2021 INFINITI QX80 vs 2021 Nissan Armada

The 2021 INFINITI QX80 was a luxury SUV built on the body-on-frame construction, shared with its sibling, the Nissan Armada. The QX80’s body design was a blend of Nissan Armada’s shell and Infiniti-specific front fascia, introduced in 2018. This front-end styling featured the signature Infiniti grille and a headlight design, setting it apart from the Nissan model. The QX80 had an assertive yet refined appearance, distinguishing it from more aggressive models in the luxury SUV segment.

Standard features on the QX80 included LED headlights, taillights, and fog lights, with available enhancements such as automatic high beams, windshield-wiper interlock, and an optional auto-leveling feature. The base Luxe trim rode on 20-inch wheels, while the Premium Select and Sensory trims upgraded to 22-inch wheels.

Inside, the QX80 closely resembled the Armada, but with luxury touches like wood trim, contrast stitching, and standard leather upholstery. The Sensory model boasted perforated semi-aniline leather. Unique to Infiniti, the center console and dashboard retained much of the design and equipment seen in the Armada, including the foot-operated parking brake, which detracted slightly from the high-end ambiance.

In contrast, the 2021 Nissan Armada, redesigned for the model year, presented a modern yet robust look in line with the Nissan brand’s new design language. Offered in S, SV, SL, and Platinum trims, the refreshed Armada featured a new grille, front fenders, bumpers, and LED lighting. Despite these updates, the Armada maintained its strong, athletic stance.

Standard elements included body-color over fenders, dark-painted roof rails, acoustic windshield and front side windows, plus LED headlights and daytime running lights. The Armada could be equipped with wheels ranging from 18 to 22 inches, according to the trim level. An optional Midnight Edition Package added a suite of dark accents to enhance its appearance.

The Armada’s larger touchscreen setup and new logo placement further modernized its look. Despite these advancements, the vehicle’s underbody design and traditional approach gave it an aged feel compared to its fully redesigned competitors like the Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon.

Both the 2021 INFINITI QX80 and the 2021 Nissan Armada were powered by Nissan’s Endurance 5.6-liter V8 engine, paired with a seven-speed automatic transmission. This V8 delivered 400 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque, ensuring robust performance.

The QX80 offered responsive acceleration, making highway overtaking stress-free. While the engine was eager, the transmission’s shifts lacked smoothness, feeling slightly crumpled. Despite its body-on-frame construction typical for truck-like rides, the QX80’s front and rear independent suspension provided a notably comfortable ride, with a rear auto-leveling feature for cargo adjustment. Sensory models included Hydraulic Body Motion Control, reducing body roll in corners. However, the QX80 felt less composed in turns despite these features.

Towing and off-road capabilities were significant strengths of the QX80, with a 4WD option featuring low range and a forward skid plate. It could tow up to 8,500 pounds, more than the Cadillac Escalade but slightly less than the Lincoln Navigator at 8,700 pounds.

The Nissan Armada mirrored the QX80’s powertrain, with the same horsepower and torque outputs. It too had capably off-road features, including a front skid plate, double-wishbone suspension, and ground clearance of 9.2 or 9.1 inches. Its off-road angles and a max towing capacity of 8,500 pounds were standout features.

Where the Armada fell short was in fuel economy, with RWD models achieving 14 mpg city, 19 mpg highway, and 16 combined. 4WD models fared slightly worse. Handling improvements in recent years made the Armada more pleasurable on highways than before, but it still presented challenges in tight spots and parking.

The INFINITI QX80, a three-row SUV, came standard with a seven-seat configuration utilizing second-row captain’s chairs and a center console. An eight-seat option swapped these for a split-folding bench seat. Front seats provided reasonable adjustability but lacked thigh support for longer trips. A driver’s memory system, USB ports, and a 12-volt outlet added convenience.

Passenger space across all three rows was ample but not class-leading. The Cadillac Escalade and Lincoln Navigator offered more room and long-wheelbase variants. The QX80's cargo area was competitive, if not leading: 16.6 cubic feet behind the third row, 49.6 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 95.1 cubic feet with both rows folded flat. Power liftgate and folding third row optional features eased transitioning between passenger and cargo modes.

The Nissan Armada also boasted three-row seating, with options for captain’s chairs in the higher trims that reduced seating from eight to seven but increased comfort. Third-row passengers faced tighter legroom. Cargo capacities closely paralleled the QX80’s, with 16.5 cubic feet behind the third row, 49.9 cubic feet behind the second row, and 95.4 cubic feet in total. The notable disadvantage was the high load floor, posing a challenge for loading and unloading and causing the liftgate to rise higher.

Both vehicles had thoughtful small-item storage, though the QX80’s accessibility and convenience in this regard outshined the Armada, which included nine cupholders and four bottle holders but had less intuitive spaces for personal items.

In terms of technology, the 2021 INFINITI QX80 came with the InTouch dual-screen infotainment system, combining an 8.0-inch upper and 7.0-inch lower touchscreen. Standard tech included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, WiFi hotspot, navigation, Bluetooth, SiriusXM, and a 13-speaker Bose audio system. Options expanded to a 17-speaker Bose system and dual 8-inch rear-seat entertainment monitors. However, the interface was often clumsy, requiring time to learn and cumbersome controls that undermined usability.

The standout tech feature was the Smart Rearview Mirror, able to switch from a conventional mirror to a streaming-video display, improving visibility. The Around View Monitor 360-degree camera system was another useful inclusion.

The 2021 Nissan Armada brought forward a major tech upgrade with its class-leading 12.3-inch touchscreen. Standard features rivaled those of the QX80, including navigation, a WiFi hotspot, satellite radio, USB ports, Bluetooth, NissanConnect Services, and wireless Apple CarPlay. The Platinum trim gained additional standard features like a wireless charging pad, a 13-speaker Bose audio system, rearview camera mirror, and second-row entertainment system.

The Armada's analog instrument cluster, while functional, lacked the upscale feel of its competitors. The steering wheel's limited controls were practical but less refined than what you'd find in upscale models.

Safety features were robust in both SUVs. The 2021 INFINITI QX80 was awarded a four-star overall safety rating by NHTSA, excelling in side crash tests but earning three stars in the rollover rating. Standard safety tech included adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, forward collision warning, and Backup Collision Intervention.

The 2021 Nissan Armada had yet to be fully rated by IIHS and NHTSA, but received a three-star rollover rating. Equipped with Nissan Safety Shield 360, it offered automatic emergency braking, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, automatic high beams, and rear automatic braking. Despite occasional overreactions from lane departure warnings, its automatic high beams technology lagged in responsiveness. Additional safety features included adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, and optional enhancements such as a rear camera mirror and surround-view camera system. Advanced driving assist technologies like Nissan ProPilot Assist were notably absent.