2020 INFINITI QX80 vs 2020 Honda CR-V

The 2020 Honda CR-V, part of Honda’s fifth generation of compact crossovers, had a design that was both familiar and fun. Its exterior featured curvy, car-like lines with a family resemblance to Honda’s sedan lineup, giving it a station wagon-like appearance rather than a traditional SUV look. Inside, the CR-V’s interior was a mix of textures and materials, with upscale touches like wood-look trim and leather upholstery in higher trims clashing with some low-quality plastics. This reminded drivers that even the pricier CR-V models were upgrades of a commodity car rather than true premium products.

The 2020 INFINITI QX80, as Infiniti’s flagship SUV, was substantially larger than its siblings, the QX50 and QX60. For 2020, it was available in two trims: Luxe and Limited. The QX80’s exterior, refreshed in 2018, featured modern details like welcome lights, power-folding mirrors, LED fog lights, and adaptive front lighting. The cabin, though improved in material quality, still had some trim pieces that didn’t match up to other luxury SUVs. The center stack prominently featured piano-black plastic, which was prone to fingerprints, but the overall fit and finish were generally good.

The 2020 Honda CR-V simplified its lineup by replacing the previous base engine with a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing 190 horsepower and 179 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), which provided a smooth driving experience. The CR-V’s road manners were excellent, with nimble handling and a firm yet comfortable chassis. Its low curb weight of 3,337 pounds for the FWD LX model contributed to its agility and fuel efficiency, achieving 30 mpg combined for FWD models and 29 mpg for AWD models.

The 2020 INFINITI QX80 was powered by a 5.6-liter V8 engine, delivering 400 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque, paired with a seven-speed automatic transmission. Despite its heavy weight, the QX80’s powertrain handled the load well, though the transmission was clunky when downshifting. The QX80’s fuel efficiency was poor, with the RWD model getting 14 mpg in the city and 20 mpg on the highway, while the 4WD model achieved 13 mpg in the city and 19 mpg on the highway. The QX80 offered Normal, Snow, and Mud drive modes, and its optional Hydraulic Body Motion Control system helped keep it grounded around turns.

The 2020 Honda CR-V excelled in interior space and clever storage solutions. Its cabin was roomy, with good head- and legroom for both the driver and passengers. The cargo compartment offered 75.8 cubic feet of space with the rear seats folded, and the two-position load floor allowed for flexible storage options. The center console featured a deep well with a sliding cover, and the door pockets were spacious, making the CR-V easy to live with.

The 2020 INFINITI QX80 offered plush, spacious seating in the first two rows, but the third row had limited legroom, making it suitable for small children or pets. The QX80 had a standard seating capacity of seven, with leather-appointed seats available in perforated semi-aniline leather upholstery. The driver’s seat was 10-way power-adjustable, and the front passenger seat was eight-way power-adjustable, both with lumbar support. The QX80 provided 95.1 cubic feet of cargo space with the second- and third-row seats folded, and a power liftgate was standard.

The 2020 Honda CR-V’s infotainment system showed its age, with a standard 5-inch screen in the LX trim and a 7-inch touchscreen in higher trims. The system lacked hard buttons, making it challenging to operate, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were only available with the larger screen. The CR-V Touring trim added a wireless phone charger, but overall, the infotainment system was not as advanced as competitors.

The 2020 INFINITI QX80 featured an 8-inch upper infotainment touchscreen and a 7-inch lower touchscreen, allowing for split functionality. Standard features included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, navigation, satellite radio, Bluetooth, keyless entry, remote start, tri-zone climate control, and a 13-speaker Bose stereo. Buyers could upgrade to a rear-seat entertainment system and a 17-speaker Bose system. The infotainment system was easy to use but not particularly modern in design.

The 2020 Honda CR-V came standard with the “Honda Sensing” system, which included forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, road-departure mitigation, and adaptive cruise control with lane-keeping assist. The CR-V earned five stars from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick designation from the IIHS, with the Touring trim’s LED headlights improving nighttime visibility.

The 2020 INFINITI QX80 had a good roster of standard safety features, including automatic emergency braking, rear cross-traffic alert, pedestrian detection, forward collision warning, rear parking sensors, and a surround-view camera system. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and lane-keep assist. The QX80 earned "good" scores in IIHS crash tests and moderate ratings from the NHTSA.