INFINITI QX80: The Art of Consideration

The QX80 inaugurates INFINITI’s Artistry in Motion design language, and its stance makes the point: a long, level bonnet, taut shoulders, and an anti-wedge profile that reads as poised rather than bulky. The familiar double-arch grille remains, softened by organic, bamboo-inspired forms and slim lighting that defines the face without aggression. At the rear, a single band of smoked LEDs – more than 300 of them – arcs across the tail like light on water. Even the paint has intent: Dynamic Metal, developed over years so the metallic flakes lie perfectly flat, lets the body catch and bend light without shouting for it.

The welcome ritual says a lot. Approach with the key, the handles glide out and the emblem and running lights wake before a wing-like light path appears on the ground. It is theatre in service of courtesy, a nod to omotenashi – the Japanese idea that a host anticipates needs.

Inside, the QX80 resists the big-SUV urge to overwhelm. Surfaces are layered so hands and elbows meet leather and soft pads rather than hard edges; wood and laser-cut metal sit with purpose, framing the tech instead of fighting it. Two 36-cm displays are integrated cleanly, with a separate 23-cm haptic panel for climate and seat controls. It is a simple acknowledgement that people dislike digging through menus for basics. Ambient lighting threads through the cabin, and every row gets USB-C power so the car doesn’t become a charging hierarchy.

The new 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 boasts 450 hp and delivers the highest torque in INFINITI’s history, working with a 9-speed automatic for a smooth, unhurried surge. Air suspension lowers at speed for aerodynamics and drops when parked to ease entry. Paired with electronically controlled dampers, the QX80 rides with a calm that keeps conversation easy. Towing? A confident 3,855 kilograms when equipped, so weekend plans needn’t stay theoretical.In the end, this is a very big SUV that behaves like a good host. It anticipates, smooths, lowers the temperature – sometimes literally – and lets everyone settle. In a segment that often mistakes excess for substance, the QX80’s most distinctive move is restraint, and it takes confidence to pull that off.