Infiniti QX80: Beauty and the beast

For 2018, comes a refreshed INFINITI QX80 - with much-needed aesthetic changes. Will this be a game-changer for the behemoth?

The buzz around SUVs amplifies as we dive deeper into 2018, and that applies to the premium, full-size variety as well - a Middle East favourite. Not wanting to be left behind in the race, Nissan's luxury cousin INFINITI has refreshed its ugly-but-useful QX80 full-size SUV, which, in its new avatar, made its global debut at the Dubai Motor Show last November. We took it for an all-terrain outing in RAK to get a closer look.
DESIGN & AESTHETICS
The INFINITI QX80 is the luxury sibling to the Nissan "King of the Desert" Patrol. The 1st generation was moderately successful and INFINITI claims the 2nd generation model didn't do bad either - contributing 8.96 per cent to their global sales for 2016. But standing in the way of profit is beauty - or the lack thereof. For 2018, they have addressed the clumsy exterior of its acne-ridden years and rendered a mature successor that borrows heavily from the gorgeous monograph concept.
It's still a full-size body-on-frame SUV, now spanning 5,340mm in length - greater than S-Class - and 2,030mm in width (if you discount the ears). It stands tall at 1,925mm. It's a behemoth, and people will love that about it. The big news is: it's lost that bulbous porpoise nose to a more squared-off front fascia. And its ugly lights, that seemed to have come off a semi-truck, have been replaced by sleeker 'human-eye' light clusters with powerful LED headlamps and fogs. Even the brow-like DRLs are LED lit; they double up as indicators. In profile, you'd notice that the larger-than-large door panels have been retained, but the triad of air vents on the front fender is now more trapezoidal. Base models get 20-inch wheels wrapped in large 275-section tyres, while range toppers get forged 18-spoke, 22-inch wheels painted in 'liquid metal'. As for exterior colours, there are three new shades available; in every case, the paintjob is accompanied by enough "brightwork" - i.e., chrome trims to attract customers from across the Atlantic.
The massive exterior bounds lend the occupants a cavernous interior, and climbing aboard is made easier, courtesy a running board, now 20mm wider. You can have it as a 7-seater, with two captain chairs in the second row or a bench, which brings the occupancy to 8. including the 3-seater third row.
Cabin architecture remains predominantly the same, including the multi-function 4-spoke steering wheel. Even the analog instrument gauges with its legible lettering, centre console, 8-inch infotainment screen and button heavy-arrangement are all carry-overs.
The most conspicuous change is the upholstery, which gets a premium diamond-like quilting pattern. Our test car, the top-dog Luxury variant, had the optional semi-aniline saddle brown colour leather with contrast stitching and black piping matched with darker charcoal burl veneer. INFINITI has also provided the upholstery with a new hydrophilic soil-resistant coating - so no more denim dye transfer etc. The centre console has space for smartphones, and the cup holders now accommodate mugs as well. The 5.4-litre central compartment with its 240mm depth can hold up to three 1-litre bottles or a tablet.
Judging by the comfort on offer, I'd go by what INFINITI says in their new ad, "For centuries, the best seats were built for one. but now there is one for all of us".
POWERTRAIN & PERFORMANCE
To move a mammoth mass of steel, you need a mammoth engine, and that's exactly why INFINITI boffins have retained their direct injection 5.6-litre V8. It's a smooth-revving engine but it's a shame they didn't take the opportunity to bump up the output. On the road, however, you feel no dearth of power. You have 400 horses to play with and 560Nm is enough torque to get the rear squatting and you pinned to the seat for a short period.
You also have considerable amounts of chassis dive if you apply the brakes at any magnitude, but it's soft. The 350mm ventilated discs, front and back, bite hard to make sure you are not the crux of a crash; but the extra braking distance is something you need to consider. Stringing the engine and wheel is a 7-speed automatic transmission that features a manual shift mode with Downshift Rev Matching, which keeps the drive smooth especially with varying velocities.
The Hydraulic Body Motion Control (HBMC) technology keeps body-roll on check; INFINITI claims the QX80 is 35 per cent flatter on curves than the segment bestseller, which is presumably the Lexus LX. Leaving claims aside, on the road, there is appreciable body roll as you enter long, sweeping curves - but it doesn't lose composure. Quick directional changes aren't its favourite driving exercise though, and that goes for everything in this segment. The suspension's damping force has been reduced by 30 per cent at every corner, isolating the cabin further by absorbing irksome higher-frequency vibrations.
As for the ride, it may not equal the Range Rover's buttery smooth wafting, but I must say that even with a body-on-frame chassis and 22-inch wheels, the QX80 manages to ride luxuriously supple. Your family won't regret those long hauls. This 4WD version is a gas guzzler, going by the underwhelming 16L/100km economy figures. The lighter RWD version does better - but in both cases earth is losing. To put things in perspective: with the 98.4-litre tank, a Toyota Prius could travel at least four times the distance. Ironically, the only way to make the journey efficient is to have it running at full occupancy, like how a bus does.
FEATURES & FUNCTIONALITY
The QX80 prides itself in terms of utility. Behind the third row alone is 470 litres of cargo space. Dropping them grants you 1,405 litres - which is as much as some mid-size SUVs; it is extendable up to a colossal 2,694 litres - enough to swallow a MINI! People buy big SUVs to feel cocooned in safety, and the QX80's general stability and cabin quietness helps deliver that aspect. There are several safety features. For instance, there are five cameras and three radars to read the road monitor surroundings. It gives you that bird's eye view of the car and lets the viewing angle of the rear mirror go from 20° to 48.1°, thanks to a digitised display.
Infotainment wise, it falls short on some new-age tech but checks most boxes. Quenching your thirst for musical notes is a 15-speaker Bose unit that can stream via Bluetooth; or just use one of the many USB ports or aux-in jacks. For some reason, Apple CarPlay or Android Auto did not make it to the list, which proves this system needs an overhaul. The rear entertainment system has two screens that have grown from 7.0 to 8.0 inches with the model change, and offer a higher 960 x 540-pixel resolution - up from 800 x 480. Wireless headphones are part of the deal.
One thing we noticed during the drive through some wadis: a convoy of QX80 can leave Mother Nature riled up, sending sand and rocks into the air, but the cabin remains dust-free, thanks to efficient air filtration. The associated tri-zone climate control worked without flaw the whole drive.
VERDICT
The Infiniti QX80, being the luxury avatar of the Nissan Patrol, was a good vehicle to own. It has the size to intimidate and a spacious cabin with features to spoil as many as 8 occupants. It even shares the Patrol's 400 horsepower V8, helping it tackle both mass and mountain terrain with ease. But one thing the 2nd generation lacked was aesthetics. For 2018, though, INFINITI has given it chic exteriors to go with all the brawn. Yes, the infotainment lacks some elements, residual value may be suspect and its own sibling, the Patrol, may eat into its sales, but as a high-riding boulevard cruiser that you can occasionally take to the sandy hills, it's a serious title contender.
FUN FACT
The QX80's brick-like aerodynamic coefficient of 0.36 is actually better than the Bugatti Chiron's 0.38, but only manages to equal Tesla's electric truck.
SPECIFICATIONS
Body type: 7/8-seater; 5-door premium full-size SUV
Engine: Front-engine; 5.6-litre V8; four-wheel drive
Transmission: 7-speed automatic
Peak output: 400bhp @ 5,800rpm; 560Nm @ 4,000rpm
0 to 100km/h: 7.5 seconds (claimed)
Top speed: 210 km/h (drag limited; claimed)
Price: Starting at Dh322,250
AT A GLANCE
Pros: Road presence, now with style; power on and off the road; comfort and features
Cons: Suspect residual value; not the ultimate choice in off-roading; has to compete with Patrol
Author's rating: 7.5/10
wknd@khaleejtimes.com
 

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