2025 Infiniti QX80: First impression

The 2025 Infiniti QX80 was officially introduced for the UAE on October 28, 2024. Arabian Automobiles Company, the exclusive dealer for the Japanese luxury brand in Dubai, will be launching the all-new QX80 in November. Since it is based on the latest Y63 Patrol, Infiniti has been able to extract maximum performance and luxury from the new QX80.

Unlike its off-road-oriented Nissan cousin, the Infiniti QX80 is entirely aimed at the urban-dweller with deep pockets. This is clearly reflected in its price of between AED 450,000 and AED 510,000, making it pricier than even the most expensive Patrol. The 2025 Infiniti QX80 will be available in two distinct variants in the UAE: Sensory and Autograph.

Exterior

There are a few important styling cues that distinguish the Infiniti QX80 from the Nissan Patrol. At the front is an imposing main grille, whose design is inspired by a bamboo forest, and a big Infiniti logo with LED illumination. The main headlights are located lower in the bumper, while the signature LED DRLs and indicators are placed up top.

Apart from being enormous, the sides of the new QX80 reveal 22-inch alloy wheels that can be optioned in all black. This same treatment is applied on the fender grilles, wing mirrors, door pillars, headlights, tail lights, bumpers, vehicle branding, and the roof. Its full-width tail lights have over 300 LEDs that are unique to the QX80, as are their animations.

Its shoulder line and window line are both flatter and the doors feature handles that are flush with the body. These pop out automatically upon approaching the SUV. Simultaneously, the Infiniti ‘Light Path’ ground lighting comes on as the air suspension lowers the whole car – these create a sense of theatre.

Not to be outdone here are the dual exhausts, roof-top antennas, front air intakes, fixed side steps, and a rear spoiler. The all-new Infiniti QX80 measures 5,365 mm in length, 2,030 mm in width, and 1,945 mm in height. Its minimum cargo space is 623 liters and the maximum is 2,860 liters (with the second & third-row seats folded).

Interior

The 2025 Infiniti QX80 can be optioned with comfortable captain seats or a practical bench layout for the second row. Therefore, you can have the QX80 in a 7-seat configuration – this is not available on the Patrol. Its spacious cabin also feels more luxurious with the semi-aniline leather finished in burgundy along with the open-pore wood and aluminium trim.

High-quality stitching on all the leather surfaces gives the car a truly upmarket feel. Meanwhile, the piano black trim on the dashboard features backlit ‘INFINITI’ branding and swanky LED streaks. The front headrests get integrated speakers as part of the 24-speaker Klipsch surround-sound audio system, which looks quite cool.

The front and middle seats are electrically-operated, cooled, heated, and are available with massaging functions as well. The heated twin-spoke steering wheel looks classy, is electrically adjustable for reach & rake and gets paddle shifters as well. The third-row can be electrically-operated by the driver using the touchscreen – the second-row captain seats can also be moved this way electrically.

The three-zone climate control is operated using a separate touchscreen on the centre console. It looks clunky because of the thick bezels but it works well. Meanwhile, the display options & menus on the 14.3-inch driver’s display are controlled using capacitive buttons on the steering wheel. The main touchscreen is also 14.3 inches and gets wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto.

The digitalization of the Infiniti QX80’s interior does not end there. The second row is available with a dedicated touchscreen controller, while the rearview mirror features a virtual mode with the help of the reversing camera. Meanwhile, the so-called Invisible Hood View uses the front camera with 170-degree FOV to display the path otherwise hidden by the hood.

Due to the impressive greenhouse area and soundproofing, the interior of the Infiniti QX80 2025 feels airy yet remains quiet. Helping matters further is the stylish 64-colour LED ambient lighting system that can be personalized based on your mood. Other amenities include multiple USB & 12V ports, a wireless charger, a motion-activated tailgate, and several storage units.

Engine and performance

Under the expansive hood of the 2025 Infiniti QX80 is a 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6. This is the same petrol engine that powers the top-spec Patrol. It produces 450 hp and 700 Nm of torque, communicated to all four wheels via a 9-speed automatic transmission. Despite its vastness and bulk, the new QX80 has a claimed top speed of 195 kmph.

For a 2.8-ton luxury body-on-frame SUV with a minimum ground clearance of 244 mm, that is rapid enough. When it comes to tackling the rough stuff, the Infiniti QX80 relies on a rear differential lock, an electronic air suspension system, and 4WD High & 4WD Low modes. There are also dedicated terrain modes like Rock, Sand, and Mud.

The new QX80 gets drive modes like Standard, Eco, and Sport. In its most aggressive setting, the QX80 could hit 100 kmph from a standstill in under 6 seconds. The active air suspension keeps the SUV’s body movements in check, preventing pronounced squatting or nosediving to a minimum. Its body roll is also better controlled over the previous model.

The fuel tank of the new QX80 can hold up to 97.6 litres of petrol. Meanwhile, this Infiniti has an EPA-rated fuel consumption of 7.2 kmpl or 13.8 L/100 km. This means that you can drive well over 650 kilometres between pumps, which is not terrible. Furthermore, the maximum towing capacity of the Infiniti QX80 is a meaty 3,855 kilograms.

Safety

The 2025 Infiniti QX80 gets Vehicle Dynamic Control, Hill Descent Control, Trailer Sway Control, Trailer Stability Assist, and a Tire Pressure Monitoring System. There are 7 airbags, along with ISOFIX anchor points for the second & third rows, front & rear parking sensors, plus a 3D monitor with Moving Object Detection and T-junction view.

The QX80’s other safety features are Backup Collision Intervention, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Lane Departure Prevention, and Intelligent Cruise Control. Its ProPilot active safety tech includes Predictive Forward Collision Warning, Lane Keep Assist, Front & Rear Automatic Braking, and Driver Attention Alert. There is also a rear-occupant monitoring function provided for improved situational awareness.

Conclusion

For the ultimate expression of luxury, you will need to fork out over 500,000 dirhams for the top-end Autograph variant. Or, you can save 60,000 dirhams and use that money to purchase a backup car by buying the Sensory variant. For those with five or more members at home, getting the bench seat version will be practical.

However, the exclusivity and comfort provided by the captain seats version remains unmatched. In case you cover long distances frequently, these individual seats will feel more refreshing. The  2025 Infiniti QX80 is undoubtedly spacious and well-built, with reliability remaining strong in the future as well.

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