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An exterior view of the new 2022 Infiniti QX80.

Courtesy photo

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An exterior view of the new 2022 Infiniti QX80.

Courtesy photo

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An exterior view of the new 2022 Infiniti QX80.

Courtesy photo

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An interior view of the new 2022 Infiniti QX80.

Courtesy photo

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An interior view of the new 2022 Infiniti QX80.

Courtesy photo

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The Infiniti QX80 is definitely the flagship in the Infiniti lineup. It’s the largest luxury SUV they have to offer and the Sensory trim is the top of the line. We found this to be a great vehicle for hauling folks around, even on the long haul, and we had a couple of opportunities to do just that.

Our first long journey came on a Saturday when we headed out to Duchesne to see the Monster Truck Insanity Tour. With four adults heading that way, the QX80 seemed the perfect fit to make the two-hour drive.

Infiniti has done it right with the QX80. It proved to be a comfortable, smooth and quiet ride, allowing for great conversation among us all. With the included dual-screen entertainment system, the rear seat passenger could have enjoyed a movie. It would have been even more perfect if we had kids along for the ride.

With captain’s chairs in the second row, both Craig’s sister Marci and his business partner, Mike, were very comfortable on the ride. They really enjoyed the added heat in the seats as our trip over the mountains near Strawberry Reservoir had temperatures dropping into the mid-30s.

In 2018, the QX80 went through a mid-cycle refresh, and in 2021, Infiniti chose to change the trim level names for its flagship SUV. The 2022 version is offered in three models: the QX80 Luxe, the QX80 Premium Select and the QX80 Sensory at the top of the line.

Over the years, we have been drawn to the look of all the SUV models in the Infiniti line as the company has shied away from going with sharper angles on the exterior of the vehicle. Instead, it has opted for a more rounded and, quite frankly, sophisticated and upscale look. We have always loved that Nissan is willing to take chances on design and then make minor tweaks if things didn’t work out quite as planned.

For the QX80, the design works and draws buyers away from other models to this very large luxury SUV. It’s only being outsold in the marketplace by the Cadillac Escalade, which features a much boxier look. Having driven all three of the large luxury SUVs this past year (the QX80, Escalade and Lexus LX575), we would opt for the Infiniti simply because of its unique look and the fact that it comes with all of Nissan’s 4×4 DNA included.

The Sensory Edition that landed in our driveway was loaded with many bells and whistles, of course, including the new 12.3-inch touch screen that’s positioned front and center in all QX80 models. It is a strong departure from the dual-screen setup that Infinity has offered in the past, but we loved having the huge screen for all our infotainment needs.

This new screen sports a high-definition contrast and comes with wireless Apple CarPlay and a wireless charging station. This makes for a more sophisticated and easier-to-use system and allows for wireless texting and communication with many of the functions on our phones.

The interior of the QX80 can be compared to a luxury jet liner as the front two rows had leather captain’s chairs. Putting captain’s chairs in the second row does limit the seating in the QX80 to seven.

Up front, the luxury seemed to go on and on with heated seating, a heated steering wheel, three-zone climate control and quilted seating. Also included was a 17-speaker Bose 5.1 surround sound system that made whatever we played come out in true hi-fidelity.

The steering wheel, after being heated, was also power adjustable. Again, it’s the little extras that make a big difference in the luxury world.

On the safety side, the QX80 came with everything we would have expected, including lane departure warning and prevention, blind spot monitoring with intervention, rear cross path detection and intervention, forward collision warning and intervention, and trailer sway control. There was also a very nice adaptive cruise control and automatic high beams.

One needs to remember that the QX80 is a very large SUV and comes with a larger stance and larger motor: a 5.6-liter V8 that produces a very nice 400 horsepower and 413 foot-pounds of torque. EPA estimates put the large Infiniti at 15 mpg combined; we managed an even better 18 mpg during our week of driving that included some heavy highway miles along with everyday around-town driving.

Our second trip included taking Craig’s employees on a day trip from Provo to the Ogden Standard-Examiner building for an advertising meeting. Again, all enjoyed the many great creature comforts in the luxury SUV.

Included this year is what Infiniti dubs its enhanced Smart Rear View Mirror, which basically turns the mirror into an LED screen that shows the rear view from a camera mounted on the QX80. It is a cool system and takes some getting used to, but with an SUV full of riders, it definitely gives a much better view of what’s behind the vehicle.

On the towing side, the QX80 comes standard with a package that allows you to pull all your toys and/or camping trailers around. With a capacity of 8,500 pounds, the QX80 should prove more than adequate for most any family.

The new 2022 QX80 made for a great family hauler or just a way to take your friends out. It would be the perfect match for those who want to make the journey in complete comfort while also having the option of experiencing an off-road adventure.

Base price: $84,850

Destination charge: $1,395

Price as driven: $87,985

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