Audi SQ8 vs Nissan Armada: Specs Compared

Running cost over five years: at the EPA's 15,000-mile-a-year assumption the Nissan Armada burns about $3,850 of fuel annually against $4,450 for the Audi SQ8. That $600 yearly gap compounds to roughly $3,000 over five years and $4,800 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 Armada 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 Nissan Armada with 4 (SIDI, SIDI; MDPV, SIDI; LDT). Across 8 recorded Audi SQ8 configurations and 29 for the Nissan Armada, 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 Nissan Armada with Rear-Wheel Drive, 4-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 Nissan Armada emits 497 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.