SUPERSIZED INFINITI ONE OF LAST TRUE SUVS OUT THERE
In the beginning, the sport utility was a truck. Quite literally, as in automakers took truck frames and cabs, and simply added a full body on the back.
Automakers refined those rough-riding versions over the years, but as tastes and gas prices changed, most SUVs became lighter-weight unibody construction. Only a few bodyon-frame sport-utes remain, including Infiniti’s QX80. It shares its bones with the Nissan Armada and ultimately, the Nissan Titan pickup truck, but of course in a considerably more upscale way.
It checks a “yes” in most of the boxes: Big, powerful, fullyfeatured and luxurious. Styling? Well, there’s always something that isn’t quite there. But there’s a new model coming for 2018 that, if it’s close to the concept unveiled earlier this year, should fix that a bit.
And while it’s certainly not cheap, it’s the relative bargain in the sliver-thin niche of luxury three-row, body-on-frame class in which it plays. It starts at $75,650 for either seven- or eight-passenger seating, then climbs to my tester, the fullfeatured and seven-person-only Limited, at $93,800.
In comparison, Lincoln’s Navigator is next-up at $76,600 — as with the QX80, an all-new one will debut for 2018 — while Cadillac’s Escalade starts at $84,910 and the Lexus LX 570 is $108,000. Infiniti even undercuts the $79,165 GMC Yukon Denali.
The QX80 is powered by a 5.6-litre V8 engine that is both powerful and thirsty. It cranks out 400 horsepower and 413 lb.-ft of torque, but is rated as high as 17.4 L/100 kilometres for city driving. Fortunately, while premium-grade fuel is recommended for peak performance, it’ll handle 87 octane gas just fine. Power gets to the wheels through a seven-speed automatic and an automatic four-wheeldrive system that seamlessly sends power to the front tires as needed, along with a dial for 4WD high or low if required.
The big deal with these heavyduty SUVs is their pulling power for stuff like big boats or horse trailers. The QX80 can tow 8,500 pounds (3,855 kilograms), putting it midway between its Lincoln and Cadillac competitors, and 1,500 lbs. above what the Lexus can pull. By comparison, Infiniti’s next-size-down and lighter-duty QX70 can only take 3,500 lbs. on its hitch.
The QX80’s four-corner independent suspension is further refined with an automatic hydraulic damper system, optional on the base level and standard on the Limited, which smooths out the ride and reduces body roll. You never mistake it for something smaller, but the ride and handling are more refined than you might expect.
Not surprisingly, it shines on the highway, where the pliant ride and straight-ahead stability effortlessly chew up the miles on long-distant drives, especially if rear-seat passengers are transfixed by the dual-screen entertainment system included in the second row of all trim levels.
The cabin certainly looks the part, especially with the Limited’s gorgeous wood trim and quilted seats. The controls are straightforward and easy to use, save for the tiny heatedand-cooled seat controls, which rely on an indicator light that is hard to see. The seats are roomy and comfortable for first- and second-row passengers, and the space between the two centre chairs is taken up with a console containing a deep storage cubby.
The third row obediently power-folds and reclines, and there’s enough cargo space for some serious shopping when they’re down. But there’s precious little legroom when they’re up, and while those seats are the right size for children, the vehicle’s high sill makes it a real chore for short legs to get up and inside.
Infiniti stuffs a wide selection of electronic safety and convenience features into the Limited, including automatic climate control recirculation, full-speed adaptive cruise control, blind spot and lane-departure prevention, adaptive headlamps, forward emergency braking and pre-crash seatbelts, plus 22-inch wheels in place of the stock 20-inchers.
But all of that, along with the body motion suspension and speed-sensitive steering, can be added to the base trim in the optional Technology Package which, at $8,150, brings it to $83,800. The extra 10 grand to move up to the Limited is a serious kick of cash for what mostly gives you trim items such as illuminated sill plates, wood trim, faux-suede headliner and the quilted, piping-edged seats.
And even then, there are a few nice-to-have items on competitors that aren’t added to the QX80, such as a hands-free liftgate or mirrors that automatically fold in when you lock the vehicle. You do get a bird’s-eye camera that warns if there’s something moving close by while you’re parking, such as a cyclist
or pedestrian, and the Bose stereo sounds great.
But with a new QX80 waiting in the wings, there are some old-model holdovers left on this one, such as a cumbersome voice recognition system that requires you to enter navigation destinations one line at a time, and which can switch you between AM, FM and satellite, but not take you to your station. They’re minor gripes to be sure, but it’s not unreasonable to want something a little more precise when you’re tapping $100,000 with tax and freight.
It’s likely those will be addressed when the 2018 QX80 takes the stage, but in the meantime, cross-shop the stuff that’s important to you, whether it’s towing, features, or how it drives. Especially in this small but stillviable niche, it’s the little things that count.