The Audi A4 does 24.2 mpg combined (21.2 city, 29.4 highway), which works out to about $1,587 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 28.8 mpg while 2.8L 6-cyl does 20.3 — a difference of $559 a year. Against other 4-cyl cars it sits below the average of 25.4 mpg.
Every Audi A4 engine, compared
Picking the right version of the same car 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 | 25.4 / 34.4 | 2021–2025 | $1,333 | |
| 2L 4-cyl | 23.6 / 31.6 | 2005–2020 | $1,449 | |
| 1.8L 4-cyl | 19.9 / 28.3 | 1997–2004 | $1,670 | |
| 3L 6-cyl | 18 / 25.8 | 2002–2005 | $1,846 | |
| 3.1L 6-cyl | 17.8 / 26.5 | 2006–2009 | $1,846 | |
| 2.8L 6-cyl | 17.3 / 25.5 | 1996–2001 | $1,892 |
What that actually costs
Miles per gallon is an abstraction; the fuel bill is not. Here it is in money, at 12,000 miles a year and $3.20 a gallon.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.132 |
| Fuel per year | $1,587 |
| Fuel over five years | $7,935 |
| Against other 4-cyl cars | +$75 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $3,138 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The gap between city and highway figures tells you whom the car suits. 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 | 21.2 mpg | $1,811 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 29.4 mpg | $1,306 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +8.2 mpg (39%) | Wide — this car dislikes traffic |
How the A4 changed over the years
Combined figure by model year. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 26 / 36 | 1 | $1,324 | |
| 2024 | 26 / 35 | 1 | $1,280 | |
| 2023 | 24 / 33 | 1 | $1,371 | |
| 2022 | 26 / 34 | 1 | $1,324 | |
| 2021 | 25 / 34 | 1 | $1,371 | |
| 2020 | 27 / 35 | 1 | $1,280 | |
| 2019 | 27 / 34 | 1 | $1,280 | |
| 2018 | 27 / 37 | 1 | $1,239 | |
| 2017 | 27 / 37 | 1 | $1,239 | |
| 2016 | 24 / 31 | 1 | $1,422 | |
| 2015 | 24 / 31 | 1 | $1,477 | |
| 2014 | 23 / 31 | 1 | $1,477 | |
| 2013 | 24 / 31 | 1 | $1,477 | |
| 2012 | 22 / 30 | 1 | $1,536 | |
| 2011 | 22 / 30 | 1 | $1,536 | |
| 2010 | 23 / 30 | 1 | $1,477 | |
| 2009 | 20 / 27.5 | 2 | $1,707 | |
| 2008 | 19.5 / 28.5 | 2 | $1,707 | |
| 2007 | 19.5 / 28 | 2 | $1,707 | |
| 2006 | 19.5 / 28.5 | 2 | $1,707 | |
| 2005 | 20 / 28 | 2 | $1,670 | |
| 2004 | 19 / 26.5 | 2 | $1,745 | |
| 2003 | 19 / 26.5 | 2 | $1,745 | |
| 2002 | 18.5 / 27 | 2 | $1,829 | |
| 2001 | 18 / 26.5 | 2 | $1,829 | |
| 2000 | 19.5 / 27.5 | 2 | $1,707 | |
| 1999 | 19 / 27.5 | 2 | $1,707 | |
| 1998 | 19 / 28 | 2 | $1,745 | |
| 1997 | 17.5 / 26 | 2 | $1,873 | |
| 1996 | 17 / 25 | 1 | $1,920 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
Fuel-economy figures come from EPA fueleconomy.gov — the same laboratory numbers printed on the window sticker. We don't adjust them; real-world consumption depends on how and where you drive.
What we add is money. Yearly cost assumes 12,000 miles at $3.20 a gallon — change either and the ranking stays, only the size of the bill moves. Cost per mile is the same figure divided out, useful when comparing a commute against a weekend car.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Audi A4 get?
24.2 mpg combined on average — 21.2 in the city and 29.4 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 1996–2025.
How much does a Audi A4 cost in fuel per year?
About $1,587 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $7,935 over five years, or 0.132 dollars a mile.
Which A4 engine is the most economical?
The 2L 4-cyl Hybrid at 28.8 mpg, against 20.3 for the 2.8L 6-cyl — a difference of about $559 a year.
Is the A4 good on fuel compared with similar cars?
Against other 4-cyl cars it sits below the average of 25.4 mpg, computed across 6877 ratings.
Are these real-world figures?
No — they are EPA laboratory ratings, the same ones on the window sticker. Real consumption depends on driving style, terrain, load and weather, and is typically a little worse.