2019 INFINITI QX80 vs 2020 Subaru Outback

The 2019 INFINITI QX80, despite its age, maintained a commanding presence with its elegant front end, which was restyled in 2018 to align with other Infiniti models like the QX50 and Q60. The QX80's design featured slim, slanted LED headlights and a curved rectangular grille with a classic crosshatch pattern, giving it a refined look. The hood and front bumper had sensuous curves that contrasted with the upright, boxy profile starting behind the windshield. The rear-quarter glass and LED taillights, connected by a thin chrome strip, helped break up the vehicle's chunkiness. Standard 20-inch wheels, tall side mirrors, and a towering roof emphasized its big-rig persona. However, the turn signals on the rear bumper were cheap incandescent bulbs, which seemed out of place.

The Limited trim, new for 2019, added two-tone 22-inch rims, unique grey metallic paint, stainless steel running boards, and a special black-and-white interior. This trim featured black and white leather surfaces, microsuede inserts, and wavy stitching on the seats. The interior was covered in soft, padded leather, including the steering wheel, doors, dash, center stack, floor-mat edges, and grab handles. The roof was microsuede, and the interior was finished with white and black contrast stitching, white piping on the armrests, and light gray ash wood. Despite the high-quality materials and assembly, the doors were thin-sounding and poorly insulated, leaking cold air in freezing conditions.

The 2020 Subaru Outback aimed for incremental improvements while retaining its winning formula of utility, safety, and performance. Built on Subaru's Global Platform, the sixth-gen Outback boasted a 70% increase in structural rigidity. The base 2.5-liter engine, with 90% new parts, produced 182 horsepower and offered 26 mpg city and 33 highway. For more power, the 2.4-liter turbocharged engine from the Ascent was available in higher trims, delivering 260 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque, with a 0-60 time of around 7 seconds.

Externally, the differences from the previous generation were subtle, with changes to the head- and taillights being the most noticeable. Inside, the 2020 Outback featured an 11.6-inch touchscreen for all but the base trim, which had dual 7-inch screens. The innovative DriverFocus system used infrared monitoring to detect and alert sleepy or distracted drivers and employed facial recognition to adjust settings between drivers. The Outback was available in seven trim levels, with the XT trims featuring the turbo engine. Starting at $26,645, the base trim included LED headlights, keyless entry, and automatic climate control, with higher trims adding more features and options.

The 2019 INFINITI QX80 excelled in towing capacity, boasting an 8,500-pound tow rating, surpassing competitors like the Mercedes GLS, BMW X7, Lexus LX 570, and even the Escalade. Powered by a 5.6-liter V8 engine producing 400 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque, the QX80 handled heavy loads with ease. The 7-speed automatic transmission, without a Sport mode or steering-wheel paddles, shifted quickly and could rev-match downshifts like a sports car. The steering was light yet stable, making the QX80 easy to maneuver.

The QX80 offered rear-wheel drive as standard on the Luxe trim, with selectable 4-wheel drive optional on the Luxe and standard on the Limited. The 4WD system could automatically route power to the front or rear or lock the split 50/50 in High or Low range. While not matching the off-road capabilities of an LX 570 or Range Rover, the QX80 featured a fully independent suspension with Hydraulic Body Motion Control, providing a controlled ride and better handling on rough surfaces. However, the QX80's fuel economy was poor, averaging 15 mpg over 580 miles, with EPA ratings of 13 mpg city, 19 highway, and 15 combined for the 4WD model.

The 2020 Subaru Outback's base 2.5-liter engine, with 182 horsepower, offered a modest 7-hp increase over the 2019 model and improved fuel economy with 26 mpg city and 33 highway. The 2.4-liter turbocharged engine in the XT trims delivered 260 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque, achieving a 0-60 time of around 7 seconds. Both engines were paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT), which Subaru tuned to mimic a traditional automatic transmission, minimizing the typical CVT drawbacks.

Subaru's symmetrical all-wheel drive system provided consistent power delivery and better handling, thanks to the boxer engine's low center of gravity. The Outback's 8.7 inches of ground clearance allowed it to handle various terrains, although it wasn't designed for extreme off-roading. The upgraded X-Mode on the Onyx XT trim, combined with hill-descent control, enhanced its off-road capabilities.

The 2019 INFINITI QX80 offered standard seven-passenger seating with second-row captain's chairs, which could be replaced with a second-row bench for eight-passenger capacity at an additional cost. The captain's chairs were luxurious and comfortable, with power-reclining and folding third-row seats. The QX80 provided 95.1 cubic feet of cargo space with all seats flat and 16.6 cubic feet with all seats upright. The interior was spacious, with wide central armrests and ample storage space. Standard features included 3-zone climate control, although the heating system was slow to warm up in cold conditions. The Limited trim added heated front and second-row seats, along with a heated steering wheel.

The 2020 Subaru Outback, as a station wagon, offered significant functional benefits, including ample passenger and cargo space, a low load height, and a lower center of gravity for better handling and braking. The Outback provided 32.5 cubic feet of trunk space, expandable to 75.7 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down. The increased width between the rear wheels contributed to the larger interior volume. The Outback's spacious interior accommodated taller passengers comfortably, with excellent headroom and legroom. Subaru's design prioritized visibility, offering great sightlines in nearly every direction, although the rear quarters had a noticeable blind spot.

The 2019 INFINITI QX80's dashboard featured large knobs and well-marked buttons, with a 4-axis rotary knob controlling the main touchscreen. However, the technology was outdated, with a low-resolution monochrome display on the instrument panel and a poorly rendered navigation screen. The QX80 lacked modern features like Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a head-up display, panoramic moonroof, and massaging seats. The 15-speaker Bose stereo was only adequate. The rear-view mirror's live camera-feed overlay and the rear entertainment system with USB and HDMI inputs were notable features, but overall, the QX80's technology fell short of expectations.

The 2020 Subaru Outback featured an 11.6-inch tablet-style touchscreen, which was visually appealing and easy to navigate. However, the system suffered from lag, affecting navigation, app usage, and even volume control. The camera resolution was also subpar. Despite these issues, the screen's layout was generally user-friendly, with most functions easily accessible. The Outback's technology had potential but required improvements to address the lag and camera quality.

The 2019 INFINITI QX80 came standard with forward automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, while lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, rear emergency braking, and blind-spot monitoring were optional. The QX80 received mixed results in NHTSA crash tests, with poor frontal crash ratings but excellent side-impact scores. Overall, it earned a 4-star rating. The IIHS had not tested the QX80, and its older body structure was not as strong as it should be.

The 2020 Subaru Outback's standard safety suite was impressive, including Subaru's EyeSight system, which provided adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and automatic emergency braking. However, the optical system could be obstructed by weather conditions, causing it to turn off. The DriverFocus system, designed to alert distracted drivers, was unreliable, frequently issuing false alerts. Despite these issues, the Outback's standard AWD system and overall safety features were commendable.