2022 Volvo XC90 vs 2022 INFINITI QX80

Volvo had come a long way from its boxy cars and wagons of the past decades. The brand maintained its family-friendly, safety-oriented image while moving upscale, nearing the luxury class. After Ford sold Volvo to China's Zhejiang Geely Holding in 2010, the company developed new vehicle platforms from scratch, leading to today's lineup of sedans and crossover SUVs. The original XC90, launched in 2003, received updates until 2015. The 2016 model marked the debut of the current XC90, Volvo's flagship SUV, built on the Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) platform.

The 2022 XC90 had a striking stance and profile, with a body seemingly tilted forward, ready to launch. Its long, sleek roofline managed to contain the large greenhouse without appearing bulky. Pronounced wheel arches and a snub nose reminiscent of the classic 245 wagon added to its athletic look. The interior, described as "Scandinavian Modern" and "Swedish Luxury," featured natural wood and metal trim, with exquisite details like a sliding wood tambor cover and a clear crystal gear selector handle. Volvo offered both Nappa leather and a "tailored wool blend" upholstery, with our test car featuring leather seats, which proved comfortable during a week of high temperatures and humidity.

The INFINITI QX80 shared a platform, mechanicals, and general layout with the Nissan Armada, resulting in a family resemblance. The QX80's front-end styling was unique, thanks to the distinctive Infiniti grille. LED lighting was tastefully integrated, and the conservative use of chrome added an upscale look. The stylish 22-inch dark chrome alloy wheels, standard on Premium Select and above, further enhanced the QX80's exterior. Despite its large size, the QX80 was well-proportioned, not too big or too small.

Inside, the QX80's cabin featured unique and upscale materials compared to the Armada, though Nissan's design theme was evident. Our Sensory-trim test vehicle boasted tasteful wood trim and quilted semi-aniline Saddle Brown leather seats. However, the QX80's style was becoming outdated. Despite this, the cabin remained an attractive, comfortable place to be. The QX80's interior fell short of the high bar set by its premium full-size SUV competitors, but it still offered a pleasant experience.

The 2022 Volvo XC90 offered three powertrains. The T5 model featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter gasoline four-cylinder engine, producing 250 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The T6 model had a supercharged and turbocharged version of the same engine, delivering 316 hp and 295 lb-ft. The T8 model combined a supercharged/turbocharged gasoline engine with an electric motor, producing a combined 455 hp and 523 lb-ft of torque. T5 models were front-wheel drive (FWD) with available all-wheel drive (AWD), while T6 and T8 models were AWD only. All XC90 models used a conventional eight-speed automatic transmission.

The XC90 engines required Premium (91-octane) gasoline. The EPA estimated T5 FWD models to achieve 21 mpg city/30 mpg highway/25 mpg combined, and T5 AWD models at 20 mpg city/28 mpg highway/23 mpg combined. T6 AWD models were rated at 19 mpg city/27 mpg highway/22 mpg combined. The T8 had a 27 mpg combined rating on gas and 55 MPGe with an 18-mile EV range. The extended range variant achieved 26 mpg combined gasoline rating, 66 MPGe, and an EV range of up to 36 miles. Charging the battery from empty to full took about five hours at 240 volts (Level 2). The XC90 handled superbly, with minimal body roll and spirited acceleration, especially in the T8 Inscription extended range model.

The 2022 INFINITI QX80 featured a 400-horsepower, 5.6-liter V8 engine with 413 lb-ft of torque. This engine delivered robust performance and a pleasing exhaust note. The QX80's seven-speed automatic transmission with adaptive shift control and manual mode provided seamless and smooth shifts. The transmission distributed the QX80's power effectively, with quick and smooth kickdowns for passing and smooth, linear power delivery during acceleration. The QX80's off-road capability, based on the global Nissan Patrol, included a computer-controlled transfer case with settings for Automatic, 4Hi, and 4Lo. The QX80 had a ground clearance of 9.2 inches and a maximum towing capacity of 8,500 pounds.

The QX80 managed to control excessive body lean during cornering or quick lane-change maneuvers, thanks to the available Hydraulic Body Motion Control system. However, it reminded drivers of its tall, nearly three-ton weight when taking turns too quickly.

The 2022 Volvo XC90 offered six-passenger and seven-passenger configurations, with either captain's chairs or three-across seating in the second row. The third row was suitable for kids but lacked legroom and thigh support for adults. The XC90 provided 15.9 cubic feet of luggage space behind the third row, 41.8 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 85.7 cubic feet with both the second and third rows folded. The XC90 could tow between 4,000 and 5,000 pounds, depending on the configuration and powertrain. The interior featured ample storage space, comfortable seating, and a standard laminated panoramic moonroof. The air-conditioning system performed well during a heat wave, providing a comfortable sanctuary from the weather.

The 2022 INFINITI QX80 required climbing into due to its tall ride height, with a step-in height of nearly two feet. The spacious greenhouse provided an open and airy feel, with good front-seat head- and legroom. Forward visibility was commendable, though the sideview mirrors were a bit small. The power-sliding moonroof was smaller than panoramic designs on other Infiniti models. The QX80 could hold up to eight passengers with the optional second-row bench-seat package or seven passengers with second-row captain's chairs. The third row was cramped for adults or taller tweens, and the power-folding process was slow. Cargo space measured 16.6 cubic feet behind the third row, 49.6 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 95.1 cubic feet with all seats folded. Our test vehicle featured illuminated kick plates, a cargo scuff plate, and radiant exterior welcome lighting, adding a premium touch.

The 2022 Volvo XC90 featured the Sensus infotainment system, which offered tablet-like functionality with familiar gestures like pinch, pull, and swipe. However, the system in our test car was glitchy and slow to respond. It worked better with Apple CarPlay, and the XC90 also supported Android Auto. The nine-inch diagonal, portrait-oriented touchscreen was mounted in the top portion of the center stack, close to the driver's line of sight. A 12.3-inch digital instrument panel offered easy configuration and crisp graphics. The $1,650 Advanced package included a head-up display, a 360-degree surround view camera system, and an advanced air cleaner. The XC90 came with standard Harman Kardon Premium Sound, with a $3,200 Bowers & Wilkins upgrade available. The XC90 included two front USB-A ports, two rear USB-C ports, a WiFi hotspot, and the Volvo Care smartphone app.

The 2022 INFINITI QX80 featured a new 12.3-inch Infiniti InTouch display, providing access to Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and SiriusXM satellite radio. The display also included navigation with lane guidance, voice recognition, and Infiniti InTouch connected services. A Bose 13-speaker premium sound system was standard, with a 17-speaker Performance Series Bose system available on the top Sensory trim. The QX80 included multiple USB ports, illuminated steering-wheel-mounted audio controls, and a new wireless smartphone charger. Our test vehicle had a dual-screen rear entertainment system, but the required HDMI adapters were missing. The QX80 lacked Infiniti's ProPilot Assist advanced driving-assistance system due to its older vehicle systems architecture.

The 2022 Volvo XC90 continued the brand's commitment to safety, featuring blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, parking assist, rain-sensing wipers, slippery road alert, lane-keeping aid, adaptive cruise control, oncoming lane mitigation, and road-sign recognition. Volvo's Pilot Assist system combined several safety features to keep the car in its lane with minimal driver intervention on highways. The XC90 received the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ designation and a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA.

The 2022 INFINITI QX80 came with standard safety features, including forward automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring with lane-departure prevention, forward-collision warning, backup collision intervention, a smart rearview mirror, and adaptive cruise control. Additional safety items included driver attention alert, front knee airbags, and seat belt pre-tensioners for second-row outboard passengers. The NHTSA gave the QX80 three out of five stars for rollover resistance, and the structurally similar 2021 QX80 received four stars for overall crash protection. The IIHS had not rated the QX80 for safety.