It’s an easily operable system, although the graphics are looking a little long in the tooth and the screen is hard to reach, especially for long-legged drivers that have to push their seat back, thus moving further away from the screen. The cost for all this? $73,650 before taxes, a darn sight lower than what you’re paying for a base Cadillac Escalade, Lincoln Navigator, Lexus LX 570 or Mercedes-Benz GL-Class.

This is a loaded luxo-SUV even before you consider the options our tester had as part of the $8,150 tech package. That adds back-up collision warning and intervention, lane departure and blind spot warning and prevention, adaptive front lighting with auto-levelling headlights and distance control assist. Even the exterior styling gets a boost (and lord knows many believe it needs all the help it can get), with the addition of 22-inch wheels.

With the exception of a few accessories (including a $400 tent that attaches to your open hatch), that’s really it when it comes to options. Talk about making things easier on the buyer.

One particularly interesting feature provided by the tech package is the hydraulic body-motion control system, another part of the QX80 shared with the rough n’ tumble Nissan Patrol on which it’s based. As we mentioned before, the QX80 is very tall (and heavy), which means you should experience more body roll due to a higher centre of gravity. However: thanks to cylinders installed in the shock absorbers that help either stiffen or soften the suspension, the QX is able to stay flatter through turns; even bumps are reduced. It’s impressive, and leads to a fantastically luxurious feel. Both the front and rear get a double-wishbone suspension set-up; no trucky leaf springs here.

In keeping with the Patrol mentality, however, you can choose from numerous 4WD settings, including 4H, 4L, Snow and Tow modes. As sparkly as it looks inside, the QX can handle itself off-off the beaten track, too; know that the Nissan Patrol is robust enough to be used by the UN and various emergency services in some of the toughest climes the world has to offer.

If there was a complaint I have, it’s that I wish stuff like lane departure and blind spot were standard; this is a massive vehicle, and it would make much more sense for the DVD system or even sat radio to be part of the tech package, as opposed to any driver aids that might help “shrink” the QX80, even a little bit.

So it handles. It’s well-appointed inside. It’s got tech up the wazoo, even at base. It’s spacious. Are the haters going quietly into the night, yet?

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