![]() The 2021 Infiniti QX80 has some stellar competition, which puts it in a tricky spot. I can only hope that this system makes its way not just to the QX80, but to all Infiniti models in the future, because it's far closer to what's expected in a luxury vehicle in this price range. The layout is cleaner, the graphics look like they were designed within the last year or two and Apple CarPlay is available wirelessly. Here's the biggest problem, though: The Nissan Armada's new infotainment is leagues ahead of its luxury-oriented sibling's, and for less money, to boot. Both screens are sufficiently responsive, though, and modern niceties like Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and a Wi-Fi hotspot are all tucked in there. At least there are physical buttons for the climate controls, which makes adjusting them a breeze. The graphics are dramatically different on each screen, although I'm glad Infiniti upgraded the top display to a resolution that no longer resembles a Best Buy-purchased Garmin, and neither layout really screams "luxury vehicle" to me. It's not necessarily difficult to use - the map lives on the top screen, while most of the usual duties are handled by the screen below - it's just nowhere near as good as what rivals can offer, like BMW's iDrive or Mercedes-Benz's MBUX. Infiniti needs to put its two-screen infotainment setup onto a boat and ship it off to Valhalla. Towing fans will appreciate all that hustle, because that motive force grants the QX80 an 8,500-pound towing capacity in both 2WD and 4WD variants. The transmission is smooth for its age, but some downshifts take a little longer to register than I'd like. Despite a porcine curb weight of about 6,000 pounds, the V8 is keen to pick up the QX80's nose and send the SUV careening forward with minimal provocation. Performance is even keeled across the two fraternal twins, as well. That's the exact same setup as the Armada, believe it or not. All variants of Infiniti's honkin' three-row SUV come with a 5.6-liter V8 producing 400 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque, which is sent to either two or four wheels (the latter on my tester) through a seven-speed automatic transmission. The 2021 QX80 reminds me that sometimes there's no replacement for displacement. Leave just the front row standing, and that number grows to a proper 95.1 cubic feet. Drop the third row, and that number expands to 49.6 cubes. With the third row up, the QX80 offers a commendable 16.6 cubic feet. Luxury doesn't impugn on cargo capacity either. Nevertheless, there's plenty of comfort to be found in here, with soft leather on the seats and, well, just about everywhere you can reach. Heck, even the Nissan Armada - an SUV with which the QX80 shares a platform - feels a step ahead of the Infiniti in this department, especially when the awful two-screen center stack is the focus. While I like the layered dashboard, it looks decidedly old when compared to other luxe three-rows such as the Mercedes-Benz GLS, Cadillac Escalade or Lincoln Navigator. From a front three-quarter view, though, it's modern in all the right places, and its 22-inch alloy wheels fill the wells with the right kind of flashiness.Ĭontext once again comes into play inside the QX80. While the headlights and taillights now more closely resemble other modern Infiniti models, the general shape of the body remains the same from when it was called the QX56, including the rear bumper's unsightly underbite. The 2021 Infiniti QX80 has cosmopolitan good looks, some of which carry over from a 2018 update, while the rest stem from a 2020-model-year interior nip-tuck.
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