2026 Infiniti QX80 S - Large Luxury and a Surprising Powertrain

The 2026 Infiniti QX80 is a large SUV with a healthy dose of luxury. It offers adult-sized seating in three rows, and provides a satisfying driving experience. Let’s look a bit more closely at this model and weigh its upside against some compromises.

2026 Infiniti QX80 S - Powertrain
The 3.5-liter develops 450 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque. The 9-speed geared automatic transmission does a great job of keeping the engine in its proper powerband. We used the paddles to downshift quite a bit in the mountains of New Hampshire, and the engine was always a plus in our enjoyment of the SUV. All-Mode 4-Wheel Drive means that you can always put the power down.

The downside to this robust powertrain is fuel economy. With a 16 MPG City EPA Rating and Premium fuel, this vehicle is one of the most expensive to fuel in America.

2026 Infiniti QX80 S - Price
Budget $108,000 for a 2026 Infiniti QX80S, including MSRP, $2,190 for Destination and Handling Charges, and Dealer Doc Fees.

2026 Infiniti QX80 S - Handling
The QX80 S handles quite nicely in normal driving. We hesitate to call it sporty. It’s not responsible to drive a vehicle this large and heavy in any sort of sporty way on public roads. The suspension is compliant over bumps, and we didn't detect much lean in corners at mature speeds. The tires are 22-inch diameter low-profile all-season tires, and that helps with handling. There is a spare tire.

2026 Infiniti QX80 S - Infotainment and Interior
We found the infotainment system to be excellent. We used Android Auto and Google Maps along with our music and audiobook apps on our travels without any drama. The seats are top-notch and have a sort of massage feature we enjoyed.

2026 Infiniti QX80 S - Size
The QX80 felt a bit out of its element in suburban New England. So much so that we didn't take it into the city, where its height would have been a concern in public parking garages. The QX80 will not fit inside a standard home garage. Vehicles this tall, long, and wide seem more logical in areas with wide open spaces and larger streets. This is not an indictment of the QX80 itself, just of the class of vehicle.

2026 Infiniti QX80 S - Conclusion
The QX80 is a very large SUV that offers a luxury experience. If you are looking for one of the largest vehicles sold in America, this is a worthy candidate to consider. 

John Goreham is the Vice President of the New England Motor Press Association and an expert vehicle tester. John completed an engineering program with a focus on electric vehicles, followed by two decades of work in high-tech, biopharma, and the automotive supply chain before becoming a news contributor. He is a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE int). In addition to his fourteen years of work at Torque News, John has published thousands of articles and reviews at American news outlets. He is known for offering unfiltered opinions on vehicle topics. You can connect with John on LinkedIn and follow his work on his personal X channel or on our X channel. Please note that stories carrying John's by-line are never AI-generated, but he does employ grammar and punctuation software when proofreading and he also uses image generation tools.