Compare the2022 Infiniti QX80VS 2022 Acura MDX

The QX80 Sensory’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The MDX doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

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 Acura MDX doesn’t offer height-adjustable middle seat belts.

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 MDX doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

Both the QX80 and the MDX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, 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 1113 to 1650 pounds more than the Acura MDX. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

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 MDX’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 10,000 miles sooner.

The QX80’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the MDX’s (7 vs. 5 years).

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the QX80’s engine. A rubber cam drive belt that needs periodic replacement drives the MDX’s camshafts. If the MDX’s belt breaks, the engine could be severely damaged when the pistons hit the opened valves.

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 QX80’s reliability 16 points higher than the MDX.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Infiniti vehicles are better in initial quality than Acura vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Infiniti 21st in initial quality. With 30 more problems per 100 vehicles, Acura is ranked 26th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Infiniti vehicles are more reliable than Acura vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Infiniti 17 places higher in reliability than Acura.

The QX80’s 5.6 DOHC V8 produces 110 more horsepower (400 vs. 290) and 146 lbs.-ft. more torque (413 vs. 267) than the MDX’s 3.5 SOHC V6.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Infiniti QX80 is faster than the Acura MDX:

The QX80 has 7.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the MDX (26 vs. 18.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The QX80’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the MDX are solid, not vented.

For better traction, the QX80 has larger tires than the MDX (275/60R20 vs. 255/55R19).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the QX80 Luxe has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 19-inch wheels are standard on the MDX. The QX80 Premium Select/Sensory’s 22-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels optional on the MDX.

The Infiniti QX80’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Acura MDX 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 MDX; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare, which has mileage and speed limitations, or roadside assistance and a tow-truck.

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

The QX80 Sensory offers an available active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. Acura doesn’t offer an active suspension on the MDX.

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

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the QX80’s wheelbase is 7.3 inches longer than on the MDX (121.1 inches vs. 113.8 inches).

The QX80’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (50.8% to 49.2%) than the MDX’s (58% to 42%). This gives the QX80 more stable handling and braking.

For greater off-road capability the QX80 has a 1.9 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the MDX (9.2 vs. 7.3 inches), allowing the QX80 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The QX80 offers optional seating for 8 passengers; the MDX can only carry 7.

The QX80 has 13.4 cubic feet more passenger volume than the MDX (152.5 vs. 139.1).

The QX80 has 1.4 inches more front headroom, 1.9 inches more front shoulder room, 1.9 inches more rear headroom, 2.5 inches more rear legroom, .6 inches more rear hip room, 3.2 inches more rear shoulder room, .6 inches more third row headroom, 8.2 inches more third row hip room and 5.3 inches more third row shoulder room than the MDX.

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

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

The QX80 has a standard third row seat which folds flat into the floor. This completely clears a very large cargo area quickly. The MDX doesn’t offer seats that fold into the floor.

Pressing a switch automatically lowers the QX80 Sensory’s second row seats and pressing a switch automatically lowers or raises the QX80’s third row seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The MDX doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

The QX80’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the MDX’s (8500 vs. 3500 pounds).

The engine in the QX80 is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the MDX. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because there are no rear spark plugs and the accessory belts are in front.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Infiniti service is better than Acura. J.D. Power ranks Infiniti third in service department satisfaction. With a 20% lower rating, Acura is ranked 6th.

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 MDX does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The QX80’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The MDX’s standard intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

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 MDX doesn’t offer headlight washers.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the QX80 Sensory has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The MDX doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The QX80’s standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The MDX has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

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 MDX.