The Audi A3 does 28 mpg combined (24.8 city, 33.1 highway), which works out to about $1,371 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Engine choice matters more than you'd think: 2L 4-cyl Hybrid does 32 mpg while 3.2L 6-cyl does 21 — a difference of $629 a year. Against other 4-cyl cars it sits above the average of 25.7 mpg.
Every Audi A3 engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Audi A3 ranges from 32 down to 21 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $629 a year across 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2L 4-cyl Hybrid | 28.7 / 37.7 | 2022–2024 | $1,200 | |
| 2L 4-cyl | 25.9 / 34.2 | 2006–2026 | $1,324 | |
| 1.8L 4-cyl | 24 / 35 | 2016–2016 | $1,371 | |
| 3.2L 6-cyl | 18 / 25 | 2006–2009 | $1,829 |
What that actually costs
The Audi A3 burns a gallon every 28 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 429 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.114 |
| Fuel per year | $1,371 |
| Fuel over five years | $6,855 |
| Against other 4-cyl cars | −$123 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $2,663 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Audi A3 gives up 8.3 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 33.1 out there against 24.8 in town, a 33% drop worth $388 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 | 24.8 mpg | $1,548 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 33.1 mpg | $1,160 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +8.3 mpg (33%) | Wide — this car dislikes traffic |
How the A3 changed over the years
The A3 peaked in 2015 at 35 mpg (31 city, 41 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 2009 at 22.5 — 12.5 mpg apart, or $610 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2026 car does 28. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 24 / 34 | 1 | $1,371 | |
| 2025 | 24 / 34 | 1 | $1,371 | |
| 2024 | 29 / 37 | 1 | $1,200 | |
| 2023 | 28 / 38 | 1 | $1,200 | |
| 2022 | 29 / 38 | 1 | $1,200 | |
| 2020 | 27 / 36 | 1 | $1,280 | |
| 2019 | 26 / 35 | 1 | $1,324 | |
| 2018 | 26 / 35 | 1 | $1,324 | |
| 2017 | 26 / 35 | 1 | $1,324 | |
| 2016 | 24 / 35 | 1 | $1,371 | |
| 2015 | 31 / 41 | 1 | $1,097 | |
| 2013 | 29 / 37 | 1 | $1,200 | |
| 2012 | 29 / 37 | 1 | $1,200 | |
| 2011 | 29 / 37 | 1 | $1,200 | |
| 2010 | 29 / 37 | 1 | $1,200 | |
| 2009 | 20 / 26.5 | 2 | $1,707 | |
| 2008 | 20 / 27 | 2 | $1,670 | |
| 2007 | 20 / 27 | 2 | $1,670 | |
| 2006 | 20 / 27 | 2 | $1,670 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 23 EPA ratings of the Audi A3 — 4 engines across 2006–2026. 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 $2,663. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Audi A3 get?
28 mpg combined on average — 24.8 in the city and 33.1 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 2006–2026.
How much does a Audi A3 cost in fuel per year?
About $1,371 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $6,855 over five years, or 0.114 dollars a mile.
Which A3 engine is the most economical?
The 2L 4-cyl Hybrid at 32 mpg, against 21 for the 3.2L 6-cyl — a difference of about $629 a year.
Is the A3 good on fuel compared with similar cars?
Against other 4-cyl cars it sits above the average of 25.7 mpg, computed across 4765 ratings.
Are these real-world A3 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 A3 is $2,663 against the $1,371 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 35 and 21 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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