2020 INFINITI QX80 vs 2021 Volvo XC90

The 2020 INFINITI QX80 was the flagship SUV in Infiniti’s lineup, significantly larger than the two-row QX50 and three-row QX60. For 2020, it was available in two trim levels: Luxe and Limited. The QX80's exterior, refreshed in 2018, boasted a commanding presence with modern details such as welcome lights, power-folding, auto-dimming, heated outside mirrors with integrated LED turn signals, and adaptive front lighting. The upscale cabin featured soft-touch materials, 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 2021 Volvo XC90 marked a successful design evolution for Volvo, maintaining its traditional styling while adding character. The XC90 featured a boxy profile and blunt front end with a rectangular grille, softened lines, and distinctive LED headlights with “Thor’s Hammer” daytime running lights. The Inscription trim level, with extra chrome trim and optional 21-inch alloy wheels, was the flashiest. The interior embraced “Swedish minimalism” with thoughtfully arranged, high-quality materials, including matte-finish wood trim and optional wool upholstery. The Orrefors crystal shifter added a high-end touch, though it seemed out of place in the otherwise restrained interior.

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 mpg highway, and 16 mpg combined, while the 4WD model got 13 mpg city, 19 mpg highway, and 15 mpg combined. The QX80 offered Normal, Snow, and Mud drive modes, and its optional Hydraulic Body Motion Control system helped keep it grounded around turns. The standard rear auto-leveling suspension provided a relatively smooth ride, and the QX80 had an 8,500-pound towing capacity.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 offered three powertrains based on a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and eight-speed automatic transmission. The T5 engine was turbocharged, producing 250 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The T6 engine was both turbocharged and supercharged, delivering 316 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. The T8 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid combined the T6 engine with electric assist, producing 400 horsepower and 472 pound-feet of torque. The XC90's ride quality was excellent, aided by an optional air-suspension system, though the small engine struggled to accelerate away from stops on electric power alone. The XC90 had a 5,000-pound towing capacity, with the base FWD T5 rated at 4,000 pounds.

The 2020 INFINITI QX80 offered plush, spacious seating in the first two rows, with tighter third-row seating best suited 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 seat. The leather-appointed seats were available in perforated semi-aniline leather upholstery, with Alcantara seats featuring quilting, contrast piping, and stitching. The QX80 provided 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 2021 Volvo XC90 was available in six-seat or seven-seat configurations, with second-row captain’s chairs or a bench seat. Headroom and legroom in all three rows were average for the segment, with the third row being tight for adults. The interior felt spacious, thanks to an optional power moonroof and the XC90’s upright roof profile. The Inscription trim featured 10-way power-adjustable heated and ventilated front seats with backrest massage, though a power-adjustable steering wheel was not available. Cargo space was 11.2 cubic feet with all seats in place, 34.1 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, and 64.1 cubic feet with the second and third rows folded. A hands-free power tailgate was available.

The 2020 INFINITI QX80 came standard with an 8-inch upper infotainment touch screen and a 7.0-inch lower 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, a CD player, a 12-volt outlet, and four USB ports. Optional upgrades included two 8.0-inch displays, a rear-seat entertainment system, and a WiFi hotspot. The infotainment system was functional but not particularly modern in design.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 featured the Sensus infotainment system with a 9-inch touchscreen, 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility, Bluetooth, and a built-in WiFi hotspot. Standard USB ports included two front USB-A ports and two rear USB-C ports. Optional features included a 19-speaker Bowers & Wilkins premium audio system and a head-up display. The portrait-oriented touchscreen was user-friendly, though the amount of text and typeface made reading some menus difficult while driving. The wireless charging pad added for 2021 was too small for most phones.

The 2020 INFINITI QX80 offered 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 received "good" scores in moderate overlap front and side crash tests from the IIHS and a five-star side crash rating from the NHTSA.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 received the highest “Top Safety Pick+” rating from the IIHS for non-hybrid models, with top “Good” scores in all crash tests and a “Superior” rating for front-crash prevention tech in vehicle-to-vehicle testing. The NHTSA gave all XC90 models a five-star overall safety rating. Standard safety features included lane-keep assist, a driver-attention monitor, traffic-sign recognition, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, automatic emergency braking, and Volvo’s Pilot Assist driver aid. Pilot Assist provided smooth adaptive cruise control with automated lane centering, though it struggled with highway curves.