By Marc Grasso
With the wide array of luxury vehicles in today’s market, every consumer has a favorite brand, favorite accoutrements and most importantly favorite price point. In this edition of Grasso’s Garage, we explore Nissan’s upscale brand Infiniti, and its monstrosity of a luxury SUV, the 2022 QX80.
Similar to the recently tested and revitalized 2021 Nissan Armada, the QX80 is a mirror image. This is not necessarily a good problem to have for Infiniti as their price point from brand to brand is significantly different, yet with little additions or upscale features warranting the price big gap.
Powered by a 400 horsepower, 5.6 liter V8 engine, moving this house on wheels is easy to do, yet with a price; an average fuel economy of just 15 miles per gallon. Although far from luxury in the fuel economy department, this is common amongst the two brands and similar to prior generations in the Armada family.
Our weeklong Anthracite Gray tester came with a base price of just under $85,000. This price seems to be relative in the luxury market, but normally would come with some key components and standard features that the QX80 fails to have over its Armada sibling. Yes, the dual-screen rear entertainment system is complimentary, but that keeps the rear seat passengers and kids entertained, while the front-seaters are left in the dark. I even noticed the front seats did not go back as far as most in this class, just to confirm that the second and third row passengers were of the comfort priority.
On the 2022 Infiniti QX80 Sensory model, we enjoyed the second row heated seats, the wireless charging pad and the ability to tow up to 8,500 pounds all while riding on 22-inch wheels. Navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a Bose 17-speaker audio system and a Wi-Fi hotspot were also standard.
Historically, as an Infiniti review ambassador of the brand, I feel like although the QX80 is a really good automobile and upscale option for consumers in the upscale, seven-passenger luxury market, the QX80 just doesn’t cut the mustard in Grasso’s Garage for the price point.
Infiniti QX80
MSRP: $84,850
As tested: $87,985
MPG: 13 city, 19 highway, 15.1 as tested
![From left: Matthew Jones, senior partner at Jones, Steves & Grassi Attorneys at Law; Judge Francine Vero, vice president of the Saratoga County Bar Association; and Shawn Lescault, president of the Saratoga County Bar Association, smile at the recent Association’s Annual Law Day Luncheon at the Canfield Casino in Saratoga Springs, where Jones was honored […]](https://www.troyrecord.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/snapshot.jpg?w=466 "From left: Matthew Jones, senior partner at Jones, Steves & Grassi Attorneys at Law; Judge Francine Vero, vice president of the Saratoga County Bar Association; and Shawn Lescault, president of the Saratoga County Bar Association, smile at the recent Association’s Annual Law Day Luncheon at the Canfield Casino in Saratoga Springs, where Jones was honored […]")
