Vehicle As Tested: 2025 Infiniti QX80 Autograph
Price As Tested: $135,764 CAD
Colour: Anthracite Grey/Black Obsidian
Admit it… we all chuckled when Infiniti introduced the “Autograph” trim in their vehicles. It wasn’t hard to see where the inspiration came from. To be brutally honest Infiniti has never been able to stack itself up reasonably to the history, prestige and snobbery represented by the Ranger Rover products. This hasn’t stopped them from trying. The all-new 2025 Infiniti QX80 is their latest volley in a quietly simmering cold war that Infiniti is neck deep in and Ranger Rover hasn’t really taken notice of. All that being said, you have to give Infiniti credit for at least knowing exactly what they want the QX80 to be and chasing that goal with intensity.
At $135,000 CAD the QX80 is a big ask for anyone not blessed with a convenient tax shelter to cover the costs of their vehicles. This Autograph trim is as lux as it gets, and the price can go no higher. Similarly spec’d Range Rovers will push that number well north of $200,000 CAD. Whether or not the Range Rover can justify that price point is immaterial to whether the QX80 can justify its own bit of shock inducing pricing. From the hidden door handles to the fridge in the console (which actually does work) to the endlessly buzzing air suspension the QX80 has cribbed a lot of design elements from its aspiration. It’s going to be at least as reliable as the Range Rover (I know that’s not saying much but work with me) and its overall exterior has clearly been designed to invoke a similarity with the big English brute.
The QX80 also has something else in common with the Range Rover – presence. How people respond to the various vehicles I drive week to week is something I pay close attention to. When I drive by in something that’s supposed to prompt a reaction I like to know if the vehicle is successful in its attempt. The QX80 wins big in this regard. Whether it be the suspect teenagers from the local high school to the affable weed smoker driving around in his 20-year-old Range Rover Sport, everyone takes notice of the QX80, and the new design is being met with approval. People dig it.
History only comes with time. Infiniti will have to wait to tick that box in the “I want to be taken seriously as a luxury barge manufacturer” checklist. It’s a similar situation with regards to the snobbery of the badge. When people are forced to choose between an Infiniti product and one of their European rivals, they usually lose because exclusivity drives snobbery and Infiniti isn’t there yet. Lastly, we come to prestige. Here the QX80 may well be a winner. From its looks, size and presence the big boat really does work. It commands the attention and envy of strangers and conveys a feeling of success, wealth and privilege. Luxury items should do these things and all this results in a feeling of prestige when you drive the QX80 to the dollar store. Although Infiniti has a lot of work to do to get to where they clearly want to be, the all-new 2025 QX80 is a big step in the right direction.
