The 2018 Infiniti QX80: Infiniti’s Family SUV Grows Up

The 2018 Infiniti QX80 has a refreshed look, a luxury interior and plenty of space for active families. If you are looking for a vehicle that can comfortably fit up to 8 people, while still giving you high-end options and a smooth ride over any terrain, this is a great option for you. We were excited to be invited to Infiniti’s Gallery QX80 event in Charleston, SC to check out how this vehicle works for families.

There comes a point in every parent’s life when they realize they you need a vehicle with more space.

For some, this occurs the first time they try to install an infant seat in the back of their sports car. For others, it is when their kids want to go see The Last Jedi Star Wars movie and bring ALL of their friends. For me, the most dramatic change occurred when we realized we were having twins and few vehicles could actually carry 8 passengers.

2018 Infiniti QX80

The refreshed 2018 Infiniti QX80 is one of the most luxurious ways to carry up to 8 people and believe me, I have looked at ALL the options.

It is really hard to find a vehicle that looks good while still having a spacious interior that actually works for a family.

Infiniti dramatically changed the exterior of the QX80 for 2018 and in the words of my son,” It looks mean!”.

My entire family likes it…including my wife. Even though the overall dimensions have not changed, it has a much more muscular, athletic stance than it has had in previous years and the end result is something very appealing. It definitely stands out.

While looks typically attract people to a vehicle, any parent will tell you that how it works on a daily basis is what determines whether your family remains happy with the vehicle.

When I opened the door, I fell in love with the refreshed look of the quilted leather seats but then my very next thought was “It won’t look this great for long. The kids will trash it!”

Infiniti has prepared for, even my kids, by adding a soil-resistant coating not only to the seats but practically everywhere my kids might touch the upholstery with their greasy french fry fingers.

The seats, the armrests and even the door panels can simply be wiped clean with a damp cloth. Nice!

The 2018 QX80 is a large SUV with interior space to match. The front seats are comfortable, supportive and have a commanding upright position.

My kids aren’t quite as tall as me…yet (I’m 6′ 3″) but, even I fit comfortably in the second row.

Outboard LATCH points should work well with even a rear facing car seat. The third row is obviously smaller but it should still fit most younger kids and there is even a tether point back there..

If you aren’t needing to carry 8 people in the vehicle, and can fold down the third row, the QX80 has enough cargo space that you won’t even have to take that double jogging stroller out of the trunk before your trip to Costco.

With people sitting in the 60/40 split third row you should still be able to fit a stroller with the wheels removed.

Several months back, my two year old slipped off a step while climbing in a vehicle and broke her arm. No parent ever wants to see their child go through the painful surgery of getting pins put in and then the corresponding physical therapy to help her recover.

To most people, the fact that Infiniti increased the width of the sill step by 0.79 inches this year is not a big deal, but to me, it means the world.

I love that the Infiniti QX80 uses technology to not only keep its occupants entertained but also to keep them safe.

The 2018 model adds many new features to the new entertainment system, which includes larger 8″ tv screens in the second row, HDMI inputs and 110v power for things like a gaming system, wired headphones jacks (no more dead batteries) and additional USB ports that will charge power needy devices like iPads. It also uses the Infiniti Connection system which allows you to unlock the via the app or even through Amazon’s Alexa.

Sadly, the system still lacks Apple’s CarPlay, Android Auto, a blu-ray player or wireless charging.

My favorite safety tech is the Smart Rear View Mirror. If you have ever driven a vehicle with 8 passengers, you know how hard it is to see anything out the rear window using the standard rear view mirror.

The Smart Rear View Mirror works with the backup camera (even at night) to allow you to see behind the vehicle on a screen embedded in the rear view mirror.

When you push the button to enable the Smart Rear View Mirror, the wide angle lens shows you almost 2.5 x’s as much area behind the vehicle as saw with the conventional rear view mirror, making it much easier to see things like bikes in the driveway or your dog running across. The system can further be augmented with the Around-view camera system which includes  front, side and 360-degree views.

The 2018 QX80 has many other safety features such as: Lane Departure Warning and Prevention, Intelligent Cruise Control (which works does to 1 mph!), Distance Control Assist, Predictive Forward Collision Warning, Forward Emergency Braking, Blind Spot Warning and Intervention, Backup Collision Intervention and even something called Hydraulic Body Motion Control (HBMC) technology which limits excess body-roll under more severe cornering.

The 2018 QX80 has a towing capability that few other 8 passenger vehicles can match as it can tow up to 8,500lbs with its Rear Auto-Leveling Suspension. Couple this with Infiniti’s optional All-Mode 4WD and it should not have any trouble pulling even a large boat back out of the water or pulling a travel trailer in less than perfect conditions.

The 2018 Infiniti QX80 is an impressive family vehicle with a new look, luxury interior, thoughtful features and amount the highest towing capacity.