2020 INFINITI QX80 vs 2019 Ford Edge

The 2019 Ford Edge received a facelift that included a new grille, headlights, and lower front fascia, giving it a sportier appearance. The rear was updated with new taillights and a larger black panel replacing the red connector between the taillights. Despite these exterior updates, the interior remained largely unchanged from previous models, feeling dated and heavily reliant on plastics. The cabin featured a new rotary shifter and offered plenty of standard and available features across its SE, SEL, Titanium, and ST trims. The ST trim added performance touches like a blacked-out grille, 20-inch machined aluminum wheels, and an upgraded exhaust system, along with leather seating and ambient lighting.

The 2020 INFINITI QX80, as the flagship SUV in Infiniti’s lineup, was substantially larger than its siblings. It featured a refreshed exterior with modern details like welcome lights, power-folding mirrors, LED fog lights, and adaptive front lighting. The QX80 offered a range of comfort and convenience features, including body-color running boards, a power-sliding moonroof, and roof rails. Buyers could choose from nine paint jobs and three interior color schemes, with the Limited-grade models getting premium materials like matte silver and open-pore Ash wood trim. The cabin was upscale with soft-touch materials, though some trim pieces lagged behind competitors. The infotainment system was updated to a sleeker, more modern display.

The 2019 Ford Edge came with a 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine producing 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. This engine was available with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. The ST trim featured a 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6 engine, delivering 335 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque, exclusively with all-wheel drive. The ST offered fantastic acceleration and impressive cornering abilities, making it a balanced and precise performer. Fuel economy for the base engine was 22 mpg city, 29 highway, and 25 combined, while the ST returned 19/26/21 mpg.

The 2020 INFINITI QX80 was powered by a 5.6-liter V8 engine, producing 400 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque, paired with a seven-speed automatic transmission. The QX80 offered rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive, with the Limited trim coming standard with 4WD. The SUV was capable off-road, with drive modes for different terrains. However, its fuel efficiency was poor, with the RWD model getting 14 mpg city, 20 highway, and 16 combined, and the 4WD model getting 13/19/15 mpg. The QX80 featured two steering systems, with the Limited trim offering vehicle-speed-sensitive power-assist steering. The SUV’s suspension provided a smooth ride and maintained stability when towing, with a capacity of 8,500 pounds.

The 2019 Ford Edge’s cabin, though dated, was practical with deep storage bins, USB ports, and large bottle holders. The front seats were comfortable, but the ST’s bucket seats were not ideal for tall drivers. The rear seats were spacious, offering ample head- and legroom. The Edge provided 39 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expandable to 73.4 cubic feet with the seats folded down, making it competitive with other midsize crossovers.

The 2020 INFINITI QX80 offered plush, spacious seating in the first two rows, with tighter third-row seating best suited for small children. Standard seating for seven included captain’s chairs in the second row, with an optional 60/40 split-folding bench. The leather-appointed seats were available in premium materials, and the front seats were power-adjustable with heating and climate control. The QX80 had a straightforward center stack and infotainment system, though the design was not as modern as competitors. Cargo space was generous, with 16.6 cubic feet behind the third row, 49.6 cubic feet behind the second row, and 95.1 cubic feet with all seats folded. A power liftgate was standard.

The 2019 Ford Edge’s base infotainment system featured a small 4.2-inch non-touchscreen with basic functionality, including a USB port, WiFi hotspot, and Bluetooth. Higher trims offered an 8-inch Sync 3 infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa integration, providing a more user-friendly experience despite middling graphics.

The 2020 INFINITI QX80 came standard with an 8-inch upper and 7-inch lower infotainment touch screen, allowing for split functionality. Standard features included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, navigation, satellite radio, Bluetooth, keyless entry, remote start, tri-zone climate control, a moonroof, and a 13-speaker Bose stereo. Upgrades included a rear-seat entertainment system, WiFi hotspot, and a 17-speaker Bose system. The infotainment system was easy to use but lacked modern design elements.

The 2019 Ford Edge included standard safety features like a reversing camera, traction control, and a full complement of airbags. Ford’s Co-Pilot360 suite of driver-assistance features was also standard, offering automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, automatic high-beams, and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. Higher trims could be upgraded with the Co-Pilot360 Assist+ package, adding adaptive cruise control, evasive steering assist, and lane-centering.

The 2020 INFINITI QX80, despite being an older model, offered a good range of standard and available safety features. Standard features included automatic emergency braking, rear cross-traffic alert, pedestrian detection, forward collision warning, rear parking sensors, a surround-view camera system, and automatic collision notification. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, distance-control assist, and lane-keep assist. The QX80 received "good" scores in moderate overlap front and side crash tests from the IIHS and had a moderate risk of rollover according to the NHTSA.