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 seven or right (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 four-wheel drive), 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 touch screen (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 foot-pounds 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 foot-pounds of torque) with a new, 33.5-liter twin-turbo V6 that made much more power (450 horsepower and 516 foot-pounds of torque) that also got slightly better gas mileage (16 mpg city, 20 mpg highway versus 14 mpg city, 20 mpg 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 versus 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.

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 mph 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 least 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.

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 versus 55.6 inches. The top of the hood is about chest level -- the chest level of a man who stands 6-foot-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 seven or eight, 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 that they do automatically cycle off after about 10 minutes or so. But -- again -- it's easy to just turn them back on.

Every current luxury-brand SUV has a big touch screen, 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 touch screen 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 too.

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 $8,000) than its two main rivals. It is also about $24,000 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.

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Eric's latest book, "Doomed: Good Cars Gone Wrong!" will be available soon. To find out more about Eric and read his past columns, please visit the Creators Syndicate webpage at www.creators.com.