Audi SQ8 vs Infiniti QX80: Specs Compared

Running cost over five years: at the EPA's 15,000-mile-a-year assumption the Infiniti QX80 burns about $4,200 of fuel annually against $4,450 for the Audi SQ8. 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 versus highway split: the Infiniti QX80 is the stronger commuter at 16 mpg city, while the Audi SQ8 pulls ahead on the interstate at 21 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 SQ8 is recorded with 1 distinct engine configuration (SIDI), the Infiniti QX80 with 4 (SIDI, SIDI; MDPV, SIDI; MDPV (Curb Weight >6000 lbs)). Across 8 recorded Audi SQ8 configurations and 30 for the Infiniti QX80, 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 Infiniti QX80 with 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 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 Infiniti QX80 emits 504 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.