The Audi S8 does 17 mpg combined (14.2 city, 22.8 highway), which works out to about $2,259 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Engine choice matters more than you'd think: 4L 8-cyl does 18.3 mpg while 5.2L 10-cyl does 15 — a difference of $462 a year. Against other V8 cars it sits above the average of 16.1 mpg.
Every Audi S8 engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Audi S8 ranges from 18.3 down to 15 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $462 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4L 8-cyl | 15 / 25.3 | 2013–2018 | $2,098 | |
| 4L 8-cyl Hybrid | 14.4 / 23.3 | 2020–2027 | $2,207 | |
| 4.2L 8-cyl | 13.3 / 20 | 2001–2003 | $2,510 | |
| 5.2L 10-cyl | 13 / 19 | 2007–2009 | $2,560 |
What that actually costs
The Audi S8 burns a gallon every 17 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 706 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.188 |
| Fuel per year | $2,259 |
| Fuel over five years | $11,295 |
| Against other V8 cars | −$126 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $4,578 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Audi S8 gives up 8.6 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 22.8 out there against 14.2 in town, a 61% drop worth $1,020 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 | 14.2 mpg | $2,704 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 22.8 mpg | $1,684 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +8.6 mpg (61%) | Wide — this car dislikes traffic |
How the S8 changed over the years
The S8 peaked in 2015 at 20 mpg (16 city, 27 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 2009 at 15 — 5 mpg apart, or $640 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2027 car does 18. 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 | 15 / 24 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 2026 | 15 / 24 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 2025 | 15 / 24 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 2024 | 15 / 24 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 2023 | 15 / 23 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 2022 | 14 / 23 | 1 | $2,259 | |
| 2021 | 13 / 22 | 1 | $2,400 | |
| 2020 | 13 / 22 | 1 | $2,400 | |
| 2018 | 14 / 24 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 2017 | 15 / 24 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 2016 | 15 / 25 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 2015 | 16 / 27 | 1 | $1,920 | |
| 2014 | 15 / 26 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 2013 | 15 / 26 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 2009 | 13 / 19 | 1 | $2,560 | |
| 2008 | 13 / 19 | 1 | $2,560 | |
| 2007 | 13 / 19 | 1 | $2,560 | |
| 2003 | 14 / 20 | 1 | $2,400 | |
| 2002 | 13 / 20 | 1 | $2,560 | |
| 2001 | 13 / 20 | 1 | $2,560 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 20 EPA ratings of the Audi S8 — 4 engines across 2001–2027. 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 $4,578. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Audi S8 get?
17 mpg combined on average — 14.2 in the city and 22.8 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 2001–2027.
How much does a Audi S8 cost in fuel per year?
About $2,259 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $11,295 over five years, or 0.188 dollars a mile.
Which S8 engine is the most economical?
The 4L 8-cyl at 18.3 mpg, against 15 for the 5.2L 10-cyl — a difference of about $462 a year.
Is the S8 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 S8 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 S8 is $4,578 against the $2,259 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 20 and 15 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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