INFINITI QX80 vs Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid

The 2026 INFINITI QX80 presented a bold and commanding presence typical of body-on-frame SUVs. Its design was characterized by a tall, upright stance, high shoulder lines, and a simple two-box profile. The vehicle featured a distinctive front with a bold, black two-part grille inspired by a bamboo forest, flanked by LED headlights and piano-key daytime running lights. At the rear, a taillight light bar spanned the width, echoing the piano key design, and sat above wide Infiniti lettering. The QX80 Sport trim added a wider mesh pattern for its frameless grille, dark matte chrome exterior trim, and gloss-black roof rails, mirror caps, emblems, and wheels. Inside, the QX80 was modern and luxurious, with technology softened by synthetic or real leather, aluminum, and open-pore wood trim. The Sport models featured a Dusk Blue interior theme with a darkened color palette.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid was available with a standard turbocharged gas engine, a hybrid powertrain offering up to 36 mpg, and a powerful Hybrid Max configuration with full-time AWD and 362 horsepower. The top trim level, Grand Highlander Hybrid Max Platinum, arrived in Storm Cloud paint, a flat grayish blue. Toyota's styling was conservative, drawing inspiration from the previous-generation RAV4, resulting in a design that resembled a larger RAV4 with seating for up to eight and ample cargo space. The interior emphasized function over form, with a layer of luxury in Platinum trim. The climate system was simple, with large temperature-adjustment knobs, but the infotainment interface had a tiny volume knob and no tuning knob. The Grand Highlander offered a comfortable ride, but undulations in the road could produce vertical bounding and lateral rocking.

The 2026 INFINITI QX80 switched from a 5.6-liter V8 to a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6, delivering 450 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque. It was paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, with RWD standard and 4WD optional on the base trims and standard on the top trims. The 4WD system lost low-range gearing, offering only Auto and 4H modes. The QX80 accelerated from 0-60 mph in 6.1 seconds, with a towing capacity of 8,500 pounds. The body-on-frame platform had increased torsional rigidity and lateral stiffness. The suspension included front and rear double-wishbone with coil springs, and air springs and adaptive dampers on all but the base model. The QX80 had a standard ground clearance of 7.9 inches, adjustable for off-road obstacles and entry/exit. Despite its size, the QX80 had notable body lean and slow, heavy steering.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid Max focused on performance with a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine and electronic full-time AWD with two electric motors, producing 362 horsepower. It used a six-speed automatic transmission, avoiding the droning of CVTs. The Hybrid Max had a fuel economy of 27 mpg, towing up to 5,000 pounds. During testing, it averaged 23.3 mpg on a mountainous route. The powertrain provided rewarding acceleration, with electric motors negating turbo lag. The ride quality was soft and isolating, but road undulations could cause vertical bounding and lateral rocking. Handling was secure up to a modest point, with early tire scrub and squeal. Outward visibility was excellent, aided by front, rear, and top-down cameras, though the front camera often interrupted the infotainment screen.

The 2026 INFINITI QX80 was a large SUV with a length of 211.2 inches and a 121-inch wheelbase, accommodating up to seven passengers. It featured synthetic leather, eight-way power-adjustable seats with lumbar adjustment, and front-seat heating. Higher trims offered leather upholstery, ventilation, and massage functions. The second-row captain’s chairs had power adjustments and ventilation, with massaging seats in the Autograph trim. The third-row bench was spacious, with power-folding seats standard. Cargo space was 22 cubic feet behind the third row, 59 cubic feet behind the second row, and 101 cubic feet behind the first row.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid offered comfortable seating in all three rows, with nearly 100 cubic feet of maximum cargo space. The Platinum trim featured a Portobello interior with leather and artificial suede upholstery. The front and second-row seats had heating, ventilation, and supportive cushions. The second-row captain’s chairs had a removable center console, creating a pass-through to the third row. The third-row seats were comfortable for adults and tall teens, with ample space from the head restraint to the rear liftgate. Cargo space was 20.6 cubic feet behind the third row, 57.9 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 97.5 cubic feet with the second row folded.

The 2026 INFINITI QX80 was equipped with a pair of 14.3-inch screens for the digital instrument cluster and infotainment touchscreen. It featured Google built-in, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa compatibility. A 5G connection provided a Wi-Fi hotspot and remote services. The infotainment screen was user-friendly, but the lower screen, handling climate controls and drive modes, was less intuitive. The QX80 offered a 14-speaker Klipsch audio system, with a 24-speaker system on higher trims. Three-zone automatic climate control was standard, with a biometric cooling system on top trims. Additional tech included a head-up display, dashcam, in-car camera, and a surround-view camera system with nine views.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid featured a 7-inch digital driver display in lower trims and a 12.3-inch panel in higher trims. All models had a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM, and access to Apple Music and Amazon Music. Toyota Connected Services offered a Wi-Fi hotspot, collision notification, SOS emergency response, and a digital voice assistant. The infotainment system was easy to use, though it lacked the ability to display multiple main-menu screens simultaneously. The Platinum trim included a head-up display, digital rear-view mirror, and a JBL premium audio system.

The 2026 INFINITI QX80 came standard with a comprehensive suite of driver-assistance technologies, including automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, ProPilot Assist 1.1, forward-collision warning, rear cross-traffic alert, active blind-spot monitors, rear automatic braking, parking sensors, lane-departure warning, driver-attention monitor, traffic-sign recognition, and a surround-view camera system. ProPilot Assist 2.1 was optional, allowing for hands-free driving on certain highways. The QX80 earned an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ designation, though NHTSA ratings were not available at the time of publication.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid was equipped with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, offering a range of standard safety features and driver-assistance technologies. It included lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, and Proactive Driving Assist. The safety tech operated with accuracy, though the lane-keep assist occasionally strayed too close to lane markers. The Grand Highlander earned a five-star overall rating from NHTSA but did not achieve a Top Safety Pick rating from IIHS due to "Acceptable" ratings for headlight performance and small overlap frontal-impact protection.