2020 INFINITI QX80 vs 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee

The 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee, despite its decade-old design, maintained a timeless appeal. Its classic 7-slot grille, trapezoidal wheel arches, and various aluminum wheel designs showcased a balanced and detailed aesthetic. The Laredo trim started at $31,945, with an additional $1,495 destination charge, and 4WD added another $2,000. The Grand Cherokee offered 11 additional trims, each catering to different needs, from style to off-roading to luxury and performance. The Limited X trim, priced at just over $50,000, featured a performance vented hood, unique 20-inch wheels, and special leather seats, giving it an upscale appearance. However, the interior had some hard plastic panels and build quality issues, such as a squeaky door panel and a loose center console lid.

The 2020 INFINITI QX80, as the flagship SUV in Infiniti’s lineup, was significantly larger than its siblings. For 2020, it came in two trims: Luxe and Limited. The QX80's exterior, refreshed in 2018, boasted modern features like welcome lights, power-folding mirrors, LED fog lights, and adaptive front lighting. It also included comfort and convenience features such as body-color running boards, a power-sliding moonroof, and roof rails. The QX80 offered nine paint options and three interior color schemes, with the Limited trim featuring matte silver and open-pore Ash wood trim. While the cabin materials had improved, some trim pieces still lagged behind competitors. The infotainment system was updated to a sleeker design, but the center stack's piano-black plastic was prone to fingerprints.

The 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee offered a range of engines, starting with a 3.6-liter V6 producing 295 horsepower. For more power, buyers could opt for a 360-hp 5.7-liter V8, a 425-hp 6.4-liter V8 in the SRT, or the Trackhawk's 707-hp supercharged 6.2-liter V8. An 8-speed automatic transmission powered the rear wheels, with three 4WD systems available depending on the trim. The Limited X test vehicle featured the Quadra-Drive II system, providing excellent off-road capability with 8.6 inches of ground clearance and Selec-Terrain driving modes. However, the 4WD system reduced fuel economy, with the V6 averaging 18.3 mpg during testing. The Grand Cherokee excelled on pavement, offering robust acceleration and better-than-expected handling, though the brakes struggled during long descents. The SRT and Trackhawk trims provided significant braking upgrades but at a higher cost and lower fuel efficiency.

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 achieving 14 mpg city, 20 mpg highway, and 16 mpg combined, while the 4WD model dropped to 13 mpg city, 19 mpg highway, and 15 mpg combined. The QX80 offered Normal, Snow, and Mud drive modes, and its 4WD system made it capable off-road. Two steering systems were available, with the Limited trim featuring vehicle-speed-sensitive power-assist steering. The QX80's light steering made low-speed navigation easy, but it required constant attention at higher speeds. The optional Hydraulic Body Motion Control system and standard rear auto-leveling suspension provided a smooth ride and maintained stability when towing, with an 8,500-pound towing capacity.

The 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee, a 5-passenger midsize SUV, provided ample space for a family. The power-adjustable and heated front seats were comfortable, but the hard plastic front-seatback panels were uncomfortable for rear passengers with long legs. The backseat offered good thigh support, air conditioning vents, dual USB ports, and a 115-volt power outlet. Storage space was limited, with small door-panel bins and a center console storage bin. Cargo space was also modest, with 36.3 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 68.3 cubic feet with the rear seats folded flat.

The 2020 INFINITI QX80 featured plush, spacious seating in the first two rows, but the third row had limited legroom, making it suitable for small children or pets. 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 perforated semi-aniline leather or Alcantara with quilting and contrast stitching. The driver’s seat was 10-way power-adjustable with lumbar support, and the passenger’s seat was eight-way power-adjustable. Heated and climate-controlled front seats were standard, with heated second-row seats available. The QX80 offered a heated, leather-wrapped steering wheel and a dual-occupant memory system for the driver’s seat, mirrors, and steering wheel. 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 both rows folded. A power liftgate was standard.

The 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo came with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system. Higher trims featured an upgraded Uconnect system with improved graphics, faster response, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, satellite radio, voice recognition, and navigation. Pairing an iPhone to Bluetooth was easy, and the voice recognition system performed well. The test vehicle had a 9-speaker Alpine audio system, with a 19-speaker Harman Kardon system available on higher trims.

The 2020 INFINITI QX80 included an 8-inch upper and 7-inch lower touchscreen infotainment system, 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, a CD player, a 12-volt outlet, and four USB ports. Optional upgrades included two 8.0-inch rear-seat displays, a WiFi hotspot, and a 17-speaker Bose system. SiriusXM services were available with a four-year trial period. The infotainment system was functional but not particularly modern.

The 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee offered modern driver-assistance and collision-avoidance technologies, including standard blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The Advanced Active Safety Group package added adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and rain-sensing wipers. However, the Grand Cherokee received poor safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA, making it one of the least-safe SUVs available.

The 2020 INFINITI QX80 had a good roster of standard and available safety features, including 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 moderate risk of rollover from the NHTSA.