Audi Q3 vs Nissan Pathfinder: 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 $2,350 for the Nissan Pathfinder. That $0 yearly gap compounds to roughly $0 over five years and $0 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 versus highway split: the Nissan Pathfinder is the stronger commuter at 25 mpg city, while the Audi Q3 pulls ahead on the interstate at 30 mpg highway. If most of your driving is stop-and-go traffic the city figure is the one to weigh; for long-distance highway mileage the reverse is true, and the two vehicles effectively swap places depending on how you drive.

Powertrain choice: the Audi Q3 is recorded with 1 distinct engine configuration (SIDI), the Nissan Pathfinder with 3 (SIDI, 3.5, 2.5). Across 21 recorded Audi Q3 configurations and 39 for the Nissan Pathfinder, 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 Nissan Pathfinder with 4-Wheel Drive, Front-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 Small 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 Nissan Pathfinder emits 342 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.