The Lowest-Rated Large Luxury SUV Is Actually Pretty Cheap, but Is It Worth It?
When it comes to luxury SUVs, things tend to get expensive pretty quickly. There are a lot of good large luxury SUVs on the market this year, but it is a mixed bag. Even though the 2023 Infiniti QX80 is more affordable and still has plenty of positives to report, it gets defeated by the other models in almost every area. While it may have some redeeming features, its drawbacks outweigh the benefits. Is the QX80 worth the gamble because of its low entry price, or is one of the best luxury SUVs worth the extra cash?
What is the best large luxury SUV for 2023?
According to U.S. News, the 2023 Lincoln Navigator is the highest-rated large luxury SUV. It starts at $77,635 this year, and a fully-loaded Navigator costs $109,120. That isn’t too bad, especially compared to the cost of some of the other vehicles in the segment. However, this year, the lowest-rated large SUV starts at only $72,700.
Even though $72,700 is a lot of cash for a new vehicle, the 2023 Infiniti QX80 is actually the cheapest option in the segment. A fully loaded Infiniti QX80 is only $87,450 and still comes well-equipped. The QX80 has plenty of cargo space and an easy-to-use infotainment system. With three rows of space, the Infiniti is a good option for those needing extra seats. When properly equipped, it can tow  8,500 pounds.
The 2023 QX80 has more cons than pros, unfortunately. Even though it does have three rows, the third row is pretty tight and better suited for children. The cabin is pretty spacious but outdated, except for the infotainment system. It also only gets between 13/14 mpg in the city and 19/20 on the highway. Lincoln’s Navigator gets 17 mpg in the city and 23 mpg on the highway, for comparison’s sake.
Which large luxury SUV has the best resale value?
Even though the 2023 Lexus LX isn’t the best large luxury SUV, it has the best resale value. The Lexus LX has a high base price of $87,815, and a fully loaded LX will run you $127,905. However, Lexus SUVs are some of the most durable in the segment and overall. It has a long history of reliability, and the LX is very luxurious inside and out. Even though it is expensive, the LX is a well-rounded SUV that is likely to run for a long time without issues.
Unfortunately for the QX80, this large luxury SUV isn’t known for retaining its value very well. Even though it is one of the least expensive options, the Infiniti SUV can frequently be found on the used market for a lot under MSRP. Infiniti is a good brand but falls behind when you look at the competition. Options like the Cadillac Escalade and BMW X7 outsell the QX80 by more than four to one.
Lexus also has a history of reliability that Infiniti can’t match. Neither large SUV earned a predicted reliability score, but the Toyota/Lexus brands are generally considered some of the most reliable automakers.
What large luxury SUV has the most cargo room?
Both the 2023 Cadillac Escalade and the 2023 Jeep Grand Wagoneer lead the large luxury SUV category for cargo space. The 2023 Escalade has 25.5 cubic feet of room behind the third row, 72.9 cubic feet behind the second. With the second and third rows folded, it has 121 cubic feet of space. Cadillac also offers the long-wheelbase Escalade ESV, which has 41.5 cubic feet of room behind the third row. That increases to 94.1 cubic feet with the third row folded and 142.8 cubic feet with both rows folded.
Cargo space for the Grand Wagoneer is 28.4/79.2/96.9 behind the rows. The long-wheelbase Wagoneer has 44.2/88.2/112.9 cubic feet of space. Even though a fully loaded Grand Wagoneer inches past $110,995, it comes pretty stacked with features. These are the two class leaders for cargo space, and the 2023 QX80 is behind both. The Infiniti SUV has 16.6 cubic feet behind the third row and 49.6 with the third-row seats folded. With both rows folded, it offers 95.1 cubic feet of space. That’s plenty of room, but it isn’t the roomiest large luxury SUV cargo hold.
Overall, the Infiniti QX80 falls short in several critical areas essential for a large luxury SUV. Even though it is cheaper than many options in the segment, it doesn’t quite offer the same value as its competition. As the luxury SUV market becomes increasingly competitive, this Infiniti SUV deservingly gets left behind.
