The Volkswagen R32 does 19.5 mpg combined (17.5 city, 23.5 highway), which works out to about $1,969 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Against other V6 cars it sits below the average of 19.9 mpg.
Every Volkswagen R32 engine, compared
The Volkswagen R32 was rated in a single specification, so its gas mileage does not vary by version — only by model year. Yearly cost assumes 12,000 miles at $3.20 a gallon.
| Engine | Combined | City / Highway | Years | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.2L 6-cyl | 17.5 / 23.5 | 2004–2008 | $1,969 |
What that actually costs
The Volkswagen R32 burns a gallon every 19.5 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 615 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.164 |
| Fuel per year | $1,969 |
| Fuel over five years | $9,845 |
| Against other V6 cars | +$39 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $3,950 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Volkswagen R32 gives up 6 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 23.5 out there against 17.5 in town, a 34% drop worth $560 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 | 17.5 mpg | $2,194 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 23.5 mpg | $1,634 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +6 mpg (34%) | Wide — this car dislikes traffic |
How the R32 changed over the years
The R32 peaked in 2008 at 20 mpg (18 city, 23 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 2004 at 19 — 1 mpg apart, or $101 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2008 car does 20.
| Model year | Combined | City / Highway | Engines offered | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 18 / 23 | 1 | $1,920 | |
| 2004 | 17 / 24 | 1 | $2,021 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
- Fuel profile built from your actual mileage and local prices
- Fuel tracker: what you really spend, month by month
- Insurance and fuel folded into 5-year cost to own
- Compare any two cars on total cost, not sticker price
- No ads, no tracking — and much more
How we count
This page rests on 2 EPA ratings of the Volkswagen R32 — 1 engine across 2004–2008. 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 $3,950. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Volkswagen R32 get?
19.5 mpg combined on average — 17.5 in the city and 23.5 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 2004–2008.
How much does a Volkswagen R32 cost in fuel per year?
About $1,969 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $9,845 over five years, or 0.164 dollars a mile.
Which R32 engine is the most economical?
The 3.2L 6-cyl at 19.5 mpg.
Is the R32 good on fuel compared with similar cars?
Against other V6 cars it sits below the average of 19.9 mpg, computed across 4940 ratings.
Are these real-world R32 figures?
No — they are EPA laboratory ratings, the same ones printed on the window sticker, and EPA's own annual fuel estimate for the Volkswagen R32 is $3,950 against the $1,969 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the city and highway figures is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
Mark ForCar as a preferred source and our data shows up first in your Google results. One click, no account.