11 Best Old-School SUVs

2015 Infiniti QX80
Base-price: $64,245

Tweaked exterior and interior styling mark the changes to the 2015 edition of Infiniti’s flagship SUV. Formerly known as the QX56, QX80 is not merely a fancier version of the Nissan Armada. It’s actually based on a vehicle called the Nissan Patrol, which is primarily sold in the Middle East. Its sole drivetrain pairs a 400-horsepower 5.6-liter V-8 engine with a seven-speed automatic transmission. Rear- and full-time four-wheel drive are offered, and there is no fuel-economy difference between the two (16 mpg city/highway combined). Maximum towing capacity is 8,500 pounds. Standard seating is for seven but can be expanded to eight with a no-cost second-row bench seat. Standard equipment is typical luxury fare, including leather upholstery, navigation system, moonroof, and the like. Most options come in package form and can include adaptive cruise control, blind-spot alert, forward-collision warning, backup-collision braking, dual-screen rear DVD entertainment, and an air purifier for the climate control system. The available Hydraulic Body Motion Control monitors force and distributes variable pressure to the suspension in order to provide a smoother ride. It would be nice if this particular feature were available on its own, but it’s only part of a costly option package that requires other expensive packages be ordered along with it. Even if you load it with every available factory option, you’ll still come out less than the base prices of some other vehicles on this list. In that regard the 2015 Infiniti QX80 is a pretty good deal.