The Audi Q5 does 23.8 mpg combined (21.6 city, 27.5 highway), which works out to about $1,613 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 26.2 mpg while 3.2L 6-cyl does 20 — a difference of $454 a year. Against other 4-cyl cars it sits below the average of 25.7 mpg.
Every Audi Q5 engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Audi Q5 ranges from 26.2 down to 20 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $454 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 | 24.4 / 28.8 | 2013–2025 | $1,466 | |
| 3L 6-cyl | 21 / 28.4 | 2013–2017 | $1,600 | |
| 2L 4-cyl | 20.8 / 27.6 | 2011–2026 | $1,662 | |
| 3.2L 6-cyl | 18 / 23 | 2009–2012 | $1,920 |
What that actually costs
The Audi Q5 burns a gallon every 23.8 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 504 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.134 |
| Fuel per year | $1,613 |
| Fuel over five years | $8,065 |
| Against other 4-cyl cars | +$119 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $3,263 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Audi Q5 gives up 5.9 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 27.5 out there against 21.6 in town, a 27% drop worth $382 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 | 21.6 mpg | $1,778 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 27.5 mpg | $1,396 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +5.9 mpg (27%) | Typical for its type |
How the Q5 changed over the years
The Q5 peaked in 2021 at 27 mpg (25 city, 29 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 2010 at 20 — 7 mpg apart, or $498 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2026 car does 24. 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 | 21 / 29 | 1 | $1,600 | |
| 2025 | 23.5 / 28.5 | 2 | $1,506 | |
| 2024 | 23 / 29 | 1 | $1,477 | |
| 2023 | 25 / 27 | 1 | $1,477 | |
| 2022 | 25 / 27 | 1 | $1,477 | |
| 2021 | 25 / 29 | 1 | $1,422 | |
| 2020 | 23.5 / 28.5 | 2 | $1,506 | |
| 2019 | 22 / 27 | 1 | $1,600 | |
| 2018 | 23 / 27 | 1 | $1,536 | |
| 2017 | 19 / 26.5 | 2 | $1,786 | |
| 2016 | 22.3 / 29 | 3 | $1,555 | |
| 2015 | 22.3 / 29 | 3 | $1,555 | |
| 2014 | 22.3 / 29 | 3 | $1,555 | |
| 2013 | 20.7 / 28 | 3 | $1,648 | |
| 2012 | 19 / 25 | 2 | $1,829 | |
| 2011 | 19 / 25 | 2 | $1,829 | |
| 2010 | 18 / 23 | 1 | $1,920 | |
| 2009 | 18 / 23 | 1 | $1,920 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 31 EPA ratings of the Audi Q5 — 4 engines across 2009–2026. 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 $3,263. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Audi Q5 get?
23.8 mpg combined on average — 21.6 in the city and 27.5 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 2009–2026.
How much does a Audi Q5 cost in fuel per year?
About $1,613 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $8,065 over five years, or 0.134 dollars a mile.
Which Q5 engine is the most economical?
The 2L 4-cyl Hybrid at 26.2 mpg, against 20 for the 3.2L 6-cyl — a difference of about $454 a year.
Is the Q5 good on fuel compared with similar cars?
Against other 4-cyl cars it sits below the average of 25.7 mpg, computed across 4765 ratings.
Are these real-world Q5 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 Q5 is $3,263 against the $1,613 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 27 and 20 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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