2020 INFINITI QX80 vs 2019 GMC Acadia

The 2019 GMC Acadia was a handsome SUV with a shorter wheelbase that provided a more athletic stance. Its upright grille gave it an upscale appearance, making it as nice as, if not nicer than, the more expensive Buick Envision. Despite being considered a midsize SUV, it felt closer in size to compact competitors like the Nissan Rogue. The Acadia came in several trims: SL, SLE-1, SLE-2, SLT-1, SLT-2, and the range-topping Denali. The base SL trim included 17-inch painted aluminum wheels, 7-passenger seating, remote keyless entry, 3-zone climate control, and heated power side mirrors. Higher trims added features like LED headlights, Sirius XM satellite radio, power liftgate, fog lights, and a Bose 8-speaker premium stereo system. The Denali trim brought luxury features such as a hands-free power tailgate, unique 20-inch bright aluminum wheels, and leather-appointed seating.

The 2020 INFINITI QX80, as the flagship SUV in Infiniti’s lineup, was substantially larger than the two-row QX50 and three-row QX60. It was available in two trims: Luxe and Limited. The exterior, refreshed in 2018, featured modern details like welcome lights, power-folding, auto-dimming, heated outside mirrors with integrated LED turn signals, and adaptive front lighting. The QX80 also had body-color running boards, a power-sliding tinted moonroof, and roof rails. Buyers could choose from nine paint jobs and three interior color schemes. The cabin materials had improved in quality, though some trim pieces lagged behind competitors. The infotainment system was updated to a sleeker, more modern display, but the center stack's piano-black plastic was prone to fingerprints.

The 2019 GMC Acadia offered two engines: an inline 4-cylinder and a V6. The base 4-cylinder engine produced 193 horsepower, while the 3.6-liter V6 engine delivered 310 hp, providing fantastic acceleration. The V6 was available with front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD), while the 4-cylinder was FWD-only. The AWD system featured GMC’s Active Twin Clutch system, allowing drivers to switch between FWD, AWD, Sport mode, and All-Terrain mode. The V6 Acadia could tow up to 4,000 pounds when properly equipped. Fuel economy for the base SL with the 4-cylinder engine and FWD was 21 mpg city, 26 highway, and 23 combined. The SLT-1 AWD with the V6 returned 17/25/20, and in a week of combined driving, it achieved 19.8 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’s powertrain handled its heavy load well, though the transmission was clunky when downshifting. Fuel efficiency was a weak point, with the RWD model getting 14 mpg city, 20 highway, and 16 combined, while the 4WD model achieved 13 mpg city, 19 highway, and 15 combined. The QX80 Luxe was available with either RWD or 4WD, while the Limited came standard with 4WD. The SUV featured Normal, Snow, and Mud drive modes, and two different steering systems. The optional Hydraulic Body Motion Control system and standard rear auto-leveling suspension provided a relatively smooth ride and kept the SUV level when towing. The QX80 had an 8,500-pound towing capacity.

The 2019 GMC Acadia provided ample space for the driver and front passenger, with deep trays and bins for small items. The SL, SLE-1, and SLE-2 trims featured 7-passenger seating with a middle bench seat, while the SLT-1 AWD had second-row captain’s chairs, reducing seating capacity to 6. The second-row seats were comfortable and provided decent head- and legroom, but the third-row seats were cramped and best suited for kids. The Acadia offered 12.8 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expanding to 41.7 cubic feet with the third row folded, and up to 79 cubic feet with both the second- and third-row seats folded. This was small for the midsize SUV class.

The 2020 INFINITI QX80 featured plush, spacious seating in the first two rows, with tighter third-row seating best for small children. Standard seating for seven included second-row captain’s chairs, with an optional 60/40 split-folding bench. The leather-appointed seats were available in perforated semi-aniline leather upholstery, with Alcantara seats also available. The driver’s seat was 10-way power-adjustable, and the passenger’s seat was 8-way power-adjustable, both with lumbar support. Heated and climate-controlled front seats were standard, with heated outboard second-row seats available. The QX80 offered 16.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, 49.6 cubic feet behind the second row, and 95.1 cubic feet with both rows folded. A power liftgate was standard.

The 2019 GMC Acadia’s base SL trim came with a 7-inch touchscreen running GMC’s IntelliLink infotainment system, featuring Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity, five USB ports, and a WiFi hotspot. The SLT-1 trim upgraded to an 8-inch screen, and the Denali trim added standard navigation. The SLT-1 and SLT-2 trims included a 4.2-inch color information display within the gauge cluster, while the Denali trim featured an 8-inch display, turning it into a semi-digital instrument panel. The Acadia was also available with a color head-up display.

The 2020 INFINITI QX80’s standard features included an 8-inch upper infotainment touchscreen and a 7.0-inch lower touchscreen, allowing for split functionality. Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, navigation, satellite radio, Bluetooth, keyless entry, remote start, tri-zone climate control, a moonroof, a CD player, a 12-volt outlet, and four USB ports were standard. Buyers could upgrade to two 8.0-inch displays, a rear-seat entertainment system, and a WiFi hotspot. A 13-speaker Bose stereo was standard, with a 17-inch Bose system available. SiriusXM services, including Travel Link and Traffic, came with a complimentary four-year trial period.

The 2019 GMC Acadia came standard with front- and side-impact airbags, a reversing camera, and traction control. The Driver Alert Package 1, standard on the SLT-1 and optional on the SLE-2, added a blind-spot warning system, lane-change alert, and rear park assist. The SLT-2 trim included the Driver Alert Package 2, which added low-speed forward automatic braking, lane-departure warning, pedestrian detection, forward-collision alert, adaptive headlights and high beams, rear cross-traffic alert, and front and rear parking sensors.

The 2020 INFINITI QX80 included standard safety features such as 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 earned "good" scores in the moderate overlap front and side crash tests from the IIHS, and the NHTSA rated it as having better crashworthiness from the side than the front, with a moderate risk of rollover.