2022 Honda Odyssey vs 2022 INFINITI QX80

The 2022 Honda Odyssey was a minivan that consistently appealed to families due to its practicality and thoughtful design. Its sliding side doors made it easy to load children into car seats, even in tight parking spaces, and its spacious third-row seating comfortably accommodated additional passengers like grandparents or carpoolers. The Odyssey's cargo space was another highlight, offering substantial room for gear and groceries, with the ability to expand further by folding or removing seats. Despite its utilitarian nature, the Odyssey managed to maintain a sense of style, particularly in the Elite trim, which featured dark gray 19-inch aluminum wheels and a sleek design that somewhat masked its minivan roots.

In contrast, the 2022 INFINITI QX80 was a full-size luxury SUV that shared its platform with the Nissan Armada, offering a robust and stylish presence on the road. Its distinctive front-end styling, complete with a prominent Infiniti grille and tastefully integrated LED lighting, set it apart from its sibling. The QX80's interior was adorned with upscale materials, including quilted semi-aniline leather seats and wood trim, providing a luxurious atmosphere. However, despite its premium appearance, the QX80's design was beginning to show its age compared to newer competitors in the luxury SUV segment.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey was powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine that produced 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. This front-wheel-drive minivan utilized a 10-speed automatic transmission with pushbutton controls on the dashboard. While it lacked the all-wheel-drive and hybrid options available in some competitors, the Odyssey delivered an EPA fuel economy estimate of 22 mpg in combined driving. During testing, the Odyssey averaged 22.6 mpg on a varied driving route. The Odyssey was praised for its enjoyable driving character, offering quick acceleration and responsive handling. However, its brakes were noted to heat up during extended downhill driving, leading to pedal vibration and noise.

The 2022 INFINITI QX80 boasted a powerful 5.6-liter V8 engine with 400 horsepower and 413 lb-ft of torque, providing robust performance and an impressive exhaust note. The engine was paired with a seven-speed automatic transmission that offered smooth and seamless shifts. The QX80's power delivery was linear, and the transmission effectively managed gear changes, even on steep inclines. The SUV's off-road capabilities were enhanced by its body-on-frame construction and available four-wheel drive with a computer-controlled transfer case. The QX80's towing capacity was a generous 8,500 pounds, making it suitable for hauling large trailers or boats. Despite its size, the QX80 handled well, with the Hydraulic Body Motion Control system minimizing body lean during cornering.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey offered easy access with its low ride height and wide-opening doors. Inside, the Odyssey Elite featured quality leather seats with power adjustment, heating, and ventilation, along with a tri-zone automatic climate control system. The minivan provided ample storage space, including a handy floor tray and numerous compartments. The second-row Magic Slide seats allowed for flexible configurations, enhancing passenger comfort and safety. The third-row seat was spacious enough for adults, and the Odyssey's cargo capacity was impressive, with 32.8 cubic feet behind the third row and up to 144.9 cubic feet with all seats removed.

In contrast, the 2022 INFINITI QX80 required a climb to enter due to its tall ride height. Once inside, the cabin offered a spacious and airy feel, with good head- and legroom in the front seats. The QX80 could accommodate up to eight passengers with the optional second-row bench seat, but the third row was cramped for adults. Cargo space was limited compared to competitors, with 16.6 cubic feet behind the third row and 95.1 cubic feet with all seats folded. The power-operated liftgate and third-row seats were convenient but slow to operate.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey Elite was equipped with a range of technology features, though its infotainment system was becoming outdated. Starting with the EX trim, the Odyssey offered an 8-inch touchscreen, satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Touring and Elite trims added navigation, CabinWatch, and CabinTalk systems, as well as a rear-seat entertainment system with a single 10.2-inch display. The Elite trim also included an 11-speaker premium audio system and a wireless charging pad. However, the Odyssey's infotainment system lacked a larger screen and a tuning knob, and its voice recognition was limited.

The 2022 INFINITI QX80 featured a new 12.3-inch Infiniti InTouch display with Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and SiriusXM satellite radio. The system included navigation with lane guidance and voice recognition. A Bose 13-speaker sound system was standard, with a 17-speaker Performance Series system available on the Sensory trim. The QX80 also offered a dual-screen rear entertainment system, though HDMI adapters were not included. Notably, the QX80 lacked Infiniti's ProPilot Assist advanced driving-assistance system due to its older architecture.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey was well-equipped with safety features, including the Honda Sensing suite, which offered adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist. The Odyssey also had automatic high-beam headlights and a rear-seat reminder system. However, the Honda Sensing system was noted for its lack of refinement, with occasional false warnings and abrupt responses. The Odyssey received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS.

The 2022 INFINITI QX80 came with a comprehensive set of standard safety features, such as forward automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, forward-collision warning, and adaptive cruise control. Additional safety features included driver attention alert and front knee airbags. The QX80 had not been rated by the NHTSA for crashworthiness, but the 2021 model received four stars for overall crash protection. The IIHS had not rated the QX80 for safety.