The stars of the menu at Saucy are the chicken tenders and the 11 dipping sauces. The number of sauces is a nod to the 11 herbs and spices in KFC's original fried-chicken recipe.

Saucy sauces include: chimichurri ranch, peri-peri ranch, jalapeño-pesto ranch, smoky bacon ranch, Thai sweet and spicy, Sweet 'N Saucy BBQ, Saucy's Sauce, spicy mango chutney, Saucy ranch, Creole honey mustard, and sweet teriyaki.

Otherwise, the menu is fairly short and simple, with a slew of non-alcoholic beverages, a few chicken sandwiches, two desserts, and sides like toasted Hawaiian rolls and coleslaw.

Although Saucy has a drive-thru, we chose to dine in. I'm glad we did: Saucy feels like a 100% modern twist on its Kentucky-fried roots.

I loved its funky decor, which was bright with shades of pink and hints of red that seemed to pay homage to KFC.

With its futuristic light pendants and cool sculptures resembling dripping sauce, Saucy had a vibe all its own and felt very different from the KFC dining rooms of my youth.

Ordering at Saucy was easy and contactless.

We used one of several touchscreens to order, paid at the kiosk, and then waited for our name to be called so we could collect our food.

My husband and I were able to try everything we wanted to at Saucy for under $40.

We ordered a six-tender box combo ($16) that came with two sauces, fries, coleslaw, and a toasted Hawaiian roll; a Key-lime-cake dessert ($4); an extra coleslaw ($2); two tropical black teas ($4); a spicy-queso-crunch sandwich ($5); and nine additional sauces (49 cents each).

We got our tenders with crinkle-cut fries and a toasted Hawaiian roll, though we could've also chosen coleslaw as a side.

Saucy's tenders are apparently made using the same recipe as KFC's. Still, I thought the tenders I got at Saucy seemed plumper, moister, and crispier than any I remember getting on past KFC runs.

Our meal at Saucy was nothing short of incredible — truly the kind of fast food that tasted like it could've been from a sit-down restaurant.

Nothing we had was overly greasy, and the tasty sauces made our dining experience even more enjoyable. I liked that there seemed to be one for everyone, from several ranch-based dips and classics like barbecue sauce to even Asian-inspired delights.

Although we had some clear favorite sauces, there wasn't a single one we didn't enjoy.

My husband also got the spicy-queso-crunch chicken sandwich ($5).

We liked the crunchy, battered chicken tender topped with queso sauce and spicy peppers on a buttery Hawaiian roll. Still, we'd probably skip it next time. The tenders and many dipping sauces were the clear stars of our meal.

Saucy had both a chocolate and Key-lime cake available for dessert, and both were served in a plastic can.

We chose the latter, which cost $4. It was the perfect size, especially considering how full we were from our meal.

I liked the citrusy icing and cake layers and felt this was a wonderful sweet ending to our meal. Plus, the spoonable cake was easy to share.

When we'd dipped and nibbled until we had no room left in our stomachs, it was time to pack up our leftovers to take home.

Our to-go container had room for just five sauces, so we kept our favorites: jalapeño-pesto ranch and per-peri ranch, two spicy and flavorful dips we really loved; smoky bacon ranch, our favorite of the ranch-based dips; and sweet teriyaki and Thai sweet and spicy, which were packed with tons of flavor and sweet twists.

As a lover of chicken tenders, I was smitten with Saucy. The food was really good, and dipping delicious fried chicken tenders in all of those sauces was tons of fun.

Our meal also felt surprisingly affordable, especially since we got far more food than the two of us could finish — and next time, we'd order less.

Based on my finger-lickin'-good experience, I'd definitely go back to Saucy, even if its only location is a 90-minute drive from me.

If you're visiting Orlando, I suggest treating yourself to a little culinary sauce journey at Saucy. Hopefully, though, more locations will open soon.

This version of Rao's Alfredo sauce contains tiny morsels of crumbled bacon (most of which you'll find at the bottom of the jar).

It had more texture than the other sauces I tried, and the dried-bacon pieces looked almost identical to store-bought bits. The bacon added a smokiness and sweetness that other Rao's Alfredos didn't have.

However, this sauce would've been better made with higher-quality bacon. I found it to be quite salty, and the sweetness from the bacon was distracting and unexpected in an Alfredo sauce.

Rao's Alfredo arrabbiata was the thickest sauce in the bunch and had a markedly different texture from the others I tried.

Though it was still pourable, the arrabbiata had a distinct grittiness to it. It also had a pinkish tint and didn't have the same tiny speckles of seasoning as the classic Alfredo — because it was seasoned with ground red pepper instead.

The spice wasn't immediately noticeable upon first bite, but built up as I ate more.

I liked the heat — which lingered and sat at the back of my throat — for a few bites. However, I thought it dominated the other tasty flavors from cheese and cream too much after a while.

Rao's four-cheese Alfredo is made with Parmesan, Romano, Asiago, and fontina cheeses. This quartet added major umami flavor and richness to the light cream-based sauce.

This Alfredo was brighter and whiter than the others I tried, and it also tasted richer and denser. Though I loved the thicker texture and salty, cheesy flavor, this sauce was pretty heavy. For that reason, I probably wouldn't eat as much of it.

This sauce was overflowing with sweet and concentrated roasted-garlic flavor. It had a touch of smokiness and didn't taste as cheesy or salty as the four-cheese or bacon sauces.

According to the ingredient label, this sauce contains pureed garlic and granulated roasted garlic, which explains the strong allium concentration in every bite.

At the end of the day, Rao's classic Alfredo sauce was my favorite. The yellowish sauce was pourable and completely smooth, but thick enough to coat slippery noodles.

The sauce is speckled with cracked black pepper, which adds more color than flavor. Taste-wise, this traditional Alfredo was satisfyingly creamy and cheesy but not overly heavy.

It had a light fluffiness to it, and the Parmesan and Romano cheeses added a ton of umami flavor and savoriness — so it didn't feel like I was just eating cream.

My first incorrect assumption what that my first-class ticket would automatically get me access to an airport lounge. I thought this would be especially nice since my itinerary included a layover in each direction.

Unfortunately, there weren't Alaska lounges at any of the four airports I flew through during my trip, and you have to be an Alaska Lounge+ member to access any of the airline's partner lounges.

To make things worse, I assumed the first-class seats would be as nice as those I've seen on other airlines. My heart sank when I learned that Alaska Airlines' first-class seats don't recline much and don't have seat-back screens.

I'd been looking forward to a deep recline to help me sleep and zone out while watching movies and catching up on emails throughout my 18-hour travel day.

At this point, I wondered if it would've been better to fly economy on a different airline, but it was too late to change my ticket.

When I boarded my first flight, I was cautiously optimistic.

I was glad to see my first-class chair was noticeably bigger than a typical economy seat. Plus, it had plenty of padding to make it more comfortable.

Unfortunately, the seats reclined even less than I expected. I also didn't get a pillow or an amenities kit, just a blanket, which is what I'm used to on longer economy flights on other airlines.

I packed a tablet with a big screen so I could watch movies and TV shows through Alaska's app, which seemed to have a pretty good selection. However, there wasn't a tablet holder on the seatback for either of my flights there.

Because I had only one tray table, I had to choose between watching movies or using my computer to catch up on emails. Given the limited space, things got even tighter when the food came out.

I also had to pay an extra $32 ($8 on each leg of my flight) for WiFi.

When it was time to eat, I was hoping for a hot meal. I left my house at 4 a.m. without breakfast and was starving.

I waited to see what would be on my tray, only to discover that because I had not selected a meal in advance (which I didn't know was a thing), I was stuck with a snack box and a couple of mediocre sides.

I got the same snack box (sans entrée) on my second flight, leaving me hangry when I landed.

As I deplaned, I longingly thought about the delicious food I had on a recent Turkish Airlines flight in economy.

When it came time to board my first flight home, I was happy to see that the plane was nicer.

This time, I had a tablet holder on the back of my seat so I could watch from a comfortable distance and save some tray space.

The seats didn't recline more than the other plane, but they did have footrests. My flight left at 11 p.m., and I was so tired that I dozed off easily.

Unfortunately, I was soon disappointed again when I boarded my connecting flight. The plane was an older model without a tablet holder.

I had at least preordered a meal for this leg, which was better than the snack box.

I can't totally blame Alaska for my underwhelming first-class experience.

If I had done some research before booking, it would've been much clearer that the airline is known for its no-frills planes. However, it still felt like I was paying first-class prices, so I think some disappointment is appropriate.

I won't be flying first class on Alaska again, but I hope to have a real, luxurious experience on another airline in the future.

Alaska Airlines did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The CX-50 might be the best-looking SUV in the segment. It features the latest derivative of Mazda's signature Kodo design language, marrying its traditional curves with a more rugged, squared-off athletic look.

The CX-50 Hybrid is powered by a 2.5-liter, 176-horsepower, naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine paired with a 118-horsepower electric motor up front, a 54-horsepower unit on the rear axle, and a 1.59-kWh battery pack.

The total output is 219 horsepower.

The engine and hybrid system are sourced from Toyota. It's the exact same powertrain found under the hood of the rival RAV4 Hybrid.

As with all Mazda SUVs, the CX-50 Hybrid comes standard with all-wheel drive. It is equipped with an e-AWD system that uses a rear-axle electric motor instead of a traditional physical linkage.

My test car's EPA fuel economy figures are 39 mpg city, 37 mpg highway, and 38 mpg combined.

That's 10mpg better in combined fuel economy than the most efficient ICE CX-50.

Compact hybrid SUVs are generally designed to be sensible, fuel-efficient transportation for the masses.

The CX-50 Hybrid is certainly that, but it also brings a good dose of Mazda zoom-zoom to the party. It's the most fun I've had driving a small hybrid SUV.

The steering felt well-weighted and offered a decent amount of feedback for a vehicle of its type. The Mazda's suspension is a bit stiffer than most of its rivals, which helps it approach corners with great composure, but it does compromise ride comfort a tad.

The hybrid powertrain delivers peppy performance, especially in Power mode, thanks to the ample torque from its electric motors.

As in other applications of the Toyota Hybrid system, intrusive engine noise can be problematic, especially under hard acceleration.

The CX-50's cabin is simply terrific. Material and build quality are top-notch, while its overall design exudes a truly premium feel.

The smartly located audio controls on the center console are easy to reach for both the driver and passengers.

My CX-50 Premium Plus test car featured beautiful red leather upholstered seats with black accent stitching.

The CX-50 comes standard with a crisp-looking 10.25-inch touchscreen.

The screen is only a touchscreen when Apple CarPlay or Android Auto are initiated. In all other instances, the system requires the use of the cumbersome rotary controller on the center console.

Fortunately, Carplay and Android Auto are standard on all trim levels.

The CX-50 Hybrid is equipped with a standard backup camera.

In front of the driver is an advanced cockpit with a stylish heated leather-wrapped steering wheel. The CX-50's instrument cluster features a pair of analog gauges flanking a configurable central 7-inch LCD display that's designed to mimic a circular gauge.

My test car also came with an optional color head-up display.

Premium and Premium Plus trim CX-50 Hybrids can be had with this large power sliding panoramic glass moonroof.

With 37.8 inches of legroom, the CX-50 doesn't have the most spacious rear cabin. However, the leather rear bench seat offers ample room for two adults.

Rear seat passengers have dedicated AC vents and USB sockets.

The CX-50 is one of the rare hybrid SUVs in this segment with a spare tire. In many cases, the underfloor space traditionally occupied by the spare tire is repurposed for batteries or left empty to save costs or weight.

The spare tire shares the storage compartment with the subwoofer for the CX-50's stellar 12-speaker Bose audio system.

Open the power liftgate, and you'll find 29.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats. Fold the down rear seats, and cargo capacity expands to 56.3 cubic feet

Even the entry-level CX-50 comes standard with important assistance tech, such as adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, lane keep assist, and rear cross-traffic alert.

The Uber Safari picks up passengers in Cape Town at 9:30 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

I booked the first available date I saw about two months in advance but was able to move my reservation up a few weeks when I noticed a cancellation.

Our driver arrived at my home in Cape Town just before our 9:30 a.m. pickup time. He drove a white BMW X3, a luxury vehicle with leather seats and enough space for four passengers. 

During our trip, we joined a convoy with other BMW X3s, all Uber Safari vehicles on their way to Aquila.

This game reserve is known for its array of wildlife and luxurious accommodations, such as a spa and on-site lodging. It's very popular, with many people visiting Aquila independently or as part of a group tour. 

With Uber, we'd booked Aquila's "big five" safari — an experience where participants hope to see lions, leopards, elephants, buffalo, and rhinos.

We signed indemnity forms at Aquila's entrance gate and were dropped off at the main reception area, where we were asked for photo IDs.

I was a little surprised since I didn't see that passengers would need to provide photo IDs on the Uber app, but fortunately, we all had some form of identification with us. 

Then, we were led to an outdoor area and greeted with a welcome drink of our choice — pink sparkling wine or carbonated apple juice. 

The buffet-style lunch had lots of food options, including hot meals like vegetarian lasagna, seafood hot pot, and oven-roasted chicken. We were also offered desserts like chocolate cake and crème brûlée.

I thought the food was delicious and a great value, considering it was included in the cost of our booking.

Just after 1 p.m., we boarded a large safari vehicle with the passengers we saw arriving in the other Uber Safari cars.

The open-air vehicle had a roof that provided some shade as we rode through the 10,000-hectare (about 24,710-acre) wildlife reserve.

Lions can be hard to spot on an afternoon game drive, as they sleep most of the day and are usually active early in the morning and late in the afternoon. However, they were the first of the big five that we spotted. 

Our driver explained that Aquila's lions had been rescued from the canned-hunting industry, which means they had been bred in captivity to be hunted (a practice many wildlife organizations have deemed highly unethical).

Because these lions never learned to hunt or fend for themselves in the wild, Aquila's rangers care for them in an enclosure separate from the rest of the reserve.

The other animals on the property roamed freely around the reserve. 

We saw a range of animals, including elephants, rhinos, buffalo, ostriches, hippos, and zebras. Our guide did a great job educating us about the animals, their characteristics, and their behavior.

Our game drive ended two hours later at about 3:10 p.m. After a bathroom break and a quick browse through the gift shop, we boarded the same BMW X3 for our trip back to Cape Town, arriving just before 6 p.m.

As someone who's traveled extensively, I feel that when you go on a trip with a tour guide, the experience starts as soon as you get in the vehicle. However, the Uber part of the experience was just that — a simple car ride.

Still, our driver was polite, professional, and friendly. Plus, the flat ZAR3,550 rate seems pretty reasonable for visitors, especially since our excursion covered two-hour Uber rides in each direction, lunch, and a game drive.

I would gladly try the experience again and have already recommended it to friends visiting from Canada. I just hope they take me with them.

The Vlasic kosher dill baby pickles at my local supermarket cost about $6 for a 16-ounce container, making them the most expensive per ounce of the pickles I tried.

They had a nice crunch to them, and although they initially had a mild and pleasant briny flavor, there was an off-putting aftertaste. As a result, my entire family placed these at the bottom of the list.

The taste was so unpleasant that I bought a second jar from a different supermarket to see if the first one was an anomaly. It was not.

I grabbed a 16-ounce jar of 365 organic kosher baby dill pickles from Whole Foods for $5.

When I took a bite, however, I didn't think these pickles were as good as some of the others I tried. They weren't especially crunchy, and I didn't love the flavor. I thought they were heavy on garlic and lacked the crisp, vinegary bite I seek in good pickles.

I'd eat them again if someone served them to me, but I'd opt for other brands if I were shopping for my family.

To be fair, these were my 7-year-old's favorite, but he's by far the most averse to spicy foods in our family.

The Trader Joe's kosher dill pickles were the least expensive of the group, at $3 for a well-stuffed 24-ounce jar.

These pickles had a satisfying snap with each bite but a fairly mild vinegar flavor and some seasoning resembling caraway, which felt unfamiliar. They also didn't have the palate-cleansing zest I sometimes want.

Overall, they tasted like something you'd serve on a cheese board rather than with a cheeseburger.

I'd buy these again — especially considering the price — if I were shopping at Trader Joe's and needed pickles. However, they're not something I'd go out of my way for.

I took home a 24-ounce jar of Mt. Olive dill-pickle spears that was on sale for $4 (about $2 off the supermarket's usual price).

I wasn't sure if I'd ever bought a jar of Mt. Olive pickles before, but when I opened it, I recognized the smell immediately — these were the pickles that came with every sandwich at a popular and delicious deli near where I went to college.

They were a touch mushy and didn't have much crunch, but they won me over with their assertive, classic pickle flavor, which was so tangy it was almost spicy.

I might buy them again if I start feeling nostalgic for that sandwich shop or am looking for a budget-friendly option.

Claussen's kosher dill pickles cost $7 for a 32-ounce jar at my local supermarket. These pickles were the only of the five brands I tried that came from the grocer's refrigerated section.

Having to refrigerate the Claussen pickles made them slightly less convenient to store, but they were so much better than the other pickles we tasted. Vibrant with dill, they were crunchy without being heavy and had a bright vinegary tang.

My wife, our 4-year-old, and I all ranked this as the best pickle by far — so far superior to the others that the extra cost was easily justified.

I will seek out Claussen whenever I'm buying pickles at the supermarket in the future.

I was really excited about Olipop's watermelon-lime flavor — until I took my first sip. Out of the 17 flavors I tried, this was the only one I found to be truly off-putting.

In my opinion, it tasted like watermelon that had been put in the fridge after sitting out in the sun all day. This flavor also overpowered any lime notes that may have been in there.

To be honest, I disliked it so much that I wondered if maybe I had gotten a bad batch. After trying another can from a different store, I found it tasted the same as the first one.

My wife tried both cans and didn't care for it either. Maybe this flavor is more of an acquired taste.

Anyone who chooses green apple when presented with a variety of lollipop flavors will enjoy this soda. I happen to dislike green-apple candy, and that's mostly what Olipop's crisp apple tastes like.

Every can of Olipop has a description of the flavor, and this one claims to blend "sparkling apple juice and gummy apple rings." However, I tasted a lot more of the latter.

Throughout my taste test, I was surprised at how few of the sodas tasted medicinal. However, the cherry cola was an exception.

In my opinion, it had an unpleasant aftertaste and a cherry flavor that seemed more artificial than other Olipop varieties.

I expected to rank banana cream dead last — I love bananas, but I'm not sure I've ever liked anything banana-flavored. In that context, the banana cream was surprisingly drinkable.

The banana flavor was definitely more reminiscent of Runts candy than an actual banana, but it wasn't too strong or sweet. It made for a soda that was at least interesting, if not particularly good.

Olipop's take on root beer definitely had some of the familiar, sweet, herbal taste. However, it didn't pack much of the spicy bite the best varieties offer.

In my opinion, root beer typically translates poorly into diet form — maybe because it's traditionally so sugary — and Olipop's decidedly tasted like a diet root beer. It wasn't unpleasant, but it didn't leave me wanting more.

The can says that Olipop's orange squeeze is "a bright twist on the nostalgic classic" and incorporates clementine, mandarin, and lemon juices. However, in my opinion, it tasted more like traditional orange soda.

I'm not particularly nostalgic for orange soda, and while this had plenty of citrus flavor, it didn't have much of the associated tartness.

Unlike the cherry-cola flavor, the cherry taste that shined through in the cherry-vanilla variety is tart with acidity. I found it to be closer to the flavor of real, fresh cherries than maraschinos.

However, the distinct cherry flavor was a little too assertive for my tastes, and I would've liked more of the familiar warmth of vanilla to balance it out.

At first sip, I thought Olipop's ginger ale might rank first on this list. It had the flavor of real ginger — just enough to give it just a touch of spice. It also had a nice, citrusy tartness, which made for a brighter and more nuanced flavor than you'd find in most mainstream ginger ales.

However, there was something oddly biotic about the aftertaste that brought this one down the list.

Based on the name and packaging, Doctor Goodwin is presumably Olipop's answer to Dr. Pepper. Diet Dr. Pepper is my go-to soda whenever it's available, but Olipop's version tasted nothing like it.

That being said, this soda wasn't bad at all in its own right. It had a more palatable dose of the same cherry flavor from the cherry-vanilla variety. However, it was balanced out by an indistinct sweetness. To me, Doctor Goodwin might viably pass as a cherry cola.

At the first taste, I was impressed by how fizzy the vintage cola was. I was also surprised at how accurately it mimicked the flavor of familiar diet colas like Diet Pepsi.

It was sweet, had a touch of bite, and no noticeable aftertaste. If I lined it up with other diet colas in a blind test, I'm not sure I'd be able to tell which one had 9 grams of fiber.

Lemon-lime seems pretty ho-hum as far as soda flavors go — so much so that this was the last of the 17 sodas I tried. However, I was surprised by how much I liked it.

Unlike with any other lemon-lime soda I can remember, I could taste the distinct flavors of lemon and lime instead of a vague citrusy sweetness. It was pleasantly sour and shockingly refreshing after I'd sampled 16 other flavors.

Strawberry vanilla was another flavor that surprised me. Based on the cherry-vanilla variety, I thought this one would be too heavy on the strawberry flavor.

But while the sweet, tangy taste of strawberry was certainly present and obvious, this one had a much more noticeable hint of vanilla, which served as a warm counter to the strawberry.

I found Olipop's strawberry-vanilla reminiscent of a flavored cream soda from an old-timey soda fountain.

Despite its name, Olipop's classic grape didn't taste much like classic grape soda.

Instead, I found it tasted more like actual grapes. More specifically, it was reminiscent of the fancy sparkling grape juice that comes in glass bottles and is served to kids when the grown-ups are having cocktails. It was tart, not too sweet, and a little winey.

In 2024, Olipop's newest flavor, Ridge Rush, was introduced with an ad campaign that called it "A Can of Do" — positioning it as the brand's answer to Mountain Dew.

However, I liked it a bit more than actual Mountain Dew — it wasn't as sweet, and the citrus flavors were far more distinct.

It's a lighter yellow than its inspiration, and is one of only four Olipop flavors with caffeine.

The biggest shock of the taste test came when I poured some tropical punch into a glass. I expected the liquid inside to be red or pink, but instead, it was yellow.

This made a lot more sense once I discovered the most noticeable flavor in the soda was pineapple. However, it wasn't nearly as thick or cloying as straight pineapple juice, and the pineapple's sweet acidity tasted brighter and lighter from the carbonation.

This felt like it was begging for some rum, though I'm not certain prebiotic rum is the best idea.

The ginger-lemon had even more ginger flavor than the ginger ale.

The flavor was strong enough to make the soda a bit spicy and taste like ginger beer, but it also had just enough sweetness to take the edge off the spice.

And most importantly, it didn't have the same unpleasant aftertaste as the ginger ale. I did find that the ginger flavor overpowered the lemon, but I liked this soda so much that I was OK with it.

In general, I typically find cream sodas to be bland. However, there was nothing bland or boring about Olipop's cream soda. It was rich with vanilla flavor but not too sweet.

It was definitely on the milder side of the flavors I tried, but it absolutely captured the nostalgic soda-shop taste of cream soda — without anything to indicate it's also loaded with fiber.

This story was originally published in May 2024 and most recently updated on January 6, 2025.

I was impressed by the eye-catching looks, luxurious, high-tech cabin, and smooth ride.

Unfortunately, I felt a little let down by the big SUV's new twin-turbo V6 engine, which just did not deliver the boost in performance I expected.

The base rear-wheel-drive QX80 Pure starts at $82,450, while the top-spec Autograph 4WD variant starts at $110,595.

My lower-mid-tier four-wheel-drive Luxe trim test car starts at $92,650. Freight fees, upgraded paint, and a $3,300 driver's assistance tech package pushed the as-tested price to $99,000.

The design of the new QX80 is bold enough to hold your attention but doesn't veer into the garish. It features the latest interpretation of Infiniti's Artistry in Motion design language, highlighted by a large double-arch front grille inspired by bamboo forests.

It can also tow an impressive 8,500 lbs.

The suspension can be lowered 1.2 inches to improve aerodynamics while driving and 2.8 inches to help make it easier to load cargo. In off-road mode, it can be raised 2.1 inches over its normal ride height to help clear obstacles.

Under the hood is a 3.5-liter, twin-turbocharged V6 that produces 450 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque.

My QX80 Luxe test car boasts EPA fuel economy ratings of 16 mpg city, 19 mpg highway, and 17 mpg combined. I observed fuel economy in the 16mpg range during my time with the QX80.

This is a vehicle that could really use a hybrid or PHEV option.

Like its US counterparts, the QX80 is built on a truck-based body-on-frame platform, so it isn't quite as refined on the road as a car-based crossover.

Its cabin is quiet. The ride is smooth and comfortable, while the steering is responsive, albeit a bit numb in feel.

The engine is velvety smooth and feels eager to deliver its 450 ponies. However, the nine-speed automatic transmission is geared for fuel economy, which held back some of the performance potential.

In fact, the transmission seems reluctant to unleash the engine's power. You have to really stamp down hard on the gas pedal to get the transmission to kick down a few gears and go higher in the rev range.

Some vehicles accelerate effortlessly, but the QX80 feels like it does so against the wishes of its transmission.

According to Motor Trend, the QX80 does 0-60 in a quick 6.8 seconds.

The new interior is a big step forward compared to the outgoing model. I was impressed by Infiniti's excellent mix of materials in the cabin and the quality of the fit and finish.

The dual 14.3-inch screen atop the front dash looked great. Unfortunately, the 9-inch touch control screen is a bit of a mixed bag. On one hand, it's a tidy way to organize a maze of controls, but it's far less intuitive to use than physical buttons would be.

Apart from that, interior ergonomics are solid, there's plenty of storage, and the standard 14-speaker audio system sounded great.

The driver's seat in my test car did not have the optional massage function, although the passenger seat did.

The high-quality configurable gauge display is augmented by an optional head-up display.

The system in the QX80 is elegantly designed and a breeze to navigate. The 14.3-inch infotainment screen is also home to the QX80's around-view camera system that includes an invisible hood view for off-roading and parking in tight spaces.

My test car also came with an optional 64-color LED ambient lighting system.

The QX80's second-row seats are heated, power-operated, and come with a solid 39-inch legroom.

Second-row passengers also have access to their own climate controls and a handful of USB sockets.

The third row comfortably accommodates two adults, but things get tight if you try to squeeze three people back there.

With the third row folded, cargo space expands to 59 cubic feet. Fold down the second row, and you'll get a cavernous 101 cubic feet of room.

There's a small underfloor storage area behind the third row.

You can upgrade to ProPilot Assist 2.1, which allows drivers to take their hands off the steering in certain highway driving conditions.

The previous version was a good luxury SUV during its prime. Unfortunately, its prime was 10 years ago. I knew this new QX80 would be better, but this is really impressive.

The 2025 Infiniti QX80 is boldly styled with great tech, a smooth V6 engine, and a luxurious cabin.

I like it.