Compare the2022 Infiniti QX80VS 2022 BMW X5

For enhanced safety, the front and middle seat shoulder belts of the Infiniti QX80 are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The BMW X5 doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the QX80 are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The X5 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The QX80 has standard Active Head Restraints (AHR), which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the AHR system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The X5 doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

Both the QX80 and the X5 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, 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 all wheel drive.

The Infiniti QX80 weighs 418 to 1093 pounds more than the BMW X5. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Infiniti QX80 is safer than the BMW X5:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The QX80 comes with a full 4-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The X5’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 10,000 miles sooner.

Infiniti’s powertrain warranty covers the QX80 2 years and 20,000 miles longer than BMW covers the X5. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the X5 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Infiniti vehicles are more reliable than BMW vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Infiniti 1 place higher in reliability than BMW.

The QX80’s 5.6 DOHC V8 produces 65 more horsepower (400 vs. 335) and 82 lbs.-ft. more torque (413 vs. 331) than the X5’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Infiniti QX80 uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The X5 requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The QX80 has 4.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the X5 (26 vs. 21.9 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The QX80 stops shorter than the X5:

For better traction, the QX80 has larger tires than the X5 (275/60R20 vs. 265/50R19).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the QX80 Luxe has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 19-inch wheels are standard on the X5.

The Infiniti QX80’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The BMW X5 only has 5 wheel lugs per wheel.

The QX80 has a standard full size spare tire so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare isn’t available on the X5; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare or run-flat tires, either of which has mileage and speed limitations.

The rear suspension of the QX80 uses air springs for a smoother, controlled ride than the X5, which uses coil springs. Air springs maintain proper ride height and ride more smoothly.

The QX80 Sensory has a standard automatic rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The X5 doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the QX80’s wheelbase is 4 inches longer than on the X5 (121.1 inches vs. 117.1 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the QX80 is 1.2 inches wider in the front and .9 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the X5.

For greater off-road capability the QX80 has a greater minimum ground clearance than the X5 (9.2 vs. 8.7 inches), allowing the QX80 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The design of the Infiniti QX80 amounts to more than styling. The QX80 has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .367 Cd. That is lower than the X5 (.36 to .38). A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the QX80 get better fuel mileage.

The QX80 offers optional seating for 8 passengers; the X5 can only carry up to 7.

The QX80 has 3.8 inches more front shoulder room, 1.3 inches more rear headroom, 3.6 inches more rear legroom and 5.4 inches more rear shoulder room than the X5.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the QX80’s middle and third row seats recline. The X5’s middle row seats don’t recline.

The QX80’s cargo area provides more volume than the X5.

The QX80’s cargo area is larger than the X5’s in every dimension:

The QX80’s liftgate lifts up in one piece, completely out of the way of loading and unloading, while sheltering the cargo loading area. The X5’s tailgate’s top part raises up, but the bottom part lowers, getting in the way of loading and making an uneven surface for sliding cargo.

The QX80’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the X5’s (8500 vs. 6122 pounds).

Standard Trailer Sway Control on the QX80 uses the Vehicle Dynamic Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The X5 doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Infiniti service is better than BMW. J.D. Power ranks Infiniti third in service department satisfaction. With a 21% lower rating, BMW is ranked 8th.

The QX80’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The X5 does not have an oil pressure gauge.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the QX80 has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the X5 only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

Consumer Reports rated the QX80’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the X5’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The QX80 Sensory has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The X5 doesn’t offer headlight washers.

The QX80 has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the X5.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Infiniti QX80 has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The X5 doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The QX80 offers an optional 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The X5 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the QX80 is less expensive to operate than the X5 because typical repairs cost much less on the QX80 than the X5, including $466 less for a water pump, $1636 less for a muffler, $132 less for front brake pads, $227 less for a starter, $215 less for fuel injection, $177 less for a fuel pump, $350 less for front struts, $555 less for a timing belt/chain and $912 less for a power steering pump.