The 2025 Infiniti QX80 Gets a Much-Needed Upgrade

Before we dive into the detailed design of the just-launched 2025 Infiniti QX80, a personal disclaimer: I’ve never been a fan of Infiniti’s styling. Not once have I put the marque’s sedans, let alone SUVs, and especially its larger SUVs, on a short, or even long, list of favorites. Something about their dangling headlamps, bulbous body panels, and stylish reach has long drawn me to try too hard. Nothing personal against the talent of design boss Alfonso Albaisa or his team; Infiniti sheetmetal has never been my cup of tea. And so it was with some degree of resignation that I crossed traffic-heavy Los Angeles to check out the new QX80 and hear its design story from the insiders.

The big game is unfolding in a different way than I expected. First, the larger Infinity now introduces a new base starting at $82,450—a premium of about 15 percent over last year’s model, with the top trim starting at $110,595.

The QX80’s looks have been equally refined to be smoother, sleeker, and more modern than the complex curves presented before. “You’re going to see a high front and then that line going down gently, so you get all the power and the feeling of fluidity,” Albaisa says. However, even if it doesn’t look any better than its predecessors, it’s still a sight to behold. The sleek, shoulder-swept nose recalls the ruggedness of the Cadillac Escalade, and perhaps even more so the quirky, battery-powered Escalade IQ.

At the front is a new grill design that chief design director Taisuke Nakamura says was inspired by the tall bamboo forests that haunted him during his childhood in Kyoto. The forced perspective is actually similar to what a child would see looking up at the floor-like sprouts, a neat reference to the curved line view. Under that honking hood is a twin-turbo 3.5-liter V-6, which replaces the original 5.6-liter V-8. It’s hard to argue with the downsized engine, as it offers 50 hp and 103 ft lbs of torque from the previous iteration, for a total of 450 hp and 516 ft lbs of torque.

The exterior vibe is more integrated and streamlined than ever, with standard door handles replaced by pull handles that extend and retract automatically. The cabin includes black trim on the A, B, C, and D pillars to tie everything together more firmly; on the back, a stainless steel trim strip adds a raised edge to the waistline for a little character among the slimmer silhouettes.

Inside, things are a little more ornate; the top trim level that I looked at had exposed ash wood inlaid with thin strips of laser-cut aluminum. The semi-aniline leather seats feature a novel quilting pattern, with back surfaces that are created with hidden stitches on the back side. And there’s up to 30 percent more cargo volume than before, at least when the third row is folded.

“We wanted the cabin to look like a glass house,” Albaisa says, and indeed there is a good view from inside, which can accommodate up to 8 passengers depending on the configuration. (The air suspension lowers the car about 3 inches for ease of entry.) The twin 14.3-inch screens add a premium touch (which always runs the risk of getting outdated quickly) separated by a narrow 6 mm gap. Below is a 9-inch touchscreen for additional adjustments. The limited selection of buttons and controls includes a physical volume rocker, a welcome alternative to the haptic sliders and touchscreen-only setup that’s so annoying right now. And offered in higher-end variants is a wider front camera that enables occupants to see what the car is driving.

After inspecting it from bow to stern, and questioning its creators, I gave an honest thought to whether the extreme refinement of the QX80 might make me look at Infiniti more favorably. On the one hand, the QX80 has fixed many of the features that pissed off car enthusiasts like me about the brand. But is it enough to compete against the flagships in the segment, such as the Cadillac Escalade and Mercedes-Benz GLS? The jury is still out, as we haven’t fired this giant yet.

With its new larger price tag, though, the QX80 had better take a step up in driving dynamics if it’s going to compete against the big boys. It looks refined, but this SUV goes up against other major players who have been at the top of their game for longer.

Click here for more photos of the 2025 Infiniti QX80.