I've been driving quite a few Nissan and Infiniti vehicles recently, which has been really interesting; both companies have taken significant strides towards improving their lineup, including drive experience and interior design. The top end is the Infiniti lineup, and the top of the Infiniti line is the QX80, a three-row SUV that is just enormous. How big? It's bigger than the Ford Expedition: 211" versus 210" and 83" in width versus the Expedition's 81" width. Nissan has been exploring a possible merger with Honda and Mitsubishi but the cars I've driven lately show that it's not due to a lack of engineering and manufacturing prowess. [update: Looks like the merger is probably not going to go through because Honda wants to have Nissan as a subsidiary and Nissan wants to be an equal partner]
Regardless of the state of the merger, I'm a definite fan of Honda and become more of a Nissan fan too. Consequently, when I had the chance to drive the newly redesigned 2025 Infiniti QX80 Autograph 4WD for a week, I jumped at it. As a car writer, I'm used to driving quite a variety of vehicles in different sizes, and even with that experience, the QX80 is a big darn vehicle. Here's what they dropped off In two-tone Coulis Red with Graphite Interior:
It's a bit of a boxy design but much of that is because there's so much space inside, coupled with a big engine: It's powered by a 3.5L V6 twin-turbo putting out up to 450 horsepower, with a smooth 9-speed automatic transmission. Once you accept that even Eco Mode isn't very economical at all, it's surprisingly fun to drive because that V6 gives it a lot of oomph. It also has an impressive towing capacity of 8,500 pounds. It could tow itself with headroom to spare. The real win in the exterior design is the step because it's so high you really do have to hoist yourself into the vehicle.
Once you get in, however, it's ridiculously comfortable and quite well appointed with screens galore:
I kept wondering if all of these screens were necessary, but "necessary" isn't really the word you should use when thinking about luxury class SUVs and related vehicles. It's more like "if we can do it, let's go for it" which does end up adding a lot of complexity too. This is the kind of vehicle where you'll want to have the dealer walk you through the basic functions and features, then study the user's guide to catch the nuances of functionality.
Notice in the above photo that there are three display screens integrated into the user experience: While climate controls could be implemented on the 14.3-inch infotainment screen, Infiniti has instead included an additional 9-inch lower control panel. Given that most drivers set and forget climate controls, it was a surprise that there wasn't a way to have the lower screen display something more useful like real-time powertrain feedback or a live rear view for towing. Then again, perhaps it can do just that and I couldn't figure out the controls and settings.
When I shared a photo of the cockpit with my son, he said it reminded him of a spaceship. When it's dark, the many screens do have a certain glow that is reminiscent of sci-fi sets, doesn't it? Here's another view of that lower screen:
Notice the pleated seats and the brushed fabric details in the above photo too, in addition to the Qi wireless charging tray and dual USB-C ports conveniently front-and-center in the console. The width of this center console also hints at the overall width of the QX80 Autograph: It's wide! If it were configured with three rows of bench seats, the classic design of now-vintage automobiles, this vehicle would have easy seating for nine.
I will note that the touch screens are quick to accumulate fingerprints, which is particularly noticeable on this lower screen because of its angle. I found myself wiping them off every 2-3 days: Do they lack an oleophobic coating?
Moving back to the dashboard, here's the default main gauge display. You can see my fuel efficiency here too: 17.5mpg. The EPA ratings are spot on in that regard, with 16/19 and an average of 17mpg. That's fine if you're totin' the crew but the QX80 really should never be driven without passengers because of its predilection of guzzling fuel. Imagine if gas was $7.00+ and you needed to go 100 miles. Suddenly a small hybrid sounds pretty nice.
One of my favorite features of the 2025 Infiniti QX80 Autograph was one I unearthed after noticing that there was a camera facing the main cabin area: The built-in dashcam. Check it out:
Having an integrated dashcam is great, particularly if you spend the time to configure it so that it's always recording. Then if you do get into an accident, you have a record of both front and rear cameras. No further effort involved, it just records and is available if you need it. Look closely above at the sparkly gold lower portion too; that graphical theme runs across displays and does a neat job of integrating the various screens into a coherent user experience.
In a different mode, the 14.3" infotainment screen offers an elegant interface to wireless Apple CarPlay [or Android Auto], as shown:
Then again, notice the phone information on the right side - "iDave 15 Pro" - hinting at a problem most cars are starting to have, that if you have lots of view areas, what do you display? There are also "notifications" from the car's main computer (the bell icon on the left with the '1' superimposed). With so much going on, it's really easy to never notice this sort of notification, so I hope that for really important messages, there are alternative ways of bringing it to the attention of the driver.
Before we leave the driver's experience, here are the impressively complex steering wheel controls:
It took me a few days to realize that the two tiny rectangles on the right side allowed you to switch modes for the control above so you could change different display screens with the same buttons. Remember I was talking about nuances and subtleties and reading the user guide? This is exactly what you'd find and say "ahhhh that's what it does!"
With the front seat pushed back there was less rear legroom than I expected:
The second row seats are highly adjustable so it is possible they could be moved further back. Notice also the luxurious finish on the materials in the above photo, including the lovely carpet mats. So nice!
Here's where you can really see just how big the QX80 is. I've folded down the third row seats and one of the second row seats too (all via buttons, of course, no levers or manual work required). Lots and lots of space, as you would expect with a vehicle this long. And oh, those controls. Here's the control panel on the right:
As I said, flipping up or down the seats manually would be so gauche, luckily Infiniti's got ya covered.
After a week of driving this behemoth, I have to say it was one of the most comfortable rides I've had for quite a while, and when four of us wanted to head out to dinner, this vehicle was instantly quite popular for both its comfort and, as my kids said, its "extra" features. Fuel efficiency is poor and the price tag is nosebleed-inducing, but if you need this much space and towing capacity, the QX80 Autograph is a big, beautiful SUV. It drove surprisingly well, with plenty of power. Parking was predictably tricky in tight lots, though the many camera views helped me ensure I was centered in the spot. Highly recommended if you can afford it.
2025 Infiniti QX80 Autograph 4WD, powered by a 3.5L V6 twin-turbo engine and 9-speed automatic transmission. BASE PRICE: $109,900.00. Options included: Interior Lighting Package, Premium Cargo Package, Umbrella Holder (really!), Premium Paint. AS DRIVEN: $114,845.00.
Disclosure: Infiniti loaned me the QX80 for a week in return for this candid write-up. This article originally appeared on PlanetDave.com with the title Monster Luxury with the 2025 Infiniti QX80 Autograph 4WD.
