The Audi S3 does 25.6 mpg combined (22.5 city, 30.4 highway), which works out to about $1,500 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 mpg while 2L 4-cyl does 25.6 — a difference of $23 a year. Against other 4-cyl cars it sits below the average of 25.7 mpg.
Every Audi S3 engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Audi S3 ranges from 26 down to 25.6 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $23 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2L 4-cyl Hybrid | 23 / 32 | 2024–2024 | $1,477 | |
| 2L 4-cyl | 22.5 / 30.2 | 2015–2026 | $1,500 |
What that actually costs
The Audi S3 burns a gallon every 25.6 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 469 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.125 |
| Fuel per year | $1,500 |
| Fuel over five years | $7,500 |
| Against other 4-cyl cars | +$6 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $3,005 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Audi S3 gives up 7.9 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 30.4 out there against 22.5 in town, a 35% drop worth $444 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 | 22.5 mpg | $1,707 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 30.4 mpg | $1,263 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +7.9 mpg (35%) | Wide — this car dislikes traffic |
How the S3 changed over the years
The S3 peaked in 2022 at 27 mpg (23 city, 32 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 2017 at 24 — 3 mpg apart, or $178 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2026 car does 26. 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 | 23 / 31 | 1 | $1,477 | |
| 2025 | 23 / 31 | 1 | $1,477 | |
| 2024 | 23 / 32 | 1 | $1,477 | |
| 2023 | 23 / 32 | 1 | $1,477 | |
| 2022 | 23 / 32 | 1 | $1,422 | |
| 2020 | 22 / 29 | 1 | $1,536 | |
| 2019 | 22 / 29 | 1 | $1,536 | |
| 2018 | 22 / 28 | 1 | $1,536 | |
| 2017 | 21 / 28 | 1 | $1,600 | |
| 2016 | 23 / 31 | 1 | $1,477 | |
| 2015 | 23 / 31 | 1 | $1,477 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 11 EPA ratings of the Audi S3 — 2 engines across 2015–2026. 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 $3,005. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Audi S3 get?
25.6 mpg combined on average — 22.5 in the city and 30.4 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 2015–2026.
How much does a Audi S3 cost in fuel per year?
About $1,500 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $7,500 over five years, or 0.125 dollars a mile.
Which S3 engine is the most economical?
The 2L 4-cyl Hybrid at 26 mpg, against 25.6 for the 2L 4-cyl — a difference of about $23 a year.
Is the S3 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 S3 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 S3 is $3,005 against the $1,500 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 27 and 24 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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