Infiniti QX80 vs Lexus LX 600 Comparison: Big SUVs, Big Luxury

It isn’t just America that builds big, body-on-frame SUVs.

Both Nissan and Toyota have been at the game for years, along with their respective luxury brands Infiniti and Lexus. The two luxury brands offer two very different takes on the full-size flagship recipe. Lexus has kept the LX doing what it does best for years now, blending off-road capability with the pampering hush-hush experience the brand built its reputation on. Meanwhile Infiniti has ripped up the whole cookbook, reimagining its big boat as the ultimate in swanky on-road progress.

On the verge of winter, we brought the two together to see what they’re like to live with.

Infiniti QX80: Everything about the 2025 Infiniti QX80 is new. New platform, new sheet metal, new interior, and maybe most importantly, a new drivetrain. The brand appears to have ripped up the game plan for the big luxury SUV and started from scratch. The inspiration for the new SUV appears to come from Range Rover, and it’s more than just the non-coincidental top trim nomenclature: Infiniti’s Autography versus Range Rover’s Autobiography. 

Lexus LX 600: The 600 you see here has been rumbling across the landscape for a few years now. It arrived for 2022, now riding on the same TNGA-K platform that underpins every one of Toyota’s body-on-frame options. The Tacoma, Tundra, Sequoia, 4Runner, Land Cruiser, Lexus GX… if you want something rugged, there are options. A hybrid model arrives in 2025, but for now it’s just the one powertrain option: a 3.4-liter twin-turbo V6.

Infiniti QX80: The new QX80 appears quite different from the previous model. Other than the rearmost side of the SUV, where the roof spoiler protrudes, nothing resembles the 2024 QX80. The front has a new corporate grille with a large, light up logo front and center that is also revised. 

Thin LED strip running lights are housed on either side of where the hood meets the grille. Lower down, near the bumper, the headlights are housed. This isn’t just a styling exercise, the new QX80’s nose sits so high, if the headlights were in the conventional location, they would be blinding other motorists through their rear windows. 

Another new design element is at the back. A full length taillight now adorns the liftgate, but is not a solid strip of light. It’s a series of angled, decreasing vertical lines that pinch together at the center. 

Lexus LX 600: The LX takes Lexus’ latest design language and manages to both class it up and make it more rugged. The slotted design of the grille gives the appropriate hourglass shape that has been a Lexus calling card for a decade now, but in a way that’s somehow subtler. Or as subtle as a two-foot-tall grille can be, anyway.

Big wheelarches give the LX a more adventure-ready look than the suave Infiniti. It looks shorter too; not just because it is, but because Lexus is sticking to its “golden ratio,” the relationship between wheelbase and overhangs key to the LX’ off-road prowess. The way the chrome around the windows is thicker at the D-pillar emphasizes the shoulder line: the LX is a classic SUV shape, only modernized.

Everyone’s doing the full-width taillight treatment these days, but Lexus beat Infiniti to the punch here. Spelling out the brand right on the sheetmetal? Yep, beat there, too.

Infiniti QX80: As mentioned earlier, the 2025 Infiniti QX80 has an all-new engine. Not just new for the vehicle, but new for the manufacturer as well. Gone is the old V8, replaced by a 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged V6 that makes 450 horsepower and 516 pound feet of torque. Not only is that more power than the old model, but it also trumps the Lexus LX 600. 

More than just powerful, the new engine is smooth, and features a subtle, yeah nice growl under acceleration. It’s paired up to an equally smooth nine-speed automatic transmission that sends power to all four wheels. Of course, a large SUV making generous amounts of power will require a lot of fuel, and the QX80 is officially rated at 16 mpg (15.1 L/100 km) city and 19 mpg (12.2 L/100 km) highway. 

Lexus LX 600: Ditching a V8 for a turbo V6? Lexus beat Infiniti to the punch here too, though its figures are down in every category. With a tenth of a liter less displacement, the LX puts down a still-respectable 409 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque. The Lexus does get the cog advantage though: it sends that power through a ten-speed automatic. Bonus points for having a regular shifter instead a push-button affair.

While the LX is down on power, it’s also smaller and lighter than the Infiniti, so the straight-line experience is largely similar. The V6 is a grumbly one, which is disappointing since the same engine produces a satisfying growl in comparable Toyota products. What it lacks in sound it makes up for with better fuel economy figures, officially rated at 17 mpg (14.2 L/100 km) city and 22 mpg (10.8 L/100 km) highway.

Infiniti QX80: Large SUVs aren’t meant to be sporty in most cases, but the 2025 Infiniti QX80 is next level. Every control is smooth, easy-to-operate, and responsive. That stated, there isn’t a sporting beam in the SUV’s chassis, other than the torquey engine. 

Despite having four-wheel drive, unlike the Lexus, the Infiniti is intended to spend most of its life on paved roads. It lacks the usual off-road drive modes and electronic aids found in the LX. On road, it does feature a relatively small turning radius and good sightlines thanks to its boxy shape. 

Lexus LX 600: That “golden ratio” also gives the LX a surprisingly tight turning circle, and it too is easy to see out of. The indent in the middle of the hood gives an easy idea of where exactly the big beast is pointing. It also makes for the unfortunate illusion of a saggy passenger side.

Against the newer, plusher Infiniti, the Lexus comes across as a little rugged, a little uncouth in the city. There’s more weight to the steering—a positive in my mind—but the soft suspension gives the LX more lean in corners. This is by design: the Lexus can head off-road in a way the Infiniti simply can’t, and it’s better equipped to do so.

Infiniti QX80: The QX80’s operational manifesto is comfort, comfort, comfort. The large SUV is designed to isolate everything during a drive. Road noise, potholes, wind noise, steering feel; it’s all absent inside the cabin. Behind the wheel, it feels like the big SUV pummels anything it comes across, relaying nothing back to those within the cabin. 

Seat comfort up front is fantastic thanks to multi-adjustable seats. Heating and ventilation are found in the first and second rows, and unlike the LX 600, the second-row seats are power operated too. The third row is easily the more liveable space between these two, offering a higher set cushion, larger side windows, and more headroom. It’s also possible to power fold the third- and second-row seats from the rear cargo area. In the Lexus, it is only possible to lower the second row. 

Lexus LX 600: Think of the LX as an off-roader turned into a luxury SUV, and you get a better idea of its drive experience. It’s more truckish, with a soft suspension that provides more maneuverability off tarmac, but a busier ride on the black stuff. While it’s reasonably quiet, the LX shimmies and sways on any unbroken surfaces, where the Infiniti simply floats over imperfections.

The cabin feels a little more snug up front, but the driver and passenger get to enjoy seats every bit as comfortable as the Infiniti’s thrones. Seat heating and ventilation are present on both of the front two rows, and all work well. Yes, the Lexus misses out on power-operated middle-row seats, requiring manual adjustments for passenger comfort. Third row access is quite good—not that anybody will want to spend time there. The way-back in the Lexus is the worst in the segment, with a cushion that’s barely above the floor, so knees are at chin level.

The Lexus’ third row needs to be manually folded down. Mike sees that as a disadvantage, but I appreciate the speed that allows for. The Infiniti’s power-folding seats don’t sense passengers, and can be accessed from the seats themselves, so expect a whole lot of fun if you have kids riding together on longer drives.

Infiniti QX80: Much like the exterior, the interior receives a major overhaul this year. There are a choice of color and materials available based on trim level and exterior color. So many textures, materials, and colors are included in the new QX80’s interior. It’s a classy place to be and feels more special, as well as visually appealing, than the Lexus. 

Up front there is a fully digital driver information center with a large infotainment screen beside it. On the center console is a third touchscreen that controls the HVAC system, seats, and more. Being the Autograph, the captain’s chairs have yet another screen to control those seats and rear climate. If this set-up sounds eerily familiar, that’s because it’s like what is used in the Range Rover, and more recently, the Jeep Grand Wagoneer. 

Lexus LX 600: Okay, so the Lexus’ cabin doesn’t have the shiny newness you’ll find in the Infiniti. I think that’s a good thing—especially all the literal shiny piano black trim. The Lexus isn’t without its own bits of the smudge-happy stuff, but at least it’s kept to a minimum in here. The whole setup is more traditional, with a center stack full of actual buttons, dials, and switches. Maybe I’m getting old, but I prefer the Lexus’ wood trim, too.

This generation of LX arrived just before the current single-panel-display trend, so only part of its instrument cluster is digital, and it’s sequestered off on its own under a—gasp—glare reducing cowl. The nerve! Both SUVs utilize a secondary screen under the main touchscreen, but the Lexus eschews a second-row item for climate controls for traditional buttons. You’ll be thankful that it’s one less screen for the kids to crack.

Lexus LX 600: The LX’ dual-screen setup can be either interesting or overwhelming depending on perspective. There’s lots of info to geek out over here, especially if you happen to be off paved surfaces, which I’m sure at least one current-gen owner has done. Once. Other bits are confusing: why does the button for the auto-lowering air suspension, to ease getting in and out, look like someone climbing through the window? Climate Concierge has potential, essentially working as a predictive climate system for the temperature as well as seat and wheel settings, but in practice is barely different from auto.

This was one of the first instances of Lexus’ new infotainment system. It remains more elegant and simple than the one in the Infiniti, though maybe not as well-featured. A recent update has improved functionality by keeping the main menu on the left at all times, even while Apple CarPlay is active. Of course, wireless phone mirroring is standard on both vehicles.

Lexus LX 600: The LX starts almost where the QX80 ends, beginning at $106,850 in America. This Luxury trim tacks on another nine grand for 2025, though there’s precious little to add beyond that other than the $595 Manganese Luster paint. In Canada the respective prices are $118,555 CAD and $138,955 CAD, plus $650 CAD for the premium paint.

2025 adds the LX 700h, a hybrid model with better fuel economy and more power. In America it’s $4,000 more than the equivalent gas-only model. The previous range-topping, four-seat Ultra Luxury (Executive VIP in Canada) is now hybrid only at a massive $141,350 ($173,330 CAD), while an Overtrail offering adds more off-road capability.

The Lexus LX has long been an acquired taste, and the current generation is built for those already sold on the concept. It still feels like a rough-and-tumble SUV sent to finishing school to become a luxury vehicle—that’s not a bad thing, but it makes for some obvious compromises.

Infiniti has built the new QX80 from the ground up as a luxury vehicle. It doesn’t bother with the off-roady stuff because it knows its target audience. Throughout this comparison we kept referring to it as the Japanese Range Rover, because that’s what it is: a big, swanky people hauler. The QX80 is more in-touch with what the market wants out of its gargantuan luxury boats these days, and thus wins this comparo.