All About That Space: 2015 Infiniti QX80 Review

The luxury of space and a fine interior add up to a family car you’ll never want leave.  

And it led to the one thing I just didn’t need to hear. “You know how much I love the Quest,” my husband said when he finally got out of the Infiniti QX80. “Well, I love this car even more.”

2015 Infiniti Qx80
The 2015 Infiniti QX80 wears the badge of protecting us from the rough weather: a coating of road salt

He’s spoiled, my husband (not to mention my kids). He loved the Nissan Quest because of its space, capability, navigation and entertainment system, a huge—HUGE—center row, and tons of storage capacity. He loved it so much he’d drive it all year so that we’d have it for the half dozen road trips we take each year. But I think what he loved the most was that everyone was happy in it: Smiles and pleasantries all around because everyone had space.

And that is the refrain in my head: All about that space. Isn’t that a song? “All about that space, that space, that space, no trouble, all about that space…”

Or something like that.

That was the song in my head the whole week I drove the Infiniti QX80: all about that space, but really, a refined feeling on the inside and the muscle of a truck on the outside.

2015 Infiniti Qx80
Vents in the side of the 2015 Infiniti QX80 give the SUV a performance-car appearance

The family fortress

With all that space on in the inside, the QX80 is, necessarily, big on the outside. Its foundation is that of a truck- tall, strong and capable, and with all its brawn, it’s a strapping, muscle-bound heavyweight that can tow boats or backhoes or cut a path through snow and ice. Inside, it’s a fortress that keeps its passengers warm and comfy with heated leather seats, a heated steering wheel, personal screens and wireless headphones for back seat passengers and plenty of third row leg and head room.

And, all that other stuff, too, like a rear-view camera, great navigation system, Bluetooth connectivity, and a Bose sound system. Brawn on the outside, sweet pampering luxury on the inside, all in a muscle-y performance-inspired design featuring outsized lines and a sharp chrome-framed appearance that shines, even when covered in road salt and grime. It’s a pretty car.

2015 Infiniti Qx80
The chrome details of the 2015 Infiniti QX8 shine through salt from snowy roads

Driving a fortress: hard at first, but easy to get used to

There’s no getting around it, though; the QX80 is big. And driving it took some getting used to. But, we did. At first I took things a little slower and was a little more careful, but soon, I had it down, knowing instinctively where the bumpers of the car were when pulling into a parking spot, feeling the width of the car as I maneuvered the narrow winding streets of my neighborhood. Remembering that plenty of trucks and school buses make their way on these roads just fine gave me confidence. 

Also giving me confidence were those smiling faces and lilting voices in the back seat. My family really loved this car. So much that they asked to be taken places. They asked to take a road trip together. They delighted in running to the grocery store with me. And when they love being with me, I love the car that helps that to happen.

WHAT WE LOVED:

  • Multiple drive modes including snow, tow and hill start assist
  • Leather interior with burled wood trim—so fancy
  • Heated front AND rear seats
  • Hands free Bluetooth
  • Third row leg and headroom
  • Surround view camera
  • DVD system with screens in the headrests of the front row seats
  • Wireless headphones and a remote control
  • Brake assist with predictive collision warning
  • Remote start with intelligent keyless starter (Big YAY on this feature)
  • Power folding center and third row seats
  • All wheel drive
  • The SUV’s design, including its distinct muscular lines, oversize wheels and performance details like side and grille vents 

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

  • Requires premium fuel
  • EPA fuel economy rating of 14 MPG city/20 MPG highway (we averaged about 14 MPG during our test drive)
  • One USB port and four power ports, including household plug
  • 4-year/60,000 mile warranty
  • 24 hour roadside assistance and complimentary service loan car
  • Base price: $66,000; price of the model we tested: $80,285

2015 Infiniti Qx80

Disclosure: Infiniti provided the QX80 for our test drive; opinions expressed here are all my own.

Scotty Reiss
Scotty Reiss

Journalist, entrepreneur and mom. Expertise includes new cars, family cars, 3-row SUVs, child passenger car seats and automotive careers and culture. A World Car Awards juror and member of the steering committee, Scotty likes to say the automotive business found her, rather than her finding it. But recognizing the opportunity to give voice to powerful female consumers and create a voice to match their spending power, her mission became to empower women as car buyers and owners. A career-long journalist, she has written for the New York Times, Town & Country, Adweek and co-authored the book Stew Leonard, My Story, a biography of the founder of the iconic grocery company Stew Leonard’s. Her love of cars started when her father insisted she learn to change the oil in her MG Midget, but now it mostly plays out in the many road trips taken with her family.

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