Audi Q3 vs BMW X5: Specs Compared

Running cost over five years: at the EPA's 15,000-mile-a-year assumption the Audi Q3 burns about $2,350 of fuel annually against $2,900 for the BMW X5. That $550 yearly gap compounds to roughly $2,750 over five years and $4,400 over eight — often more than the price difference between two trims of the same vehicle, and the single largest running-cost line item separating these two.

City and highway economy: the BMW X5 leads in both cycles — 24 mpg city and 31 mpg highway against 23 and 30 mpg — so its fuel-efficiency advantage holds whether you commute in traffic or cover long highway miles.

Powertrain choice: the Audi Q3 is recorded with 1 distinct engine configuration (SIDI), the BMW X5 with 4 (SIDI & PFI; Mild Hybrid, SIDI; PHEV, SIDI; Mild Hybrid). Across 21 recorded Audi Q3 configurations and 61 for the BMW X5, the wider the engine spread the more the real-world fuel efficiency depends on which version you actually buy, so check the specific model year and drivetrain rather than the headline number.

Drivetrain and class: the Audi Q3 is offered with All-Wheel Drive, Front-Wheel Drive, the BMW X5 with All-Wheel Drive, Rear-Wheel Drive. All-wheel drive typically costs one to two mpg combined against the same vehicle in front- or rear-wheel drive, which is worth remembering when the gap between these two is small. The EPA classes them as Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD and Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD respectively — the class drives the interior volume, cargo space and passenger space each one is measured against.

Tailpipe emissions: at their cleanest configurations the BMW X5 emits 130 g/mile of CO2 versus 346 g/mile for the Audi Q3. Emissions track fuel consumption almost exactly, so the cleaner vehicle here is also the cheaper one to fuel.