Audi A8 MPG by year — every rating on record
The Audi A8 has a combined EPA fuel economy rating for 15 model years, from 1997 to 2015. Across those years its best rated version returned 22 mpg (2015) and its thirstiest returned 18 mpg (1997). The EPA record holds 20 configurations for this nameplate, most recently a Midsize Cars.
Year-by-year EPA ratings
| Model year | Configurations | Best combined | Worst combined | Class rank that year | Drivetrains | Fuel | EPA class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 2 | 18 mpg | 18 mpg | #30 of 43 (31th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars |
| 1998 | 2 | 18 mpg | 18 mpg | #32 of 47 (33th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars |
| 1999 | 1 | 18 mpg | 18 mpg | #38 of 56 (33th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars |
| 2003 | 1 | 18 mpg | 18 mpg | #34 of 46 (27th pct) | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars |
| 2005 | 1 | 18 mpg | 18 mpg | #45 of 56 (20th pct) | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars |
| 2006 | 1 | 18 mpg | 18 mpg | #46 of 61 (25th pct) | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars |
| 2007 | 1 | 18 mpg | 18 mpg | #52 of 68 (24th pct) | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars |
| 2008 | 1 | 18 mpg | 18 mpg | #53 of 70 (25th pct) | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars |
| 2009 | 1 | 18 mpg | 18 mpg | #52 of 66 (22th pct) | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars |
| 2010 | 1 | 18 mpg | 18 mpg | #53 of 63 (16th pct) | All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars |
| 2011 | 1 | 21 mpg | 21 mpg | #44 of 71 (39th pct) | All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars |
| 2012 | 1 | 21 mpg | 21 mpg | #52 of 76 (32th pct) | All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars |
| 2013 | 2 | 21 mpg | 21 mpg | #68 of 92 (26th pct) | All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars |
| 2014 | 2 | 21 mpg | 21 mpg | #81 of 107 (25th pct) | All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars |
| 2015 | 2 | 22 mpg | 22 mpg | #75 of 101 (26th pct) | All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars |
Where it has stood in its class
Ranked against every other nameplate the EPA filed under the same class that year. The Audi A8 placed highest in 1997 at #30 of 43, and lowest in 2014 at #81 of 107. It spent 0 of its 15 ranked years in the top half of its class.
Every configuration on record
All 20 configurations EPA lists for this nameplate, newest first.
| Year | Configuration | Engine detail | City | Highway | Combined | Gallons/yr | Barrels/yr | EPA fuel cost/yr | CO2 g/mi | GHG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 4.0L 8-cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) Premium | SIDI, turbocharged, start-stop | 18 | 30 | 22 | 522.7 | 13.5 | $3,500 | 401 | 5/10 |
| 2015 | 3.0L 6-cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) Premium | SIDI, supercharged, start-stop | 19 | 29 | 22 | 522.7 | 13.5 | $3,500 | 397 | 5/10 |
| 2014 | 4.0L 8-cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) Premium | SIDI, turbocharged, start-stop | 17 | 28 | 21 | 547.6 | 14.2 | $3,700 | 424 | 5/10 |
| 2014 | 3.0L 6-cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) Premium | SIDI, supercharged, start-stop | 18 | 28 | 21 | 547.6 | 14.2 | $3,700 | 420 | 5/10 |
| 2013 | 3.0L 6-cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) Premium | SIDI, supercharged | 18 | 28 | 21 | 547.6 | 14.2 | $3,700 | 418 | 5/10 |
| 2013 | 4.0L 8-cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) Premium | SIDI, turbocharged, start-stop | 17 | 28 | 21 | 547.6 | 14.2 | $3,700 | 424 | 5/10 |
| 2012 | 4.2L 8-cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) Premium | SIDI | 18 | 28 | 21 | 547.6 | 14.2 | $3,700 | 423.1904761904762 | n/a |
| 2011 | 4.2L 8-cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) Premium | SIDI | 17 | 27 | 21 | 547.6 | 14.2 | $3,700 | 423.1904761904762 | n/a |
| 2010 | 4.2L 8-cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) Premium | 4.2L 8-cyl | 16 | 23 | 18 | 638.9 | 16.5 | $4,300 | 493.72222222222223 | n/a |
| 2009 | 4.2L 8-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) Premium | 4.2L 8-cyl | 16 | 23 | 18 | 638.9 | 16.5 | $4,300 | 493.72222222222223 | n/a |
| 2008 | 4.2L 8-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) Premium | 4.2L 8-cyl | 16 | 23 | 18 | 638.9 | 16.5 | $4,300 | 493.72222222222223 | n/a |
| 2007 | 4.2L 8-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) Premium | 4.2L 8-cyl | 16 | 23 | 18 | 638.9 | 16.5 | $4,300 | 493.72222222222223 | n/a |
| 2006 | 4.2L 8-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) Premium | 4.2L 8-cyl | 16 | 22 | 18 | 638.9 | 16.5 | $4,300 | 493.72222222222223 | n/a |
| 2005 | 4.2L 8-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) Premium | 4.2L 8-cyl | 16 | 22 | 18 | 638.9 | 16.5 | $4,300 | 493.72222222222223 | n/a |
| 2003 | 4.2L 8-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S5) Premium | 4.2L 8-cyl | 15 | 23 | 18 | 638.9 | 16.5 | $4,300 | 493.72222222222223 | n/a |
| 1999 | 3.7L 8-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 5-spd Premium | 3.7L 8-cyl | 15 | 24 | 18 | 638.9 | 16.5 | $4,300 | 493.72222222222223 | n/a |
| 1998 | 3.7L 8-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 5-spd Premium | 3.7L 8-cyl | 15 | 24 | 18 | 638.9 | 16.5 | $4,300 | 493.72222222222223 | n/a |
| 1998 | 4.2L 8-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic 5-spd Premium | 4.2L 8-cyl | 15 | 23 | 18 | 638.9 | 16.5 | $4,300 | 493.72222222222223 | n/a |
| 1997 | 3.7L 8-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 5-spd Premium | (FFS) | 15 | 24 | 18 | 638.9 | 16.5 | $4,300 | 493.72222222222223 | n/a |
| 1997 | 4.2L 8-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic 5-spd Premium | (FFS) | 15 | 23 | 18 | 638.9 | 16.5 | $4,300 | 493.72222222222223 | n/a |
How the rating has moved between model years
Comparing the best-rated configuration of each year. 2 of 2 year-over-year steps improved the top rating.
| Change | Best combined | Delta | Gallons a year at the newer rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 → 2011 | 18 → 21 mpg | +3 mpg | 548 gal |
| 2014 → 2015 | 21 → 22 mpg | +1 mpg | 523 gal |
What A8 fuel costs over a year
At the EPA's 11,500 miles a year, the 2015 Audi A8 burns 523 to 523 gallons depending on configuration. Below is what that costs at three pump prices, and how much more the thirstiest configuration costs than the most efficient one.
| Pump price | Most efficient | Thirstiest | Spread |
|---|---|---|---|
| $3.00/gal | $1,568 | $1,568 | $0 |
| $3.50/gal | $1,830 | $1,830 | $0 |
| $4.00/gal | $2,091 | $2,091 | $0 |
EPA’s own estimate for the 2015 model year is $3,500 to $3,500 a year in fuel, or $6,250 more than the average new vehicle over five years.
How it compares with other Midsize Cars
Across the 483 nameplates EPA classifies as Midsize Cars, the median best combined rating is 25 mpg. At 22 mpg the Audi A8 is 3 mpg below the median, which is worth about $220 a year at $3.50 a gallon.
- All Midsize Cars rankings — every nameplate in the class, best to worst.
Other Audi nameplates
Every Audi model compared → — all nameplates ranked by best combined rating, with what each one costs a year.