Audi SQ8 e-tron vs Polestar 3: Specs Compared
Also searched as Polestar 3 vs Audi SQ8 e-tron specs — both orientations show this same side-by-side comparison.
The Polestar 3 is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 97 mpg combined versus 73 mpg for the Audi SQ8 e-tron, a 24 mpg advantage and costs about $250 less per year to fuel.
Across 4 measured categories, the Polestar 3 leads in 4. Figures are EPA test data, not manufacturer claims.
2024–2025
Audi SQ8 e-tron
Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD · 8 configurations
2025–2026
Polestar 3
Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD · 12 configurations
Head-to-head specifications
| Metric | Audi SQ8 e-tron | Polestar 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Best combined MPG | 73 mpg | 97 mpg ✓ |
| Best city MPG | 72 mpg | 105 mpg ✓ |
| Best highway MPG | 75 mpg | 89 mpg ✓ |
| Lowest annual fuel costEPA estimate at 15,000 miles per year | $1,050 | $800 ✓ |
| Lowest CO2 output | Not available | Not available |
| Engines offered | Not available | Not available |
| Transmissions | Automatic (A1), Automatic (A2) | Automatic (A1) |
| Drivetrains | All-Wheel Drive | Rear-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive |
| Fuel types | Electricity | Electricity |
| EPA class | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD |
| Years covered | 2024–2025 | 2025–2026 |
| Configurations on record | 8 | 12 |
Source: EPA fuel economy records via fueleconomy.gov. Best-case values across all recorded configurations for each model.
Audi SQ8 e-tron vs Polestar 3: what the numbers mean
Running cost over five years: at the EPA's 15,000-mile-a-year assumption the Polestar 3 burns about $800 of fuel annually against $1,050 for the Audi SQ8 e-tron. That $250 yearly gap compounds to roughly $1,250 over five years and $2,000 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 Polestar 3 leads in both cycles — 105 mpg city and 89 mpg highway against 72 and 75 mpg — so its fuel-efficiency advantage holds whether you commute in traffic or cover long highway miles.
Drivetrain and class: the Audi SQ8 e-tron is offered with All-Wheel Drive, the Polestar 3 with Rear-Wheel Drive, All-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 Standard 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.
SQ8 e-tron vs 3: common questions
Which is better on gas, the Audi SQ8 e-tron or the Polestar 3?
The Polestar 3 is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 97 mpg combined versus 73 mpg for the Audi SQ8 e-tron, a 24 mpg advantage and costs about $250 less per year to fuel.
Which costs less to run per year?
By EPA estimates at 15,000 miles a year, the Polestar 3 runs about $800 a year in fuel at its most efficient configuration, versus about $1,050 for the Audi SQ8 e-tron — a difference of roughly $250 per year.
What engines do the SQ8 e-tron and 3 offer?
Audi SQ8 e-tron: no engine data on record. Polestar 3: no engine data on record.
Are they in the same vehicle class?
Yes — the EPA classifies both the Audi SQ8 e-tron and the Polestar 3 as Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD, so they compete directly.
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Comparison id: audi-sq8-e-tron-vs-polestar-3