Compare the2022 Lexus GXVS 2022 Infiniti QX80

For enhanced safety, the front and middle seat shoulder belts of the Lexus GX have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Infiniti QX80 doesn’t offer pretensioners for the middle seat belts.

The Lexus GX has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The QX80 doesn’t offer knee airbags.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the GX. But it costs extra on the QX80.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the GX’s standard Downhill Assist Control allows you to creep down safely. The QX80 doesn’t offer Downhill Assist Control.

The GX’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The QX80 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the GX and the QX80 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available around view monitors.

There are over 19 percent more Lexus dealers than there are Infiniti dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the GX’s warranty.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the GX’s reliability 44 points higher than the QX80.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are better in initial quality than Infiniti vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus third in initial quality, above the industry average. With 26 more problems per 100 vehicles, Infiniti is ranked 21st, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Infiniti vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus first in reliability, above the industry average. With 56 more problems per 100 vehicles, Infiniti is ranked 23rd.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Infiniti vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Lexus third in reliability. Infiniti is ranked 11th.

The GX stops much shorter than the QX80:

The GX has active sway bars, which help keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnect at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The QX80 doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The GX offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The QX80’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The GX handles at .74 G’s, while the QX80 AWD pulls only .72 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Lexus GX may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 550 to 750 pounds less than the Infiniti QX80.

The GX is 1 foot, 6.1 inches shorter than the QX80, making the GX easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The GX is 5.7 inches narrower than the QX80, making the GX easier to handle and maneuver in traffic.

The design of the Lexus GX amounts to more than styling. The GX has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .35 Cd. That is lower than the QX80 (.367). A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the GX get better fuel mileage.

The GX has 2.1 inches more front legroom, .4 inches more rear headroom and .5 inches more third row legroom than the QX80.

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the GX easier. The GX’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 33.8 inches, while the QX80’s liftover is 35.8 inches.

The GX’s rear cargo window opens separately from the rest of the right swing out door to allow quicker loading of small packages. The QX80’s rear cargo window doesn’t open.

The GX has a maintenance free battery for long life without checking the battery’s water level. The QX80 doesn’t have a maintenance free battery, so the water level in the battery’s cells must be checked often to prevent damage.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Lexus service is better than Infiniti. J.D. Power ranks Lexus second in service department satisfaction. With an 8% lower rating, Infiniti is ranked third.

The power windows standard on both the GX and the QX80 have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the GX is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The QX80 prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the GX is less expensive to operate than the QX80 because it costs $264 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost less on the GX than the QX80, including $50 less for front brake pads, $103 less for front struts, $38 less for a timing belt/chain and $24 less for a power steering pump.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Lexus GX, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Infiniti QX80 isn't recommended.