Infiniti Plus-size QX80 SUV take on the Cadillac Escalade

Luxury automaker Infiniti introduced the third generation of its large (and growing) SUV ahead of the New York auto show. The redesigned 2025 QX80, formerly the QX56, is longer, wider and longer than the outgoing model and features a redesigned front and rear fascia. Infiniti also added more luxury and features to compete in the full-size SUV segment with the Cadillac Escalade, Lincoln Navigator, Mercedes-Benz GLS Class and others.

General Motors owns this segment selling four of the top five models in the Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Yukon, Chevy Suburban and Cadillac Escalade. The QX80 is lower on the list but getting a huge sales increase (76 percent) in 2023.

“The 2025 Infiniti QX80 is a great step forward for the nameplate and shows Infiniti’s desire to bring the brand further into the market. The current Infiniti QX80 and Nissan Armada, which are mechanically identical, have very little product difference; it’s clear that Infiniti did better .length to ensure that this next generation QX80 is elevated above its more conventional sibling,” Paul Waatti, Director of Industry Analysis at AutoPacific said. Newsweek.

“The latest QX80 displays a bold design and a level of refinement in the choice of materials and interior execution that matches the best in the segment. It finally brings the latest technologies and infotainment, including desirable features such as air suspension which luxury buyers often expect at this price.”

Infiniti says the new QX80 combines technology with inspiration from the natural world. It wears the latest version of the company’s double-arched grille, while the shape of the LED daytime running lights should evoke the feeling of a bamboo forest. The full-width taillights use more than 300 LEDs to create their shape while the pull-out door handles retract as you drive and expand as the owner approaches.

A welcoming sequence of lights is also initiated as the driver approaches, starting with the Infiniti logo, running to the edges and then down through the reflective mirrors when the Infiniti Light Path option is selected.

The 2025 Infiniti QX80 now offers only a 3.5-liter turbocharged engine, rated at 450 horsepower (hp) and 516 pound-feet (lb-ft) of torque. The outgoing model produced 400-hp from a 5.6-liter V8 with a seven-speed automatic transmission. The new model has a nine-speed automatic with paddle shifters.

Rear-wheel drive is standard on the less expensive Pure and Luxe models, while all-wheel drive is optional. On Sensory and Autograph trim all-wheel drive is standard. All models have Normal, Eco, Sport, Snow, Tow and Personal driving modes.

The apartment, with 10 additional cubic feet of interior space, features soft-touch materials and soft ambient lighting. Two 14.3-inch displays are integrated into the dashboard while a third climate screen divides the driver and passenger seat in front of the large armrest. The digital driver cluster can be customized with Standard, Deluxe and Enhanced modes. It can be controlled via the jog wheel on the right side of the steering wheel. The phone can also use a central touchscreen when the driver wants to keep his hands on the wheel.

Google Built-in is common with Assistant, Maps and the Play app store, as are volume and ambient lighting controls. For accessories, USB-c ports are available in all three rows. Infiniti now offers both heated and cooled seats in the first two rows, and only heated seats in the third row. It’s the only full-size SUV to offer the feature. Surprisingly there is no mention of Apple CarPlay in the new QX80.

With the larger exit comes more cargo room, up to 18 percent behind the second row and 30 percent behind the third row. It also has a flatter floor than the outgoing model when the seats are lowered, as well as having the lowest lift height in the segment (when the air suspension is available in its Access position).

Standard safety features on the 2025 Infiniti QX80 include Predictive Forward Collision Warning, Automatic Emergency Braking, Blind Spot Warning, Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Lane Departure Prevention. Trailer Blind Spot Warning now works when towing a trailer up to 33 feet, according to Infiniti.

It has two levels of advanced driver assistance with ProPilot Assist 1.1 as standard. It combines Intelligent Cruise Control with steering assistance. It also adjusts the vehicle’s speed for curves and intersections effectively. ProPilot Assist 2.1 is optional on Luxe and Sensory (standard on Autograph) and allows attentive drivers to take their hands off the steering wheel in certain highway driving situations.

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The seven- or eight-passenger Infiniti QX80 starts at $82,450. All-wheel drive adds $3,100. The most expensive Autograph trim is $110,595. The Lincoln Navigator is close to that, starting at $84,760 and going up to $115,790. The Escalade is also comparable, starting at $83,890 and going up to $154,290 depending on trim and size.

And now the QX80 is sized to compete with those luxury competitors, along with non-luxury full-size options. It has a long way to go to catch the leaders, but another few years like 2023 will help.

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“The 2025 Infiniti QX80 has more competition in the luxury full-size SUV space than the current model. Although the king of the segment, the Cadillac Escalade, is unlikely to be dethroned, the QX80 could steal some market share. Share from Grand Wagoneer of Jeep, Lincoln Navigator, and even high-end GMC Yukon models,” said Waatti.

The 2025 Infiniti QX80 goes on sale this summer.