2021 head-to-head · Midsize & Large SUV

2021 Audi Q8 vs Land Rover Defender

MPG, range and what each one really costs you to fuel, from official EPA ratings and recalculated with your own gas and electricity prices.

Swap sides
✓ Cheaper to run
$2,962/ year to fuel
20 MPG

AWD · 3.0L 6-cyl turbo · 8-speed automatic · 20 MPG

✓ Cheaper to run
$3,118/ year to fuel
19 MPG

The 2021 Audi Q8 is the cheaper one to run. Driving 15,000 miles a year with $3.95/gal premium gas, it costs about $2,962 a year to fuel (20 MPG), versus $3,118 for the 2021 Land Rover Defender (19 MPG). That's roughly $156 a year, or about $780 over five years.

Your numbers

Change these to match your driving and local prices. Every figure and chart on this page updates.

Fuel cost over 10 years

  • Audi Q8
  • Land Rover Defender

Side by side

Audi Q8Land Rover Defender
$2,962 Your annual fuel cost $3,118
20 MPG Combined efficiency 19 MPG
18 MPG City 18 MPG
23 MPG Highway 21 MPG
453 g/mi Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) 466 g/mi
4/10 EPA fuel economy score 3/10
4/10 EPA greenhouse gas score 3/10
Hybrid Powertrain Gas
Premium gasoline Fuel Premium gasoline
3.0L 6-cyl turbo Engine / motor 2.0L 4-cyl turbo
8-speed automatic Transmission 8-speed automatic
AWD Drivetrain 4WD

✓ marks the better value. EPA scores run 1–10 (10 is best). Volumes come from the EPA interior volume index and aren't published for every body style.

Audi Q8 vs Land Rover Defender across model years

  • Audi Q8
  • Land Rover Defender

Annual fuel cost of the most efficient configuration of each model year, at your prices. Click a point to open that year.

How they differ

Among 65 2021 midsize & large SUVs, the Audi Q8 ranks 45th and the Land Rover Defender 47th for lowest fuel cost.

The powertrains differ: the Audi Q8 is a full hybrid, while the Land Rover Defender is a conventional gas model.

Frequently asked questions

Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2021 Audi Q8 or the 2021 Land Rover Defender?

Measured by cost to drive, the Audi Q8. The Audi Q8 is rated 20 MPG combined and the Land Rover Defender 19 MPG (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).

How much does it cost to fuel the 2021 Audi Q8 vs. the Land Rover Defender per year?

At 15,000 miles a year with $3.95/gal premium gas, about $2,962 for the Audi Q8 and $3,118 for the Land Rover Defender.

Audi Q8 vs Land Rover Defender in other years

More 2021 comparisons

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