When buying a new vehicle, its safety ratings are always a primary concern. For those considering a 2020 Infiniti QX80, one safety rating, in particular, should give buyers pause. In what area did the Infiniti QX80 do poorly, and how does it rate overall for safety? Here is some important information you need to know.

The Infiniti QX80’s issues with emergency handling

Researchers from Consumer Reports recently test-drove the 2020 Infiniti QX80, and they noted some surprising things about the SUV’s emergency handling capabilities. They claimed that “when pushed to its limits, the QX80 leans a good deal and the tail can start sliding out disconcertingly.” They went on to note that “though it didn’t do anything dangerous, it bred very little confidence.”

Even routine handling could be a problem for QX80 owners. According to Consumer Reports, “it tends to rock on all but the smoothest roads, making the ride unsettled.” They further stated that although the vehicle’s suspension was solid, some body motions nonetheless persisted.

The fact that the experienced drivers at Consumer Reports were concerned with the Infiniti’s poor emergency handling capabilities should concern anyone. It’s especially frightening when you consider the sheer number of emergency situations you could potentially be exposed to on any given day.

Safety ratings

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave the 2020 Infiniti QX80 a four-out-of-five-star rating for safety. The organization gave it five stars in the overall side category, which includes the side barrier and side pole star tests. However, it received only three stars in the frontal crash and rollover categories.

Car Indigo weighed in on the NHTSA ratings, claiming they were unsatisfactory for a vehicle in the QX80’s price range. They also noted the tip-over rate of 23.50 percent, which they claim is much too high for any SUV.

Safety benefits

The Car Indigo report also noted that the 2020 Infiniti QX80 had not yet been rated by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). However, they expected it to do very well in IIHS crash tests based on previous brand performance. In particular, they noted that the Infiniti QX60 had received a “good” rating in nearly every IIHS category.

According to Car Indigo, the 2020 QX80 has some very redeeming safety features such as forward emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind-spot assist, predictive forward collision warning, and lane departure prevention. Along with Infiniti’s ProPilot Assist technologies, these features can help you avoid an accident under a variety of driving conditions.

The overall benefits of driving an Infiniti QX80

The 2020 Infiniti QX80 provides a dynamic driving experience thanks to its generous headroom, legroom, and power-adjustable steering wheel. With a high seating position and large side windows, you’ll have an exceptional view of the road from every direction. Large outside mirrors allow you to easily view the rear and sides of your vehicle at all times.

Consumer Reports was impressed with the second row of seating, which can hold up to three adults comfortably. In addition, it has a generous amount of cabin storage, along with second- and third-row seats that can be folded down to increase the amount of cargo you can carry. The powered liftgate will make it easy to load and unload cargo as well.

The 2020 Infiniti QX80 has plenty of exciting features that will make it fun to drive. At the same time, it doesn’t have the best safety ratings, especially when you consider that this is a luxury SUV. As such, you may want to consider a competitor such as the Lincoln Navigator or Land Rover Range Rover, which have similar features but better safety ratings.