Compare the2025 Subaru AscentVS 2025 Infiniti QX80

The Ascent has standard Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats, which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats system allows the backrest to travel backwards to cushion the occupants and the headrests move forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The QX80 doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

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.

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, 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, available around view monitors and driver alert monitors.

The Subaru Ascent has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2024 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned an “Acceptable” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The QX80 has not yet been evaluated by the IIHS for 2024.

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.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Subaru vehicles are better in initial quality than Infiniti vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Subaru above average in initial quality. With 4 more problems per 100 vehicles, Infiniti is rated lower.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 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 21 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Subaru higher than Infiniti.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Infiniti vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Subaru 7 places higher in reliability than Infiniti.

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.

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

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Subaru Ascent uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The QX80 requires premium, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The Ascent has a standard locking fuel door which locks and unlocks with the power locks. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the QX80. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

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.

The Ascent stops much shorter than the QX80:

The Ascent Touring handles at .80 G’s, while the QX80 Autograph AWD pulls only .78 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the Ascent’s turning circle is 2 feet tighter than the QX80’s (38 feet vs. 40 feet).

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

The Ascent is 1 foot, 2.4 inches shorter than the QX80, making the Ascent easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Ascent is 7.3 inches narrower than the QX80, making the Ascent easier to handle and maneuver in traffic.

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 doesn’t use unibody construction, but a body-on-frame design.

As tested by Car and Driver while under full throttle, the interior of the Ascent Limited is quieter than the QX80 Autograph AWD (70 vs. 77 dB).

The Ascent has 2.1 inches more front headroom and 2.2 inches more rear headroom than the QX80.

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 exterior PIN entry system. The QX80 doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

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

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.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Subaru Ascent, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Subaru Ascent outsold the Infiniti QX80 by almost five to one during 2023.