Her + His Car Reviews
2018 Infiniti QX80 4WD
Our car reviews are innovative and interesting as we provide insightful and expert reviews from both Her + His perspectives.
Her: Anne Fleming, Car Buying Advocate, women-drivers.com
His: Don Hammonds, Writer, AutomobileJournal.com
| HER | HIS |
|---|---|
| Price | |
| $84,660 | $84,660 |
| Performance | |
| Built for power, the 2018 Infinity QX80 4WD has that and more. With a 5.6-liter V8 engine and 4.13 lb-ft of torque acceleration and presence are synonymous with its name. | The car is powered by a 400 horsepower, 5.6-liter V-8 engine that can move it with authority, although it is no race horse. While it does well in terms of keeping things moving on the highway, the QX80 is still a bit soft in terms of ride and the steering system has a bit too much looseness in it for our tastes. Brakes are quite excellent, though. |
| Fuel Economy | |
| 13 city/ 19 highway/ and 15 miles overall. | Pretty dismal, to be honest. But then again, you do not buy a vehicle like the QX80 if you are worried about affording the gasoline, right? What's that old saying? If you have to ask, you can't afford it! With that in mind, the QX80 is rated at 15 combined, 13 city and 19 highway, and it takes 6.7 gallons of gasoline to drive 100 miles. And you will spend $7,250 more in fuel costs over five years, compared to the average vehicle. Annual fuel cost is about $2,800, based on driving 15,000 miles annually for five years with gasoline costing $2.80 a gallon. |
| The Car | |
| The plush QX 80 is a beast, really. It's impressive looking with its dominant arrival. Infiniti updated the design of the vehicle internally as well as outside. It's a beautiful, luxurious 7 speed automatic. With 22" forged aluminum alloy wheels the QX80 is spacious and roomy as the family hauler. For all its brawn, the interior is remarkably quite. While we enjoyed so many aspects of driving it, as it accelerated and managed the hills and rain, the handling overall was loose. The steering seemed to not be as responsive to some of its competition, the Toyota Land Cruiser for example, and seemed awkward. Luxurious, leather seats - adjustable for optimum comfort. And, front seats are climate controlled front seats for adjustable customized temperature. Great sound comes from the 15-seaker Bose surround sound. The 7 seater also is easy to gain back packing space with power 60-40 fold flat and reclining third row seats. Captains chairs in the second row. The middle console has a 12-volt outlet. Roof rails for the longer vacations. And power rear lift gate to open without hands. |
You will be coddled and cosseted royally by the imposing QX80, which is one of the best choices you can make if you have a large family, make lots of long haul trips, perhaps need to tow a boat, and you have enough cash to afford this beauty. It is silent, roomy, chock full of the latest technology, and is sinfully comfortable for all those who have the good fortune to ride in it. But....the handling in city traffic can be a bit unsettling simply because of the sheer size of the QX80, and the fact that steering and cornering are not the car's strong suits. You will have to make a number of corrections with the steering because it isn't as precise as perhaps you might like. It is also This is one rugged land yacht! The QX80 can tow 8,500 pounds, speaking of yachts and boats, which makes it a top choice for that task. This year, there have been some freshening things done to update it. The grille is more elegant and fits in with the whole family grill theme for Infiniti. And there is a new design for the two small intakes on the side of the QX80 which look more in keeping with the luxury class in which it competes. challenging to get in and out of it gracefully. |
| Safety | |
| Air Bags galore, Active head rests, Vehicle Dynamic Control, Traction Control, Trailer Sway Control, Tire Pressure Monitoring System, Front and Rear Sonar System, Intelligent key with Push Button Ignition. On those cooler days, the Remote Engine Starter comes in very handy. With our tester, Wi-Fi was available for the car - very nice when the family is travelling. We especially liked the around view monitor, and being able to see the position of the wheels - very smart, and helpful when parking, etc. Final assembly point is Los Angeles. | Other than the safety features I mentioned under our technology section, the other safety equipment is pretty much standard issue with the requisite bells and whistles for added protection Infiniti clearly decided to take the contemporary route in designing the QX80. |
| Technology | |
| Around View Monitor as well as being able to get a top-down perspective with Moving Object Detector, 15 speaker Bose sound system, 8" touch screen display, Navigation, Voice Display, Text Messaging Assistant, Cruise control, Front and Rear Sonar, Second Row 2.4 amp USB ports. Backup Collision Intervention, Blind Sport warning, Lane Departure Warning, Lane Departure Prevention, Distance Control Assistant, Predictive Forward Collision Warning. This tester, at the highest price point, comes with a Theater package, including two (2) 8" screen monitors, Wireless remote control, two wireless headphones, and AV capable HDMI and USB ports. |
You can expect that the standard equipment list contains everything you can think of and then some. Standard technology 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 total of four USB ports. There are a few packages if you desire even more. There's the Driver Assistance Package, which includes 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 geofencing and maximum speed notifications. All other available packages require that you equip your QX80 with the Driver Assistance package. If you have a lot of restless kiddies, what could be better then the Infiniti Theater package? With it you get a dual-screen rear entertainment system, a 120-volt power outlet, and heated second-row seats with a power tip-up feature for easier third-row access. The Deluxe Technology package requires that you opt into both packages and order larger 22-inch wheels. But doing so gets you adaptive front lighting, headlight washers, the Hydraulic Body Motion Control suspension (provides greater stability during cornering), upgraded climate control, upgraded leather upholstery, special wood trim, ventilated front seats and a 15-speaker Bose surround-sound audio system. Finally, there's a 4G Wi-Fi that connects up to five devices (monthly data plan required) and a 22-inch wheel and tire package are available as stand-alone options. |
| Aesthetics & Styling | |
| This is just one of a few in the large SUV category and its got the Infiniti touches and design language; you won't be disappointed with the new look - both inside and out. Just sit into the quilted leather seats throughout... ahhh! With lumbar, they support for any longer drives. The updated curvature on the LED headlights as they wrap around from front to the immediate side of the hood are very inspiring. Kick Plates and Chrome Mirror Caps. |
It has a distinctive roofline with curved rear windows, sleek, understated flanks, a distinguished yet contemporary grille, and an overall modern, regal look. The interior has a modern, hand-stitched look to it, and is inordinately comfortable. You will want to sleep in it! |
| Warranty | |
| 4-Year/60,000 mile Basic Limited Warranty. 6-Year/70,000 Powertrain Limited Warranty. 7-Year Unlimited Mileage Corrosion Warranty. 24-hour Roadside Assistance, Complimentary Service Vehicle. | It comes with a four year/60,000-mile basic limited warranty coverage, a bit better than some of the QX80's competitors. There is also a six year/70,000-mile warranty for the powertrain. |
