When a hermosa blue Infiniti QX80 rolled off an assembly line in Yukuhashi, Japan, a while back, it was pure conjecture among company officials as to what roads the luxurious, high-riding SUV might travel once it reached America.
Eventually to Denver, its destination papers indicated, and best guess beyond that might have been “west into the Rockies,” the route of my recent drive with a new pickup from Ford.
My turn in the QX driver’s seat, though, was a turn in opposite direction, based on my predilection for visiting the northeastern Colorado plains, particularly during the Memorial Day holidays. It was off to the pretty little town of Wray, Colo., for Jan, me and the 2015 Infiniti.
The QX80 draws notice wherever it goes for its big, tall, square-bodied stance on 22-inch wheels with Bridgestone P275/50R22 tires. The hood stands 4 ½ feet high and the SUV itself is almost 6 ½ feet tall. With all this size, an innovative body-motion control system which distributes variable pressure to the outer or inner suspensions increases its cornering capability.
Performance is at hand when needed from a 400-horsepower (413 lb.-ft. of torque), 5.6-liter V-8 engine mated to a 7-speed automatic transmission. The Infiniti is an excellent handler, impressive in its maneuverability, belying its oversize. It averaged 18.3 miles per gallon for the near-300-mile round-trip. Its EPA estimate is 14/20. Turn circle is among the widest in its class, more than 41 feet.
The QX, featuring three rows of seats, is one of most finely finished interiors among premium full-size sport utility vehicles. Push one button among the dozens of driver controls up front and a second-row seat flip-folds forward to clear a wide path for climbing in or out of the far-back third-row seating.
A wide center stack is trimmed in a bright new wood, stratford burl. A dial on the center console gives the driver a choice of four-wheel high or four-wheel low over the automatic 4WD system; snow mode and tow mode are added selections. In auto mode, as much as 50 percent of engine torque can be directed to front wheels when needed in adverse conditions.
Even with the huge, lengthy size of the QX80, it seems the fore and aft range of the driver seat is somewhat tight. Its comfort, though, is unquestionably among the best. Vision is good.
In addition to its voice-recognition navigation system, a highlight of long-range travel in the Infiniti is its premium 13-speaker sound from Bose, including Bluetooth and USB connection. Second-row passengers not only have heated seats, but also entertainment screens on the backs of the front-seat headrests.
A few among the long list of amenities in the QX80’s sticker price of $80,285 are self-leveling suspension, power tilt/telescope steering wheel, blind-spot and lane-departure warning, remote start and power liftgate.
The QX80 is the former Infiniti QX56. All Infiniti models have been renumbered; the cars carry designations of Q50, Q60 and Q70, and the crossovers and SUVs are now known as QX50, QX60, QX70 and QX80.
Here are the specifications for the 2015 Infiniti QX80:
- Capacity 7-passenger SUV
- Wheelbase 121.1 inches
- Length 208.3 inches
- Width 79.9 inches
- Height 75.8 inches
- Curb Weight 5,878 pounds
- Track 67.5 inches front, 67.9 rear
- Ground Clearance 9.2 inches
- Turn Circle 41.6 feet
- Drivetrain Four-wheel-drive
- Engine 5.6-liter V-8
- Horsepower/Torque 400/413
- Transmission 7-speed automatic
- Steering power rack-and-pinion
- Suspension independent double-wishbone front and rear
- Fuel mileage estimate 14/20
- Fuel mileage average 18.3
- Fuel Tank 26 gallons, premium
- Wheels 22-inch
- Tires Bridgestone Dueler P275/50R22
- Cargo Volume 16.6 cubic feet
- Warranty 4 years/60,000 miles basic, 6/70,000 powertrain
Competitors Lincoln Navigator, Cadillac Escalade, Range Rover, Mercedes-Benz GL450, GMC Yukon XL, Lexus LX570
Assembly Plant Yukuhashi, Japan
Parts Content N/A
Base Price of Lowest Model $66,350; Base Price of Review Model $66,350; Destination Charge $995; Sticker Price $80,285.