Jeep Grand Wagoneer vs INFINITI QX80

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer shared its frame and body shell with the standard Wagoneer, resulting in a similar traditional SUV styling. It featured a tall hood, broad shoulders, trapezoidal wheel arches, and an upright profile, reminiscent of the smaller 2021 Grand Cherokee L. However, the Grand Wagoneer distinguished itself with a standard black roof, model-specific hood, front fascia, and grille. The grille leaned forward slightly, with laser-etched knurling in the slots, and the wheel center caps had an acrylic glass covering to protect the “Wagoneer” logo. The vehicle's body-on-frame architecture allowed for independent front and rear suspension, with an aluminum hood and doors, and a composite tailgate to save weight. Inside, the Grand Wagoneer offered high-end features like 24-way power front seats with memory, massage, lumbar support, and four-way power headrests, along with heated/ventilated first- and second-row seats and a heated steering wheel. Nappa leather upholstery was standard, with higher-grade Palermo leather available, complemented by aluminum and American Walnut wood trim.

The 2022 INFINITI QX80, at first glance, bore a strong family resemblance to the Nissan Armada, sharing a platform, mechanicals, and general layout. Its front-end styling was unique, thanks to the distinctive Infiniti grille, which was prominent yet tastefully integrated with LED lighting and conservative chrome use. The QX80's stylish 22-inch dark chrome alloy wheels added to its upscale look. Inside, the QX80's cabin featured unique and upscale materials compared to the Armada, with tasteful wood trim and quilted semi-aniline Saddle Brown leather seats. Despite its attractive and comfortable interior, the QX80's style was considered outdated compared to its premium full-size SUV competitors. The cabin was spacious and comfortable, but the high expectations of the segment meant the QX80's interior fell below the collective bar set by its rivals.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer was powered by a 6.4-liter Hemi V8 engine, producing 471 horsepower and 455 lb-ft of torque, with cylinder deactivation for improved fuel economy. Paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, it could accelerate from zero to 60 mph in six seconds, impressive for its roughly 6,400-pound weight. The Grand Wagoneer came standard with four-wheel drive, featuring the Quadra-Drive II system with a two-speed transfer case and electronic limited-slip differential. It also included Jeep’s Selec-Terrain system with five drive modes: Auto, Sport, Rock, Snow, and Sand/Mud. The Quadra-Lift air suspension system was standard, offering height adjustability for off-roading, highway driving, and easier ingress and egress. With a maximum ground clearance of 10 inches, the Grand Wagoneer could handle a 25-degree approach angle, 24-degree departure angle, and 22-degree breakover angle, and it could ford up to 24 inches of water. Despite its powerful engine, the Grand Wagoneer was best driven at a stately pace due to its bouncy ride at higher speeds and imprecise steering.

The 2022 INFINITI QX80 featured a robust 400-horsepower, 5.6-liter V8 engine with 413 lb-ft of torque, delivering strong performance and an appealing exhaust note. The engine was paired with a seven-speed automatic transmission with adaptive shift control and manual mode, providing seamless and smooth shifts. The QX80's power delivery was smooth and linear, with quick and smooth kickdown for passing and no gear hunting on inclines. Based on the global Nissan Patrol, the QX80 offered more off-road capability than most owners would need, with standard two-wheel drive and optional four-wheel drive. The 4WD models featured a computer-controlled transfer case with Automatic, 4Hi, and 4Lo settings. The QX80 had a ground clearance of 9.2 inches, suitable for challenging terrain. It managed body lean well during cornering, thanks to the Hydraulic Body Motion Control system, but reminded drivers of its tall, nearly three-ton stature when taking turns too quickly.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer could seat seven with standard second-row captain’s chairs or eight with an optional third-row bench seat. It offered more third-row headroom and second-row legroom than the Cadillac Escalade, Lincoln Navigator, and INFINITI QX80, though front space was more limited. Cargo space measured 27.4 cubic feet with all rows in place and 70.9 cubic feet with the third row stowed, offering more space than rivals in commonly used configurations. However, with all rear seats folded, its 94.2 cubic feet of cargo space was less than the Escalade's, Navigator's, and QX80's. The Grand Wagoneer had a maximum towing capacity of 9,850 pounds, slightly less than the standard Wagoneer due to its extra weight. Standard features included a sunroof, four-zone automatic climate control, and large storage bins, though forward visibility was somewhat limited.

The 2022 INFINITI QX80 required a climb to enter due to its tall ride height, aided by a grab handle on the A-pillar. Inside, the cabin felt open and airy, with good front-seat head- and legroom, though not as accommodating as the Escalade or Navigator. Forward visibility was commendable, though sideview mirrors were small. The power-sliding moonroof was smaller than panoramic designs on other Infiniti models. The QX80 could seat eight with an optional second-row bench or seven with captain's chairs. The third row was cramped, especially for adults, and the power-folding process was slow. Cargo space was 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. The test vehicle featured illuminated kick plates, a cargo scuff plate, and radiant exterior welcome lighting.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer featured a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster with 3D graphics, dual touchscreens, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, a McIntosh audio system, and a 4G-LTE WiFi hotspot. Second-row passengers had a 10.25-inch center console touchscreen, and an optional rear-seat entertainment system added two 10.1-inch screens. The Grand Wagoneer had a larger touchscreen than the standard Wagoneer and a second screen for functions like seat massagers. A row of buttons allowed quick access to important functions. An optional 10.25-inch touchscreen for the front passenger could control navigation and the rear-seat entertainment system. Amazon Alexa connectivity and Fire TV for Auto were also available. The Uconnect 5 infotainment system featured an Android-based operating system and over-the-air updates, though the screen response was slow, and the instrument cluster graphics were plain.

The 2022 INFINITI QX80, while based on an older design, featured a new 12.3-inch Infiniti InTouch display with Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and SiriusXM satellite radio. The display 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 on the top Sensory trim. Other features included multiple USB ports, illuminated steering-wheel-mounted audio controls, and a new wireless smartphone charger. The test vehicle had a dual-screen rear entertainment system with screens in the front-seat headrests and two wireless headsets, though HDMI adapters were missing. The QX80 lacked Infiniti's ProPilot Assist advanced driving-assistance system due to its older architecture, which was available in less expensive models like the Nissan Rogue Sport.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer had not yet been rated by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) at the time. Standard safety features included a 360-degree camera system, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, adaptive cruise control with stop and go, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, intersection collision assist, and rear parking sensors. Optional features included a driver-attention monitor, night vision, traffic-sign recognition, and two levels of driver-assistance systems. Active Driving Assist combined adaptive cruise control with automated lane centering, requiring hands on the wheel, with a hands-free version planned for certain highways.

The 2022 INFINITI QX80 came with a robust set of 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 features for 2022 included driver attention alert, front knee airbags, and seat belt pre-tensioners for second-row outboard passengers. The NHTSA had not rated the 2022 QX80's crashworthiness, but the 2021 model received four stars for overall crash protection, with three stars for front crash protection and five stars for side crashes. The IIHS had not rated the QX80 for safety.