Compare the2023 Subaru AscentVS 2023 Infiniti QX80

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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

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

The Ascent Limited/Touring’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.

For better protection of the passenger compartment, the Ascent uses safety cell construction with a three-dimensional high-strength frame that surrounds the passenger compartment. It provides extra impact protection and a sturdy mounting location for door hardware and side impact beams. The QX80 uses a body-on-frame design, which has no frame members above the floor of the vehicle.

Both the Ascent and the QX80 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, 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, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Subaru Ascent is safer than the Infiniti QX80:

	Ascent	QX80
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	3 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	2 Stars
HIC	190	384
Neck Injury Risk	21%	36%
Neck Stress	229 lbs.	439 lbs.
Neck Compression	8 lbs.	95 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	159/292 lbs.	983/651 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	3 Stars
HIC	210	285
Chest Compression	.7 inches	1.2 inches
Neck Injury Risk	33%	37%
Neck Stress	197 lbs.	219 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	35/30 lbs.	452/534 lbs.

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

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 Subaru Ascent is safer than the Infiniti QX80:

	Ascent	QX80
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.5 inches	1 inches
Abdominal Force	73 lbs.	81 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	149	437
Hip Force	637 lbs.	684 lbs.

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

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the Ascent, with its four-star roll-over rating, is 4.9% to 6.7% less likely to roll over than the QX80, which received a three-star rating.

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, daytime pedestrian crash prevention, and nighttime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Ascent its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2023, a rating granted to only 29 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The QX80 has not been tested, yet.

Warranty

There are over 3 times as many Subaru dealers as there are Infiniti dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Ascent’s warranty.

Reliability

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Ascent has a standard 190-amp alternator. The QX80’s 150-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

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 Ascent’s reliability 14 points higher than the QX80.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Subaru vehicles are better in initial quality than Infiniti vehicles. With 13 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Subaru higher than Infiniti.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Infiniti With 2 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Subaru higher than Infiniti.

Engine

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the Ascent lowers its center of gravity, enhancing handling stability without compromising ground clearance. The QX80 doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Ascent gets better mileage than the QX80:

			MPG
Ascent
	AWD	2.4 turbo flat-4	20 city/26 hwy
		Limited/Touring/Onyx 2.4 turbo flat-4	19 city/25 hwy
QX80
	RWD	5.6 DOHC V8	14 city/20 hwy
	AWD	5.6 DOHC V8	13 city/19 hwy

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Subaru Ascent uses regular unleaded gasoline. The QX80 requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

Transmission

The Ascent has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The QX80 doesn’t offer a CVT.

Brakes and Stopping

The Ascent stops much shorter than the QX80:

	Ascent	QX80
70 to 0 MPH	176 feet	185 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	114 feet	130 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	136 feet	155 feet	Consumer Reports

Suspension and Handling

The Ascent Touring handles at .80 G’s, while the QX80 AWD pulls only .72 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Ascent Touring executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.4 seconds quicker than the QX80 AWD (27.2 seconds @ .64 average G’s vs. 28.6 seconds @ .57 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Ascent’s turning circle is 3.3 feet tighter than the QX80’s (38 feet vs. 41.3 feet).

Chassis

The Subaru Ascent may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 1300 to 1500 pounds less than the Infiniti QX80.

The Ascent is 1 foot, 1.4 inches shorter than the QX80, making the Ascent easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Unibody construction lowers the Ascent’s center of gravity significantly without reducing ground clearance. This contributes to better on the road handling and better off-road performance and stability. In addition, unibody construction makes the chassis stiffer, improving handling and reducing squeaks and rattles. The QX80 uses body-on-frame design instead.

Passenger Space

The Ascent has 1.3 inches more front headroom, 2.6 inches more front legroom and 2.9 inches more third row legroom than the QX80.

The front step up height for the Ascent is 4.7 inches lower than the QX80 (17.7” vs. 22.4”). The Ascent’s rear step up height is 4.7 inches lower than the QX80’s (18.1” vs. 22.8”).

Cargo Capacity

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

	Ascent	QX80
Behind Third Seat	17.8 cubic feet	16.6 cubic feet

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Ascent easier. The Ascent’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 32 inches, while the QX80’s liftover is 35.8 inches.

Servicing Ease

The Ascent 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.

Ergonomics

The Ascent’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The QX80’s parking brake has to be released manually.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Ascent’s available exterior PIN entry system (not available on Ascent Base). The QX80 doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its Emergency Call with Automatic Collision Notification can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Ascent to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The QX80 doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Ascent owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Ascent will cost $3305 to $4795 less than the QX80 over a five-year period.

The Ascent will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Ascent will retain 52.78% to 54.99% of its original price after five years, while the QX80 only retains 44.39% to 44.89%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Ascent is less expensive to operate than the QX80 because it costs $18 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Ascent than the QX80, including $193 less for a muffler, $9 less for front brake pads, $104 less for fuel injection, $3 less for a fuel pump, $1007 less for a timing belt/chain and $917 less for a power steering pump.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Subaru Ascent will be $42260 to $44504 less than for the Infiniti QX80.

Recommendations

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

The Subaru Ascent outsold the Infiniti QX80 by almost 9 to one during 2022.

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