The Audi S4 does 20.1 mpg combined (17.4 city, 25.5 highway), which works out to about $1,910 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 22.5 mpg while 4.2L 8-cyl does 16.3 — a difference of $649 a year. Against other V6 cars it sits above the average of 19.9 mpg.
Every Audi S4 engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Audi S4 ranges from 22.5 down to 16.3 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $649 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3L 6-cyl | 19.4 / 28.6 | 2010–2025 | $1,707 | |
| 2.2L 5-cyl | 16 / 22 | 1992–1994 | $2,133 | |
| 2.7L 6-cyl | 15.3 / 22 | 2000–2002 | $2,133 | |
| 4.2L 8-cyl | 14.3 / 21.2 | 2004–2009 | $2,356 |
What that actually costs
The Audi S4 burns a gallon every 20.1 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 597 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.159 |
| Fuel per year | $1,910 |
| Fuel over five years | $9,550 |
| Against other V6 cars | −$20 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $3,878 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Audi S4 gives up 8.1 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 25.5 out there against 17.4 in town, a 47% drop worth $701 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 | 25.5 mpg | $1,506 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +8.1 mpg (47%) | Wide — this car dislikes traffic |
How the S4 changed over the years
The S4 peaked in 2025 at 24 mpg (20 city, 29 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 2009 at 16 — 8 mpg apart, or $800 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2025 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 20 / 29 | 1 | $1,600 | |
| 2024 | 21 / 29 | 1 | $1,600 | |
| 2023 | 21 / 30 | 1 | $1,600 | |
| 2022 | 21 / 30 | 1 | $1,600 | |
| 2021 | 20 / 28 | 1 | $1,670 | |
| 2020 | 20 / 27 | 1 | $1,670 | |
| 2019 | 21 / 30 | 1 | $1,600 | |
| 2018 | 21 / 30 | 1 | $1,600 | |
| 2016 | 18 / 28 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 2015 | 18 / 28 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 2014 | 18 / 28 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 2013 | 18 / 28 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 2012 | 18 / 28 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 2011 | 18 / 28 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 2010 | 18 / 28 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 2009 | 14 / 21 | 1 | $2,400 | |
| 2008 | 14 / 21 | 1 | $2,400 | |
| 2007 | 14 / 21 | 1 | $2,400 | |
| 2006 | 14 / 21 | 1 | $2,400 | |
| 2005 | 14 / 21 | 1 | $2,400 | |
| 2004 | 16 / 22 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 2002 | 15 / 22 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 2001 | 16 / 22 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 2000 | 15 / 22 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 1994 | 16 / 22 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 1993 | 16 / 22 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 1992 | 16 / 22 | 1 | $2,133 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 27 EPA ratings of the Audi S4 — 4 engines across 1992–2025. 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 $3,878. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Audi S4 get?
20.1 mpg combined on average — 17.4 in the city and 25.5 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 1992–2025.
How much does a Audi S4 cost in fuel per year?
About $1,910 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $9,550 over five years, or 0.159 dollars a mile.
Which S4 engine is the most economical?
The 3L 6-cyl at 22.5 mpg, against 16.3 for the 4.2L 8-cyl — a difference of about $649 a year.
Is the S4 good on fuel compared with similar cars?
Against other V6 cars it sits above the average of 19.9 mpg, computed across 4940 ratings.
Are these real-world S4 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 S4 is $3,878 against the $1,910 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 24 and 16 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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