Audi SQ5 vs Lincoln Navigator: Specs Compared

Running cost over five years: at the EPA's 15,000-mile-a-year assumption the Lincoln Navigator burns about $3,250 of fuel annually against $3,300 for the Audi SQ5. That $50 yearly gap compounds to roughly $250 over five years and $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 Audi SQ5 leads in both cycles — 21 mpg city and 28 mpg highway against 17 and 23 mpg — so its fuel-efficiency advantage holds whether you commute in traffic or cover long highway miles.

Powertrain choice: the Audi SQ5 is recorded with 1 distinct engine configuration (SIDI), the Lincoln Navigator with 3 (SIDI & PFI, SIDI, SIDI; Stop-Start). Across 20 recorded Audi SQ5 configurations and 35 for the Lincoln Navigator, 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 SQ5 is offered with All-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel Drive, the Lincoln Navigator with Part-time 4-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 2WD respectively — the class drives the interior volume, cargo space and passenger space each one is measured against.

Tailpipe emissions: at their cleanest configurations the Audi SQ5 emits 382 g/mile of CO2 versus 462 g/mile for the Lincoln Navigator. Emissions track fuel consumption almost exactly, so the cleaner vehicle here is also the cheaper one to fuel.