2025 Infiniti QX80 Drops Jaws With Impressive Styling, Priced at $100K

With soft-touch surfaces throughout, the QX80’s interior is more theatrical thanks to customizable lighting, which tracks the dash and door panels. There is also an illuminated “INFINITI” logo facing the front passenger. The old shift lever is replaced with a push-button shifter, and the original HVAC controls have been replaced with haptic touch functions on the 9.0-inch screen in front of the center console. Interestingly, the QX80 now has a “biometric cooling” feature that uses an infrared sensor in the headliner to measure the passenger’s body temperature and, if needed, automatically send air to cool them down.

The QX80 still offers three rows of seats and room for seven or eight people. Every trim comes standard with second-row captain’s chairs, but most trims can replace it with a bench seat. The high-spec Autograph includes massage functions for the front seats and captain’s chairs; Its third-row seats are now heated, too. There’s more knee and legroom in the second row, and third-row legroom grows by about four inches as well. Although Infiniti hasn’t released actual cargo volumes, it says space behind the second and third rows has increased by 18 and 30 percent, respectively. With a flat floor when the rear seats are in place, the second row can now slide forward for easy access to the third row without having to remove any child safety seats.

Every QX80 gets a Klipsch audio system. The base stereo uses 600 watts to power 14 speakers, while a unique 1200-watt configuration powers 24 speakers. Along with titanium speakers and four ceiling-mounted speakers, the Klipsch Reference Premiere system features unique metal-trimmed speakers on the front heads so that each passenger can focus on specific audio functions, such as calling or navigating, without disturbing others. Infiniti claims the addition of multiple soundproofing materials helps reduce noise levels inside. We’ll see for ourselves when we get a chance to test drive the new QX80.

V-8 Gone, Chassis Upgraded

The QX80 ditches its old 400-hp 5.6-liter V-8 in favor of a 450-hp turbocharged 3.5-liter V-6. The new engine also produces more torque, and its peak output rises from 413 to 516 lb-ft. The SUV’s previous seven-speed automatic transmission has also been replaced with a new nine-speed unit. Infiniti has yet to release fuel economy estimates for the new QX80, but it will likely be better than its predecessor’s EPA rating, which was as low as 15 mpg combined.

The QX80 still has a body-on-frame platform, but Infiniti says the frame’s lateral stiffness has increased by 57 percent. Its maximum towing capacity is still 8500 pounds. There’s also a new suspension that features adaptive dampers and height-adjustable air springs. for all but the basic structure. With air suspension, the QX80’s ride height can be lowered by up to 2.8 inches to make it easier for passengers to get in and out, or it can be raised by up to 2.4 inches for better clearance in off-road situations.

Again, the outgoing QX80 was classic in many ways, including the way it drove. Every model now has electric power steering that replaces the old hydraulic system. The upgrade finally allows for modern driver aids such as lane keeping assist and Infiniti’s new ProPilot Assist 2.1. The latter allows the driver to take their hands off the steering wheel during highway driving under certain conditions. Of course, the driver’s eyes must remain on the road.

Among the QX80’s other standard safety features are standard aids like automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, and blind spot monitoring that also works with trailers up to 33 feet in length. The SUV’s exterior camera system has also been improved, with the introduction of what Infiniti calls Full Front View and Invisible Hood View. The former function enables a 170-degree image that wraps around the QX80’s dual-dash display to help see around tight corners, while the latter function similarly uses the display to reveal obstacles directly in front of the SUV—as if you were looking at a long, flat hood. .

Prices That Now Can Exceed $100,000

The outgoing QX80 was criticized for being the most expensive version of the Nissan Armada, which wasn’t too far from the truth. The new Infiniti QX80 can avoid that comparison, at least for now. That’s important because the 2025 lineup comes with a significant price increase. The base model, the entry-level Pure, now starts $8300 higher at $84,445. The next-level Luxe starts at $91,545. Both models come standard with rear-wheel drive (all-wheel drive adds $3100). Otherwise, there are a few options, and Infiniti hasn’t said how much they cost, but as always, the best features are found at the lower end.

For the first time, the price of the QX80 could enter the six-figure territory, especially the Sensory and Autograph trims. Both come standard with all-wheel drive, and start at $102,640 and $112,590, respectively, which is in the same neighborhood as other full-size luxury SUVs. Autograph is a new addition, but the base price of Sensory has gone up by nearly $15K. Despite the sticker shock that comes with a hefty price tag, the 2025 Infiniti QX80 finally looks to rival the segment, and its underpinnings will reflect that when it goes on sale this summer.

Eric Stafford’s addiction to cars began before he could walk, and has fueled his passion for writing news, reviews, and more for Car and Driver since 2016. His dream growing up was to become a millionaire with a car collection like Jay Leno. Apparently, getting rich is harder than social media influencers make it out to be, so he eschewed financial success entirely to become an automotive journalist and drive new cars for a living. After earning a journalism degree at Central Michigan University and working at a daily newspaper, the basic years of burning money on failed project cars and lemon-flavored jalopies finally paid off. Car and Driver he hired him. His garage currently includes a 2010 Acura RDX, a ’97 Chevy Camaro Z/28 manual, and a ’90 Honda CRX Si.