The Audi A8 does 20.3 mpg combined (17.4 city, 26.1 highway), which works out to about $1,892 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Engine choice matters more than you'd think: 3L 6-cyl does 22.7 mpg while 3.7L 8-cyl does 18 — a difference of $441 a year. Against other V8 cars it sits above the average of 16.1 mpg.
Every Audi A8 engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Audi A8 ranges from 22.7 down to 18 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $441 a year across 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3L 6-cyl | 19.5 / 29.8 | 2013–2018 | $1,692 | |
| 3L 6-cyl Hybrid | 19.5 / 27 | 2019–2027 | $1,730 | |
| 4L 8-cyl | 17.3 / 28.3 | 2013–2018 | $1,811 | |
| 4.2L 8-cyl | 15.9 / 23.4 | 2000–2012 | $2,076 | |
| 3.7L 8-cyl | 15 / 24 | 1997–1999 | $2,133 |
What that actually costs
The Audi A8 burns a gallon every 20.3 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 591 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.158 |
| Fuel per year | $1,892 |
| Fuel over five years | $9,460 |
| Against other V8 cars | −$493 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $3,835 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Audi A8 gives up 8.7 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 26.1 out there against 17.4 in town, a 50% drop worth $736 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 | 17.4 mpg | $2,207 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 26.1 mpg | $1,471 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +8.7 mpg (50%) | Wide — this car dislikes traffic |
How the A8 changed over the years
The A8 peaked in 2016 at 25 mpg (21 city, 32.5 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 2010 at 18 — 7 mpg apart, or $597 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2027 car does 22. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 19 / 27 | 1 | $1,745 | |
| 2026 | 19 / 27 | 1 | $1,745 | |
| 2025 | 20 / 26 | 1 | $1,745 | |
| 2024 | 19 / 28 | 1 | $1,745 | |
| 2020 | 21 / 27 | 1 | $1,670 | |
| 2019 | 19 / 27 | 1 | $1,745 | |
| 2018 | 17.5 / 27.5 | 2 | $1,873 | |
| 2017 | 18.5 / 29 | 2 | $1,745 | |
| 2016 | 21 / 32.5 | 2 | $1,536 | |
| 2015 | 18.5 / 29.5 | 2 | $1,745 | |
| 2014 | 17.5 / 28 | 2 | $1,829 | |
| 2013 | 17.5 / 28 | 2 | $1,829 | |
| 2012 | 18 / 28 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 2011 | 17 / 27 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 2010 | 16 / 23 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 2009 | 16 / 23 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 2008 | 16 / 23 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 2007 | 16 / 23 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 2006 | 16 / 22 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 2005 | 16 / 22 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 2004 | 16 / 22 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 2003 | 15 / 23 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 2002 | 15 / 23 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 2001 | 15 / 23 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 2000 | 15 / 22 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 1999 | 15 / 24 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 1998 | 15 / 24 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 1997 | 15 / 24 | 1 | $2,133 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 34 EPA ratings of the Audi A8 — 5 engines across 1997–2027. 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 $3,835. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Audi A8 get?
20.3 mpg combined on average — 17.4 in the city and 26.1 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 1997–2027.
How much does a Audi A8 cost in fuel per year?
About $1,892 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $9,460 over five years, or 0.158 dollars a mile.
Which A8 engine is the most economical?
The 3L 6-cyl at 22.7 mpg, against 18 for the 3.7L 8-cyl — a difference of about $441 a year.
Is the A8 good on fuel compared with similar cars?
Against other V8 cars it sits above the average of 16.1 mpg, computed across 3323 ratings.
Are these real-world A8 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 A8 is $3,835 against the $1,892 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 28 and 18 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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