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Road Test: 2014 Infiniti QX80
Car Reviews

Road Test: 2014 Infiniti QX80

·
April 6,2014
·
6 min read

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Who should buy the Infiniti QX80? It is big, it is tall and it is imposing. The rebadged Infiniti QX80 (previously Infiniti QX56) offers luxury, comfort and road respect. Yet, does it meet the expectations of it's buyers? Currently luxury SUVs are a growing segment in Middle East. High income families have lots of options, such as Lexus LX, Lincoln Navigator and Cadillac Escalade, to name a few. We drive the 7 seater giant to find out more...

Style

Compared to it's peers, the QX80 is less boxy and rather curvaceous which some buyers might appreciate. It commands road respect from its height; it is 600 mm taller than the Lexus LX (full specs comparison here) and the sheer height makes the 22 inch wheels look petite. The front bumper in particular is quite elevated and shows off a large grille, giving a poised yet grand presence among the car crowd. Headlights are high intensity discharge (HID) bi-Xenon with auto leveling and adaptive front lighting. The taillights come with LED. The running boards are stylish and sturdy (and required!) for everyday use. I particularly like the stylish chrome body side moldings above the wheels that add a distinct 'bling' quality to the entire package. 

Interior

Stepping inside, the seats are quite similar to those found in Nissan Patrol, especially in terms of material and stitch, quite premium. The interior comes with generous wood trim on the center console, on the steering wheel, even on the rear center console and rear doors. I have seen lesser wood trim in more expensive cars. The analogue clock is a nice touch to the center console. The sunroof extends only till the passenger level which is a disappointment. They should do away with it and bring a more panoramic style moonroof that allows kids in the second row to enjoy the views. The rear seat entertainment system comes with 'captain seats' for the second row kids and a rear center console that doubles up as a cooler box, complete with controls and headphones. Throw in the optional Bose Surround System with 13 or 15 speakers and you have a winner. 

Interior Space

This was quite unexpected. Our test car came with this fitted rear console-cum-cooler box, which meant only two people could sit in the second row and no one could sit in the middle. Maybe the console could be lifted but then it was so unintuitive that we couldn't find any way to lift it for a third person to fit in. In the previous QX56 model we reviewed last year, this was not the case. The console could be easily lifted up and three people could easily fit in. So effectively the 7 seater becomes a 6 seater and the third row is good for children only so four adults and two children can comfortably be seated. I much prefer the previous soft rear center console because of the extra seat it offered in the second row. Thanks to 60/40 split seating and second row seating converting into a 'cannonball' style fold up, there is ample space in the QX80 for cargo.

Safety and Comfort Features

I love the sound insulation of QX80, this is a very quiet car and the engine or road noise can hardly be felt. On the flip side, the AC is loud and makes up for half the exterior noise pollution! Having said that, the quality of air conditioning and cooling is top notch. I drove the QX80 on a hot afternoon at 1pm, parked it for a while and found it to be much cooler on standstill mode compared to other SUVs. One other reason apart from the AC quality is the added UV protection offered in the windows. Standard safety features are not best in class but fairly adeqate. Our test car came kitted with Lane Departure audio and visual warnings, forward collision alerts (audio and visual) and adaptive cruise control. 

Drive Performance

Engine and Power

The 5.6 liter V8 generates 560 Nm torque and 400 horses, which is more than enough for long cross country road trips. Acceleration from 0 - 100 is around 7.5 seconds which is fairly decent. 

Drive Experience

On urban roads, the biggest issue is parking this behemoth. Even on decent parking spaces you will need to adjust the QX80 so you can open doors and come out properly. The QX80 looks great on villa garages but when you have to park it on a weekend in Mall of the Emirates, things might get a little tricky. Also, avoid coming too close to smaller mortals like Nissan Tiida or a Yaris. Smaller cars simply disappear when they come too close to the tall QX80, which is why the optional safety features like collision alert should actually be standard. We recommend being safe than sorry, install them when you buy the car. 

It is on highways when the QX80 comes alive. Our test car came with adaptive cruise control so I barely used my feet and relaxed as the cruiser took us on a long relaxing journey. Legroom is quite adequate, both front and back. There are 4 cupholders and 8 bottle holders AND a cooler box. There is a 12V power outlet in the back so practicality is not too bad, save for the rear center console issue. 

Transmission

The Infiniti QX80 is all mode 4WD, coming with a separate computer controlled transfer case, which means you can take it to the dunes easily (although I would install off-road bumpers first). It has a 7 speed automatic transmission with adapative shift control. 

Handling and Steering

I personally found the steering to be very light considering it's size. Even though Infiniti terms it 'speed sensitive' power steering, it's basically light! I wish it was a bit heavier as the body is tall and wide and a light steering does not inspire confidence when it comes to making even regular turns. 

Visibility

Anyone buying the Infiniti QX80 must ensure it comes equipped with front and rear parking sensors, as the elevated front bumper means front visibility is not as good as it should be. Our test car also came with top view and rear camera so navigation was fine but without these features it can become quite difficult to manoeuvre. 

Verdict

The QX80 starts at 279,000 AED but will cost over 300,000 AED (roughly $82,000 USD) if we consider adding the optional safety features. I personally think the height could be lower. I'm not a big fan of the rear center console reducing passenger space and I think some safety features like collision alert should be offered as standard. On the plus side, I love the comfort, the wood trims and the powerful cruiser experience on the highway. It's a very good SUV if you have a road trip loving family. However, if you're just looking to drive kids from home to school, do consider more compact sized options.

 

Prices, Specs, Trims and Features: 2014 Infiniti QX80

Comparison: 2014 Infiniti QX80 vs 2014 Lexus LX

Rivals: 2014 Lexus LX, Mercedes-Benz GL 500, Cadillac Escalade, Lincoln Navigator

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