2026 Infiniti QX80

For decades, the big kahunas – literally – in the full-size, luxury marque SUV segment have been models like the Cadillac Escalade and the Lincoln Navigator. The Infiniti QX80 is now every bit the kahuna they are – and in some ways, more so.

Also a bit less so – in that the big Q stickers for thousands less to start than either the Escalade or the Navigator.

What It Is

The QX is a full-size, three-row luxury SUV with seats for 7-8 (depending on the configuration) that’s related to the Nissan Armada that competes with other full-size luxury SUVs such as the Cadillac Escalade (which is related to the Chevy Tahoe) and the Lincoln Navigator (which is related to the Ford Expedition).

Prices start at $83,750 for the Pure trim ($86,850 with automatic/full-time 4WD) which makes it the least expensive of the Big Three and not by a little. The Cadillac Escalade stickers for $91,100 to start; the Lincoln Navigator starts at $91,995.

The Pure trims comes standard with 20 inch wheels, a panorama sunroof, heated first and second row seats, a 14 speaker Klipsch audio system, synthetic leather upholstery and a digital/LCD main instrument panel with secondary LCD screens for the stereo and the AC/heat controls.

The $90,840 Lux trim ($93,950 with 4WD) upgrades to 22 inch wheels, an adaptive suspension system, real leather upholstery, power folding second row and interior trim upgrades.

The $101,950 Sport comes standard with 4WD, massaging front seats, a 24 speaker ultra-premium Klipsch audio system, a built in drive recorder that works like a dashcam, ambient interior lighting and dark chrome trim.

The top -of-the-line Autograph ($111,500) also comes standard with 4WD as well as the luxury upgrades that come with the Lux plus quilted leather seats, massagers for the second row, a second-row touchscreen (to control the massagers), heated third row seats, a refrigerated center console cubby and a semi-self-driving feature called Pro Pilot Assist that allow hands-free driving on highways that have been mapped to work with the system.

All trims come standard with a twin-turbo 3.5 liter V6 engine that makes 450 horsepower and 516 ft.-lbs. of torque, paired with a nine speed automatic transmission.

What’s New For 2026

The QX80 received a major makeover in 2025, so the changes for 2026 are minimal. The main change is the previously available Sensory trim has been dropped; the Sport trim is new. Sport and Autograph trims also get a standard Homelink garage door opener system.

What’s Good

Opulently luxurious (including simple, one-touch controls for the seat massagers).

Third row seats are not coach class seats.

Attractively priced.

What’s Not So Good

Like its Escalade and Navigator rivals, the QX80 is massive – which is great on the open road (as it’s great to be on the deck of a cruise liner out on the open ocean) but less so when you’re trying to fit it into parking spots made for much smaller cars.

Could use a larger gas tank.

You can’t get certain desirable options (such as the 24 speaker Klipsch audio system or the massaging seats) as a la carte extras with the Pure and Luxe trims.

Under The Hood

When Infiniti redesigned the QX80 for the 2025 model year, it replaced the previously standard 5.6 liter V8  that made 400 horsepower (and 413 ft.-lbs. of torque) with a new, 3.5 liter twin-turbo V6 that made much more power (450 horsepower and 516 ft.-lbs. of torque) that also got slightly better gas mileage (16 city, 20 highway vs. 14 city, 20 highway).

But you might think otherwise – as far as the mileage – if you go by the fuel gauge.  Because while the old, V8-powered QX80 was slightly thirstier, it carried 26 gallons of gas, which gave it 520 miles of highway driving range. The new – slightly more fuel-efficient – 2026 QX80 only has 420 miles of highway driving range (100 fewer miles vs. the old V8 QX) because it only carries 23.6 gallons of gas. Probably because of some packaging consideration, such as making more room for the third row passengers. The point is the perception. It feels like the new Q is thirstier than it actually is – which it isn’t. It’s a shame Infiniti couldn’t figure out a way to punch out enough space under the floorpans to retain the old Q’s 26 gallon tank capacity.

That aside, it’s hard to find fault with the new V6. It is much stronger than the old V8 – and not just by the numbers. The massive increase in low-RPM torque makes the Q feel even more powerful than it is. About which more below. The numbers also tell the tale. Notwithstanding its near 6,000 pound curb weight, it can accelerate from a dead stop to 60 MPH in six seconds.

However, it isn’t rated to tow more than before. The new Q and the old Q are both rated to handle up to 8,500 lbs. The new Q’s higher-torque (and horsepower) twin-turbo V6 could probably easily pull more, but it’s not just the engine that determines manufacturer-specified towing limits. There is also the transmission to consider, as well as the frame’s sturdiness. The new Q and the old Q have the same nine speed automatic and pretty much the same frame, too. Not that either are flimsy or shoddy; any vehicle that can safely (and reliably) pull 8,500 lbs. (a ton-plus more than its own curb weight) is by definition sturdy. This is merely an observation that increasing engine power (and torque) do not automatically mean an uptick in towing capacity.

In any event, the QX80 out-tows the Cadillac Escalade, which has a max rating of 8,100 lbs. The Lincoln Navigator touts a higher (8,700 lb.) max tow rating) but it requires buying the 22 inch wheel package and the heavy-duty towing package. Without those prerequisites, the Navigator’s tow rating declines to 6,200 lbs.

On The Road

Size does matter.

Massive (and massively heavy) luxury SUVs like the QX80 and its competitors are the kings of the road, latter day reincarnations of ’70s luxury land yachts such as the Cadillac Fleetwood, the Lincoln Town Car and the Mercedes “grosser” (which meant, basically, the biggest, baddest thing on wheels – which it was). The difference now is that these latter-day yachts are as tall as the old ones were long, adding height to their immensity. You’ve got to be more aware of low-hanging tree branches in addition to the margins on narrow roads. Just a little inadvertent drift to the left can result in a lot of QX wandering across the double yellow. They ought to give out Captain Stubing (from Love Boat) hats with each purchase.

These are not criticisms. They are compliments.

Just with caveats.

It was the same in the past as it is now. Only – arguably – more so. None of the great land yachts of the ’70s had 450 horsepower or could accelerate to 60 in six seconds. In fact, most of them took closer to 10 seconds – while getting single digits, MPG-wise. They were smooth, certainly – provided you didn’t expect them to tackle a curve at a pace faster than the speed limit (if that). If you did that, probably at last one hubcap would go flying off into the weeds. Also, those great land yachts were as adroit in any kind of less-than-perfect weather as a beached baleen whale. Rear-wheel-drive and being low to the ground being as suitable for snow-driving as bikinis for ice fishing. The QX80, on the other hand, sits high and (when equipped with 4WD) is as at-home in the snow as an Eskimo. The main caveat here is to not forget that the ability to go (in the snow) does not also mean the ability to stop. Six thousand pounds of kinetic energy requires judicious use of the throttle – and one’s judgment. Just because it feels easy – to go – does not mean it will be easy to stop, if you’re going too fast and there’s not enough time (and space) to slow down.

It may sound incongruous to hear that a nearly three-ton vehicle has just 3.5 liters under the hood. Big V8s were, until recently, expected in vehicles this size because they were this size (and weight). But – as of 2026 – the V8s are almost all gone (the Escalade being the exception). The reason why has to do with the pressure imposed by the federal regulatory apparat, which demands ever-higher fuel economy and ever lower emissions and the only realistic way to do that is by making engines smaller. Turbos make them effectively bigger, though – and not just by the numbers. The V6 QX80 feels mightier than the old V8 QX because the V6 produces not just more power (and torque) but produces it sooner and with less pedal effort. This is by itself a luxury. It conveys superiority – which is a necessary piece of “luxury.”

Another aspect of luxury is ease-of-use. The QX’s available massaging seats can be turned on by reaching down to the side of the seat cushion and turning them on. You don’t have to scroll through menus to find the seat heater controls or turn the seats on – as you do in some other brand models. Other important controls are also easy-to-use, including the audio system controls.

The only time the enjoyment is hampered a bit is when you have to deal with close-quarters maneuvering the big Q in parking lots that weren’t spaced for things this size. It is something like trying to maneuver the battleship Bismarck into a U-boat pen at Brest.

At The Curb

The new Q is handsome and squared off. It does not have angry samurai face or grinning gangster face (that’s you, Escalade).

At 211.2 inches long , it is not quite as long as a ’70s  Cadillac Fleetwood (which was 234 inches long) but it is almost two feet taller: 76.6 inches vs. 55.6 inches. The top of the hood is about chest level – the chest level of a man who stands 6 ft 3 (me). The 22 inch wheels are almost as tall as a ’70s Cadillac. Ok, that’s a little bit of an exaggeration – but not much. You stepped into those old land yachts and once in, you rode low.

Now you step up – and ride high.

More can ride, too. The greatest land yachts of the ’70s seated six. The Q and its rivals can seat 7-8 and even the third row occupants get to enjoy heated seats, if you buy them. The first and second row occupants can enjoy massaging seats and – as mentioned – they are easily operated, via the push of a single button. The only thing that can be said against them is they do automatically cycle off after about ten minutes or so. But – again – it’s easy to just turn them back on.

Every current luxury-brand SUV has a big touchscreen and the Q is no exception. But it does have an unusual one that lies at an angle and low on the center stack, in line with where your right hand naturally falls. This is the touchscreen for the AC/heat (and heated steering wheel) controls. There’s also pressure-sensitive so-called “haptic” feedback that conveys in a physical way that you’ve touched the controls you wanted to touch.

The nine-speed automatic is push-button controlled, too.

As mentioned earlier, the third row in this SUV is not coach class seating for kids and teenagers only. There’s more than enough legroom such that the occupants’ knees do not rub up against the backs of the second row seats. Power sliding/folding-forward second row seats make access easy also.

In the higher trims, such as the Sport, almost every surface is covered in soft suede or leather, with “dark wood” trim inserts and black chrome accents. The 24 speaker Klipsch audio system (which includes speakers built into the front seat headrests) is spectacular.

With the third row in use, there’s still 22 cubic feet of space for groceries or whatever else behind them. This is much more space than you’d have available in the trunk of any current full-size luxury sedan. If you fold the third row forward, you’ll more than double the available space and still be able to carry as many people as could ride in a ’70s Cadillac Fleetwood sedan.

The Rest

If you’re shopping for a vehicle in this class, you’re probably not worrying overmuch about price. That said, the QX80 is considerably less pricey (by about $8k) than its two main rivals. It is also about $24k less pricey than lesser Leviathans such as the Lexus LX600 (which is about a foot less long and stickers for $107,000 to start).

Even for affluent people, that’s not chump change.

The main kvetch – or compliment – is that there are only a couple of options. Every trim comes loaded. But if you want more loaded, you pretty much have to move up the trim ladder. You can’t get desirable features such as the 24 speaker audio system in the lower trims; it comes standard (and only) in the higher trims.

The Bottom line

For decades, the Escalade and Navigator have had the full-size land, yacht SUV niche all to themselves.

They no longer do.

. . .

If you like what you’ve found here please consider supporting EPautos.