2026 Infiniti QX80 Sport Brings Dark Trim but No Extra Performance
The Sport model is basically a blacked-out appearance package, with changes to exterior trim and interior materials, but no upgrades under the hood.
2026 infiniti qx80 sport
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The 2026 Infiniti QX80 adds a new Sport model, which effectively replaces the Sensory trim from the 2025 lineup.
The Sport gets a restyled grille and front bumper, darkened exterior trim, and unique 22-inch wheels.
The cabin has a mix of black and Dusk Blue upholstery and open-pore wood trim; massaging front seats and a 24-speaker Klipsch sound system are standard.
Infiniti is adding a bit of visual pizzazz to its largest SUV. For the 2026 model year, the Infiniti QX80 Sport wears a tweaked front-end design, moody exterior trim, and a blue-and-black interior color scheme, along with packing plenty of standard features. Sadly, the Sport badge doesn’t bring any added performance.
A New Kind of QX80
The QX80 Sport is essentially a blacked-out appearance package. Starting up front, the grille is restyled with straighter, more angular vanes, while the front bumper is reworked with a small splitter that protrudes below the lower vent. All of the exterior trim, including the roof rails, badges, and mirror caps, has a darkened look. The Sport also rides on unique 22-inch wheels with a six-spoke design that are, unsurprisingly, painted black.
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Inside, the theme continues with a mix of leather in black and Dusk Blue, and the seats wear diamond-pattern perforation. The metallic trim receives a dark chrome finish and is paired with Dark Brown open-pore wood trim on the doors and instrument panel. The QX80 Sport’s bodywork can be painted in Mineral Black, Radiant White, Grand Blue, or Dynamic Metal, with a contrasting Black Obsidian roof offered with all but the Mineral Black hue.
The Sport trim sits above the Luxe and features the same standard features, such as a head-up display and electronic air suspension, but also introduces even more standard goodies. There’s the 24-speaker Klipsh sound system, massaging front seats, 64-color ambient lighting, and a frameless rearview mirror that can display a camera feed.
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Sport in Name Only
Unfortunately, the Sport moniker is not a harbinger for a more potent powertrain. The QX80 Sport utilizes the same twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V-6 that produces 450 horsepower and is hooked up to a nine-speed automatic. While lower-trim QX80s come standard with rear-wheel drive, the Sport is only offered with all-wheel drive. In Car and Driver testing, a 2025 QX80 Autograph with all-wheel drive took 6.1 seconds to reach 60 mph.
Along with the Sport model, the 2026 QX80 will continue to be offered with the Pure, Luxe, and Autograph trims; the Sensory trim has been discontinued. The 2026 QX80 will reach dealerships in late summer of this year, starting at $85,940, while the Sport will begin at $104,140.
The 2025 QX80 Is Just What Infiniti Needs
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Caleb Miller
Associate News Editor
Caleb Miller began blogging about cars at 13 years old, and he realized his dream of writing for a car magazine after graduating from Carnegie Mellon University and joining the Car and Driver team. He loves quirky and obscure autos, aiming to one day own something bizarre like a Nissan S-Cargo, and is an avid motorsports fan.
