Time For A Change: 2022 Infiniti QX80 Gets Much-Needed Interior (And Infotainment) Update: News

The refreshed QX80 pulls in the Armada's larger screen, revamped center stack

2022 Infiniti QX80
The 2022 Infiniti QX80 retains its exterior styling, but gets some welcome interior updates for the new model year. (Images: Infiniti)

That center stack looks familiar, doesn’t it?

This week should have been the New York Auto Show, but organizers shelved the event as a precaution against the current state of the COVID pandemic here in the United States. Still, automakers aren’t sitting on their hands, and the 2022 Infiniti QX80 made its debut in the Big Apple anyway, showcasing some minor (but welcome) updates.

Namely, there’s one welcome change above the rest — the infotainment display. Remember the updated Armada? If you’ve seen that, then you already know where I’m going with this. The QX80’s center stack is identical to its Nissan sibling, right down to the 12.3-inch infotainment display. Wireless Apple CarPlay is standard as is navigation, but tough luck if you daily drive an Android phone. Only wired Android Auto is supported at the moment. Still, against the old and dated system, any update in the new Armada’s direction is a good change.

As for the rest of the center stack, the 2022 Infiniti QX80 brings a simpler, easier to understand climate control deck thanks to losing that cumbersome second screen. Also where that screen used to live, you now get Qi wireless charging and some concealable storage, rather than just having to toss your phone directly behind the gear lever (that’s still present, by the way) and hope for the best.

2022 Infiniti QX80

Same powertrain as before

Under the hood, don’t expect the 2022 Infiniti QX80 to arrive packing a hybrid powertrain. Instead, you still get a 5.6-liter V8 with 400 horsepower and 413 lb-ft of torque. It still comes mated to a 7-speed automatic transmission as well, exactly like the Armada.

Since we’re talking about a fairly minor update here, I wouldn’t expect pricing to shift much from the current QX80’s $70,545 starting point.