2026 Infiniti QX80 Arrives With Blacked-Out Sport Trim, Bigger Price Tag originally appeared on Autoblog.
Infiniti gives its top SUV more swagger for 2026
Infiniti finally introduced a new flagship SUV for the 2025 model year in the form of the new QX80. It comprehensively trumps its predecessor, which had become outdated with its thirsty V8 and below-average driving dynamics.
The 2026 Infiniti QX80 has now been introduced, and although there are no major under-the-skin changes, it does have a new Sport trim that sits close to the top of the range. This trim replaces the Sensory, and its introduction coincides with a price increase for the range. Here’s a look at all the details for Infiniti’s Cadillac Escalade rival.
Sport Gets Darker Appearance But Same Performance
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The Sport trim—the first of its kind for the QX80 SUV—gets an almost full house of features, as it sits below only the Autograph in the lineup. Primarily, it’s a cosmetic makeover, giving Infiniti’s top SUV a blacked-out makeover.
The changes to the QX80 Sport start in front, where it gains a new grille and a tweaked bumper design. The roof rails, emblems, lower bumper finishers, and mirror caps all get the black treatment, and it rides on 22-inch wheels. This trim can be had in one of four colors: Mineral Black, Radiant White, Grand Blue, and Dynamic Metal. A Black Obsidian roof is available with the last three colors for those who like the contrasting look.
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What hasn’t changed is the engine, which is still a 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged V6 with 450 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque. All models have a nine-speed automatic, while the Sport is one of two trims to get standard four-wheel drive. No apparent changes have been made to the suspension, which is a bit of a pity, as we did note that the body-on-frame SUV doesn’t have a very settled ride when we drove a 2025 version.
If you want an even sportier Japanese full-size SUV, consider Nissan’s even more powerful Armada Nismo.
The Dark Look Continues Inside
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Open the door, and the Infiniti QX80 Sport greets you with a luxurious interior finished in a Dusk Blue color scheme. There are black/blue seat inserts and diamond-pattern perforations on the seats, while graphite has been used for the pillars and headliner. Open pore wood trim and dark matter chrome accents are applied strategically. Overall, the Dusk Blue is a more unique choice than the all-black look that typically accompanies such trims.
Since it is positioned below only the Autograph, the Sport is highly specified with the following items:
Semi-aniline leather for the first two rows
Biometric cooling
24-speaker Klipsch sound system
Massaging front seats
Frameless smart rearview mirror
Features shared with the cheaper Luxe trim include an electronic air suspension, seating for eight, a head-up display, dual 14.3-inch screens, and heated seats in the first two rows.
This is a practical vehicle, with 22 cubic feet of space behind the third row and just under 60 cubic feet when the third row is folded flat.
Related: 2026 Infiniti QX60 Upgrades Are Subtle, But The Price Bump Isn't
Pricing Goes Up For 2026
For the new model year, the Infiniti QX80 starts at $83,750 for the Pure trim with rear-wheel drive, which is $1,300 more than the 2025 equivalent. Pricing for the 2026 range is as follows:
Pure RWD: $83,750
Pure 4WD: $86,850
Luxe RWD: $90,850
Luxe 4WD: $93,950
Sport 4WD: $101,950
Autograph 4WD: $111,500
All prices exclude a destination and handling charge of $2,190. This is still a cheaper vehicle than the Cadillac Escalade, which starts at $90,700 for the 2025 model year. The equivalent Escalade to the QX80 Sport is the Escalade Sport 4WD, which costs $103,500, but that doesn’t feel like an enormous price gap as the Cadillac still offers a more luxurious experience and better badge cachet. The previous-gen QX80 was also a lot cheaper, but not nearly as good as the new one.
"A year after its dramatic introduction, the Infiniti QX80 continues to elevate the standard in luxury SUVs, thrilling Infiniti clients with bold design and technology, while propelling strong sales at Infiniti retailers," said Tiago Castro, vice president, Infiniti Americas. "We know that luxury drivers are looking to make a bold entrance wherever they go, so for 2026 we are dramatically amplifying QX80's Artistry in Motion styling with a Sport grade offering a sleek, darkened appearance."
The 2026 QX80 will arrive in showrooms in late summer 2025.
2026 Infiniti QX80 Arrives With Blacked-Out Sport Trim, Bigger Price Tag first appeared on Autoblog on Aug 6, 2025
This story was originally reported by Autoblog on Aug 6, 2025, where it first appeared.
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