'Limited' to the Number It Can Sell: Infiniti Cranks up the Exclusivity of Its Two Largest Models

Steph Willems
by Steph Willems

Even with vehicles that aren’t at the forefront of public discourse, the winds blowing in favor of trucks and SUVs usually fill the sails of under-the-radar models, too. That’s been the case, more or less, for Infiniti’s top-of-the-heap QX60 and QX80 utility vehicles.

Born as the JX35, the QX60 three-row crossover shares its unibody architecture with the Nissan Pathfinder, but, despite a facelift for 2016, sales slipped last year. Its larger sibling, the body-on-frame, Nissan Patrol-based QX80, gained its own facelift for 2018. The range-topping SUV is the poster child for gradual sales inflation. Between 2016 and 2017, the QX80 found an extra 1,109 buyers in the United States. Another 1,126 hopped aboard between 2015 and 2016.

Hoping to lure more customers into the showroom (while squeezing more profit from both models), Infiniti is putting a time-honored strategy into action. For 2019, the automaker dials up the glitz and slaps on a “Limited” label.

On display next week at the New York International Auto Show, the 2019 QX60 Limited and QX80 Limited crank the luxury up to “11,” offering buyers more bits that shine and sparkle, plus a plusher cabin. Just don’t expect anything new in the powertrain department.

For the top-trim QX60, going Limited means donning a dark chrome grille, door moldings, and foglight surrounds, as well as roof rails and crossbars swathed in “premium” dark paint — not some run-of-the-mill, low-end roof rail paint, mind you. The lower rear bumper sees its own helping of glossy black paint, and the 20-inch wheels go dark to complete the motif. Inside, it’s quilted leather with contrast stitching here and leather-wrapped grab handles there.

Interestingly, Infiniti’s full suite of available driver assist features is only listed as “available” on this top-trim model. Nor is all-wheel drive mentioned. Apparently, the “Limited” badge doesn’t bring every goodie to the QX60 table.

It’s a different story for the QX80 Limited, which offers a full range of safety features as standard equipment— including forward emergency braking and backup collision intervention. A smart rear-view mirror offers drivers the choice of alternating between a conventional mirror view or an all-seeing video monitor. All-Mode four-wheel drive comes standard, as well.

Inside, the ultra-lux QX80 surrounds its occupants with two-tone aniline leather/Alcantara seats with contrast piping and stitching, suede headliner and pillars, and open-pore Ash trim. Passengers unable to find the word “Limited” in the cabin had best have their eyes checked. Outside, the running board go stainless, while satin chrome appears wherever possible. 22-inch wheels come standard.

While pricing remains unknown, expect an obvious step up from lesser trims.

Infiniti saw its sales fall 6.7 percent in the U.S. last month, year over year, with volume dropping 7.3 percent over the first two months of 2018. Much of the blame for the decline falls on the phasing-out of the QX70 and the phasing-in of the 2019 QX50. As for the QX60 and QX80, neither model is a drag on Infiniti’s fortunes. QX60 sales rose 46 percent in February, year over year, while the QX80 eked out a 4.1 percent gain. Sales of both models are up during the first two months of 2018.

[Images: Infiniti]

Steph Willems
Steph Willems

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  • MLS MLS on Mar 26, 2018

    And with the QX60's center armrest, we've reached peak quilting. Also, agree with dal20402's assessment of the QX80's interior: materials and especially design are underwhelming. In particular, that vast expanse of lacquered veneer between the front seats is practically begging to be scratched. I recognize QX80 likely sells at a discount to its peers, but then again everything in its class is nicer.

  • Jeff S Jeff S on Mar 26, 2018

    @Big Al--I miss the styling of the cars of the past but overall I do like the safety, reliability, and better fuel efficiency of today's vehicles. I am ok with vehicles being more appliance like, at least you know what to expect and can get many years of reliable service out of today's vehicles. I have been very satisfied with the service I have gotten out of most of my vehicles over the past 20 years. I cannot say that I have had a bad vehicle except a Mercury Lynx my brother gave me.

  • CanadaCraig You can just imagine how quickly the tires are going to wear out on a 5,800 lbs AWD 2024 Dodge Charger.
  • Luke42 I tried FSD for a month in December 2022 on my Model Y and wasn’t impressed.The building-blocks were amazing but sum of the all of those amazing parts was about as useful as Honda Sensing in terms of reducing the driver’s workload.I have a list of fixes I need to see in Autopilot before I blow another $200 renting FSD. But I will try it for free for a month.I would love it if FSD v12 lived up to the hype and my mind were changed. But I have no reason to believe I might be wrong at this point, based on the reviews I’ve read so far. [shrug]. I’m sure I’ll have more to say about it once I get to test it.
  • FormerFF We bought three new and one used car last year, so we won't be visiting any showrooms this year unless a meteor hits one of them. Sorry to hear that Mini has terminated the manual transmission, a Mini could be a fun car to drive with a stick.It appears that 2025 is going to see a significant decrease in the number of models that can be had with a stick. The used car we bought is a Mk 7 GTI with a six speed manual, and my younger daughter and I are enjoying it quite a lot. We'll be hanging on to it for many years.
  • Oberkanone Where is the value here? Magna is assembling the vehicles. The IP is not novel. Just buy the IP at bankruptcy stage for next to nothing.
  • Jalop1991 what, no Turbo trim?
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