Audi SQ8 vs BMW X7: Specs Compared

Running cost over five years: at the EPA's 15,000-mile-a-year assumption the BMW X7 burns about $3,300 of fuel annually against $4,450 for the Audi SQ8. That $1,150 yearly gap compounds to roughly $5,750 over five years and $9,200 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 X7 leads in both cycles — 21 mpg city and 25 mpg highway against 15 and 21 mpg — so its fuel-efficiency advantage holds whether you commute in traffic or cover long highway miles.

Powertrain choice: the Audi SQ8 is recorded with 1 distinct engine configuration (SIDI), the BMW X7 with 3 (SIDI & PFI; Mild Hybrid, SIDI; Mild Hybrid, SIDI). Across 8 recorded Audi SQ8 configurations and 25 for the BMW X7, 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 SQ8 is offered with All-Wheel Drive, the BMW X7 with 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.

Tailpipe emissions: at their cleanest configurations the BMW X7 emits 387 g/mile of CO2 versus 518 g/mile for the Audi SQ8. Emissions track fuel consumption almost exactly, so the cleaner vehicle here is also the cheaper one to fuel.