The Audi 100 does 18.7 mpg combined (16.5 city, 21.8 highway), which works out to about $2,053 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Engine choice matters more than you'd think: 2.8L 6-cyl does 19 mpg while 2.3L 5-cyl does 18.3 — a difference of $77 a year. Against other 5-cyl cars it sits below the average of 21.8 mpg.
Every Audi 100 engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Audi 100 ranges from 19 down to 18.3 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $77 a year across 2 versions of the same car. Picking the right one often saves more fuel than picking a different car altogether. Yearly cost assumes 12,000 miles at $3.20 a gallon.
| Engine | Combined | City / Highway | Years | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.8L 6-cyl | 17 / 22 | 1992–1994 | $2,021 | |
| 2.3L 5-cyl | 16 / 21.7 | 1989–1991 | $2,098 |
What that actually costs
The Audi 100 burns a gallon every 18.7 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 642 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.171 |
| Fuel per year | $2,053 |
| Fuel over five years | $10,265 |
| Against other 5-cyl cars | +$292 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $3,725 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Audi 100 gives up 5.3 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 21.8 out there against 16.5 in town, a 32% drop worth $566 a year. A wide gap punishes stop-and-start traffic; a narrow one means the car doesn't care where you drive it.
| Measure | Value | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| City | 16.5 mpg | $2,327 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 21.8 mpg | $1,761 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +5.3 mpg (32%) | Wide — this car dislikes traffic |
How the 100 changed over the years
The 100 peaked in 1994 at 19 mpg (17 city, 22 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 1991 at 18 — 1 mpg apart, or $112 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 1994 car does 19. Jumps usually mark a new generation or a new engine; dips often mean a heavier body or added all-wheel drive.
| Model year | Combined | City / Highway | Engines offered | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 17 / 22 | 1 | $2,021 | |
| 1993 | 17 / 22 | 1 | $2,021 | |
| 1992 | 17 / 22 | 1 | $2,021 | |
| 1991 | 16 / 22 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 1990 | 16 / 20 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 1989 | 16 / 23 | 1 | $2,021 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 6 EPA ratings of the Audi 100 — 2 engines across 1989–1994. The mileage is EPA's laboratory figure, unchanged; the yearly bill is ours, at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon, against EPA's own estimate of $3,725. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Audi 100 get?
18.7 mpg combined on average — 16.5 in the city and 21.8 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 1989–1994.
How much does a Audi 100 cost in fuel per year?
About $2,053 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $10,265 over five years, or 0.171 dollars a mile.
Which 100 engine is the most economical?
The 2.8L 6-cyl at 19 mpg, against 18.3 for the 2.3L 5-cyl — a difference of about $77 a year.
Is the 100 good on fuel compared with similar cars?
Against other 5-cyl cars it sits below the average of 21.8 mpg, computed across 217 ratings.
Are these real-world 100 figures?
No — they are EPA laboratory ratings, the same ones printed on the window sticker, and EPA's own annual fuel estimate for the Audi 100 is $3,725 against the $2,053 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 19 and 18 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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