip-up feature for easier third-row access. The Tire and Wheel package gets you 22-inch wheels and all-season performance tires.

Going for the Deluxe Technology package gets you all the previously mentioned packages plus adaptive front lighting, headlight washers, Infiniti's Hydraulic Body Motion Control suspension, an upgraded climate control system, upgraded leather upholstery, special wood trim, ventilated front seats and a 15-speaker Bose surround-sound audio system.

Finally, the QX80 Limited comes with just about everything standard (including four-wheel drive) and adds its own distinctive interior and exterior trim. For both the base and Limited trims, in-car Wi-Fi is available as a stand-alone option.

The 400-horsepower V8 motivates this 6,000-pound SUV to 60 mph in 6.3 seconds. It's an impressive and smooth engine with more than enough grunt to hustle this massive vehicle along. Most competitors at this price point post similar or quicker times, but you won't want for power.

The pedal is soft but linear and offers some feedback. There is a lot of nosedive when braking hard, which might shake your confidence but doesn't hurt performance. In Edmunds testing, our best stop from 60 mph was 116 feet, which is very impressive for a vehicle with this much mass.

Steering is very light, but more communicative than most. It does the job of making you confident about moving such a large object around on crowded roads. Tight maneuvers at low speed can be annoying due to the massive turn radius and number of turns between locks.

Infiniti's trick self-leveling hydraulic suspension keeps the car stable in turns, controlling body roll very well, and the SUV is not upset by midcorner bumps or corrections. Stability control is always on, and it steps in decisively before the QX80 can reach its limits.

The QX80 is generally very predictable, but during passing maneuvers or hard starts, there is a delay between putting your foot down and acceleration. The transmission shifts smoothly, only causing problems on uphill climbs where its eagerness to upshift makes it difficult to maintain constant speed.

For a car this expensive, the front seats offer limited adjustability. Unfortunately, the only upgrades are aesthetic and not functional, which means not everyone will be able to find a comfortable seating position. The second-row dual thrones are less adjustable versions of the front seats.

Big bumps are handled well by the clever suspension, but the car gets bouncy over uneven paving. The massive 22-inch wheels and slim sidewalls mean more harshness makes it through than we'd like. With smaller wheels, the ride could outshine many other luxury offerings.

The QX80's cabin is generally quite well insulated from outside sounds and road noise. At partial throttle the V8 can sound a bit trucky, but it's not intrusive. The QX80's biggest weakness in this category is moderate audible wind noise at freeway speeds.

On automatic, climate control alternates between too passive and too aggressive, and it doesn't maintain temperature so much as charge toward it then back off for a while. Seat heating and cooling both work very well. The controls aren't the best we've seen but are straightforward enough to use.

Basic driving controls are easily accessed, but with the big center stack, reaching some controls can be a stretch, requiring you to lean. Also, the distinctly last-generation button layout and user interface require a bit of getting used to.

This is a tall SUV that requires a bit of a climb to get in and out. But grab handles and a generous running board, along with high, square door openings, help. The third row can be a struggle for an adult to access: Its floor is higher, and the folding second-row seats don't create a large opening.

The driving position feels commanding and upright, and there's enough adjustability for shorter and taller drivers, but the steering wheel feels canted up quite a bit toward the driver. All part of the underlying truck roots. Some controls are hard to reach from a comfortable sitting position.

The first and second rows offer tons of head- and legroom and shoulder room. There's no feeling cramped in those seats. The third row has much more limited room, but it's better than the third rows in some competitors. Shorter adults will fit in a pinch, and children should have no problem with the space.

Visibility is good, with lots of glass all around. The big side mirrors and 360-degree camera help. The hefty front roof pillars can obstruct some views, and rear visibility can be compromised by third-row headrests and a viewpoint high enough to hide some small cars at stoplights.

Surface materials are nice, and nothing rattles. Under its skin, this is a well-built truck. But Infiniti could have gone much further with the interior upgrades. While there's lots of leather around, it mostly just covers over the hard, plasticky, truck-based Nissan Armada underneath.