Large SUVs are surprisingly capable vehicles, plus their interiors with better interiors and technology compared to cheaper cars. Depending on your standards, you still might not be impressed with what the Infiniti QX80 has to offer. Let’s see why this aging SUV is so unpopular amongst automotive critics. 

The 2023 Infiniti QX80 finishes dead last

If you look at the U.S. News list of “best” large luxury SUVs, you’ll see that the Infiniti QX80 is at the bottom. Its overall score is a meager 6.7/10, which is half a point behind #8 on this list. The majority of SUVs on this list have overall rankings above 8/10. The Lincoln Navigator almost got a 9/10, but it was held back by its lackluster steering. 

Is the 2023 Infiniti QX80 a bad SUV?

Despite a low ranking overall, the Infiniti QX80 still has some undeniably appealing qualities. For example, this SUV has a maximum towing capacity of 8,500 lbs. It also has 9.2 in of ground clearance, so you should be able to do some light off-roading with no problems. Every Infiniti QX80 has the same 400-hp V8, which can propel this SUV to 60 mph in as little as 6.3 seconds. 

However, because this SUV has low fuel economy estimates, you might want to ease off the gas.  The QX80 only gets 16 mpg combined city/highway, plus you have to fill it up with premium fuel. Many critics also complained that the QX80’s suspension can be unforgiving at times, sometimes causing the entire cabin to shake. The QX80 has pronounced body lean as well, though its brakes are reportedly strong enough to provide quick stops. 

U.S. News also cites the Infiniti QX80’s cargo capacity to be one of its best qualities. It has 95 cu-ft of storage area in total, with over 16 cu-ft accessible behind the rear seats. Adults probably won’t want to sit in the third row anyway, so you can fold that one down for 33 extra cu-ft.

Many automotive experts describe the QX80’s interior design language as outdated, but it’s still made with first-rate materials. We can also appreciate that you don’t have to pay additional premiums for most of the QX80’s advanced safety features. Besides the navigation system, the infotainment interface got good reviews from critics. 

Why this SUV probably isn’t a smart purchase (yet)

A Infiniti QX80 currently starts at $74,150. That’s a lot to pay for an SUV that’s so lackluster compared to its rivals. Even worse, you’ll probably only get about 50% of that back if you decide to sell your QX80 in a few years. 

Even in the areas where it excels, the QX80 is consistently one-upped by the competition. The Lincoln Navigator also can potentially tow 200 lbs more and its V6 engine has 40 extra ponies. The Navigator’s third row also has nearly 41 in of legroom, 12 in more than the last row of the QX80. 

The Cadillac Escalade is another body-on-frame SUV with a high towing capacity of 8,200 lbs.  While it’s outclassed by the QX80 in this department, the Escalade has an optional air spring suspension to make the ride gentler. The best that an Infiniti QX80 can offer is a hydraulic body motion control system on the Sensory trim, which currently retails for $85,350.

After adding features simply to make a car more bearable, it tends to lose its appeal. This SUV hasn’t had any major updates since its rebadging in 2014, so it can hardly stand next to its cutting-edge rivals. For the sake of this model’s reputation, the 2025 Infiniti QX80 can’t come soon enough.