Compare the2025 Infiniti QX80VS 2025 Subaru Ascent

Safety
Warranty
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Model Availability

Safety

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The Infiniti QX80 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 Ascent doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The QX80 Autograph has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The Ascent doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

Both the QX80 and the Ascent 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 and available all wheel drive.

The Infiniti QX80 weighs 1358 to 1652 pounds more than the Subaru Ascent. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Infiniti QX80 is safer than the Ascent:

	QX80	Ascent
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Structure	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	17	82
Neck Tension	89 lbs.	178 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	GOOD
Shoulder Deflection	.47 in	.83 in
Shoulder Force	178 lbs.	201 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	.59 in	.98 in
Torso Deflection Rate	5 MPH	6 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Pelvis Force	312 lbs.	915 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	62	211
Neck Tension	67 lbs.	89 lbs.
Neck Compression	67 lbs.	134 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	GOOD
Shoulder Deflection	.24 in	1.26 in
Shoulder Force	156 lbs.	357 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	.55 in	1.18 in
Torso Deflection Rate	3 MPH	9 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Pelvis Force	156 lbs.	201 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

Warranty

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 Ascent’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 24,000 miles sooner.

Infiniti’s powertrain warranty covers the QX80 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Subaru covers the Ascent. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the Ascent ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

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

Infiniti pays for scheduled maintenance on the QX80 for 3 years and 45000 miles. Infiniti will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Subaru doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Ascent.

Engine

The QX80’s 3.5 turbo V6 produces 190 more horsepower (450 vs. 260) and 239 lbs.-ft. more torque (516 vs. 277) than the Ascent’s 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Car and Driver the Infiniti QX80 is faster than the Subaru Ascent:

	QX80	Ascent
Zero to 30 MPH	2.3 sec	2.7 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	6.1 sec	6.9 sec
Zero to 80 MPH	9.9 sec	11.7 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	15 sec	19.4 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	7.2 sec	7.8 sec
Passing 30 to 50 MPH	3.4 sec	3.9 sec
Passing 50 to 70 MPH	4.4 sec	5.1 sec
Quarter Mile	14.5 sec	15.5 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	98 MPH	91 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the QX80’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The Ascent doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The QX80 has 4.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the Ascent (23.6 vs. 19.3 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The QX80 has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Ascent doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the QX80’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Ascent:

	QX80	Ascent
Front Rotors	13.8 inches	13.1 inches
Rear Rotors	13.8 inches	13 inches

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the QX80 has larger tires than the Ascent (275/60R20 vs. 245/60R18).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the QX80 has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Ascent Premium. The QX80 Luxe/Sensory/Autograph’s 22-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels on the Ascent Onyx/Limited/Touring/Bronze.

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

The QX80 has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Ascent doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

Suspension and Handling

The QX80 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 Ascent’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The QX80 Luxe/Sensory/Autograph has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The QX80’s height leveling suspension allows the driver to raise ride height for better off-road clearance and then lower it again for easier entering and exiting and better on-road handling. The Ascent doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

The QX80 has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Ascent doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the QX80’s wheelbase is 7.2 inches longer than on the Ascent (121 inches vs. 113.8 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the QX80 is 3.6 inches wider in the front and 3.8 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Ascent.

The QX80’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (49.2% to 50.8%) than the Ascent’s (54.2% to 45.8%). This gives the QX80 more stable handling and braking.

For greater off-road capability the QX80 Pure has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Ascent (9.6 vs. 8.7 inches), allowing the QX80 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The QX80 Luxe/Sensory/Autograph’s minimum ground clearance is 1.3 inches higher than on the Ascent (10 vs. 8.7 inches).

Chassis

The QX80 uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Ascent doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

As tested by Car and Driver while at idle, the interior of the QX80 Autograph AWD is quieter than the Ascent Touring (35 vs. 40 dB).

Passenger Space

The QX80 has 7.9 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Ascent (161.1 vs. 153.2).

The QX80 has 1.6 inches more front legroom, 2.1 inches more front hip room, 3.1 inches more front shoulder room, .6 inches more rear legroom, 2.7 inches more rear hip room, 3.4 inches more rear shoulder room, 1.2 inches more third row legroom, 5.8 inches more third row hip room and 6.1 inches more third row shoulder room than the Ascent.

Cargo Capacity

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

	QX80	Ascent
Behind Third Seat	22 cubic feet	17.8 cubic feet
Third Seat Folded	59 cubic feet	43.5 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	101 cubic feet	75.6 cubic feet

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

Pressing a switch automatically lowers the QX80 Luxe/Sensory/Autograph’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 Ascent doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the QX80’s liftgate can be opened and closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Ascent doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

Towing

The QX80’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Ascent’s (8500 vs. 5000 pounds).

Servicing Ease

The QX80 uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Ascent uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Infiniti service is better than Subaru. J.D. Power ranks Infiniti 6th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 5% lower rating, Subaru is ranked 7th.

Ergonomics

Unlike the driver-only memory seat and mirrors in the Ascent Limited/Touring/Bronze, the QX80 Sensory/Autograph has a passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position and outside mirror angle and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The QX80’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Ascent doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

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

The QX80’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Ascent’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

The QX80’s standard Infiniti Intelligent Key allow you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, open the cargo door, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Keyless Access and Start standard on the Ascent doesn’t offer a sensor on the rear doors, so you’ll have to reach a front handle to unlock the rear door.

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 Ascent’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The Infiniti QX80 has power folding mirrors that offer unparalleled convenience while maneuvering in tight places or parked. With the mirrors folded it’s easier to walk past and help prevent parking damage. The mirrors can be quickly unfolded when the driver is ready to leave. Power folding mirrors are only offered on the Ascent Onyx/Limited/Touring/Bronze.

The QX80 has standard heated front, second and third row seats; a heated third row is standard on the QX80 Autograph, which keep the driver and passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Subaru doesn’t offer heated seats in the third row of the Ascent.

Standard air conditioned seats in the front and second seat rows keep the QX80 Luxe/Sensory/Autograph’s passengers comfortable and take the sting out of hot leather in summer. The Ascent doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats for the second row.

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 is only available on the Ascent Onyx/Limited/Touring/Bronze.

The QX80 Sensory/Autograph has standard massaging front and rear seats (rear massaging seats on Autograph). Massaging seats aren’t available in the Ascent.

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. Wireless charging costs extra on the Ascent.

Model Availability

The QX80 is available in both rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Ascent doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

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