Tank Ledger

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.

22best combined mpg (2015)
18worst combined mpg (1997)
22latest year best (2015)
20configurations on record

Year-by-year EPA ratings

Model yearConfigurationsBest combinedWorst combinedClass rank that yearDrivetrainsFuelEPA class
1997218 mpg18 mpg#30 of 43 (31th pct)Front-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel DrivePremiumMidsize Cars
1998218 mpg18 mpg#32 of 47 (33th pct)Front-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel DrivePremiumMidsize Cars
1999118 mpg18 mpg#38 of 56 (33th pct)Front-Wheel DrivePremiumMidsize Cars
2003118 mpg18 mpg#34 of 46 (27th pct)4-Wheel or All-Wheel DrivePremiumMidsize Cars
2005118 mpg18 mpg#45 of 56 (20th pct)4-Wheel or All-Wheel DrivePremiumMidsize Cars
2006118 mpg18 mpg#46 of 61 (25th pct)4-Wheel or All-Wheel DrivePremiumMidsize Cars
2007118 mpg18 mpg#52 of 68 (24th pct)4-Wheel or All-Wheel DrivePremiumMidsize Cars
2008118 mpg18 mpg#53 of 70 (25th pct)4-Wheel or All-Wheel DrivePremiumMidsize Cars
2009118 mpg18 mpg#52 of 66 (22th pct)4-Wheel or All-Wheel DrivePremiumMidsize Cars
2010118 mpg18 mpg#53 of 63 (16th pct)All-Wheel DrivePremiumMidsize Cars
2011121 mpg21 mpg#44 of 71 (39th pct)All-Wheel DrivePremiumMidsize Cars
2012121 mpg21 mpg#52 of 76 (32th pct)All-Wheel DrivePremiumMidsize Cars
2013221 mpg21 mpg#68 of 92 (26th pct)All-Wheel DrivePremiumMidsize Cars
2014221 mpg21 mpg#81 of 107 (25th pct)All-Wheel DrivePremiumMidsize Cars
2015222 mpg22 mpg#75 of 101 (26th pct)All-Wheel DrivePremiumMidsize 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.

YearConfigurationEngine detailCityHighwayCombinedGallons/yrBarrels/yrEPA fuel cost/yrCO2 g/miGHG
20154.0L 8-cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) PremiumSIDI, turbocharged, start-stop183022522.713.5$3,5004015/10
20153.0L 6-cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) PremiumSIDI, supercharged, start-stop192922522.713.5$3,5003975/10
20144.0L 8-cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) PremiumSIDI, turbocharged, start-stop172821547.614.2$3,7004245/10
20143.0L 6-cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) PremiumSIDI, supercharged, start-stop182821547.614.2$3,7004205/10
20133.0L 6-cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) PremiumSIDI, supercharged182821547.614.2$3,7004185/10
20134.0L 8-cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) PremiumSIDI, turbocharged, start-stop172821547.614.2$3,7004245/10
20124.2L 8-cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) PremiumSIDI182821547.614.2$3,700423.1904761904762n/a
20114.2L 8-cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) PremiumSIDI172721547.614.2$3,700423.1904761904762n/a
20104.2L 8-cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) Premium4.2L 8-cyl162318638.916.5$4,300493.72222222222223n/a
20094.2L 8-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) Premium4.2L 8-cyl162318638.916.5$4,300493.72222222222223n/a
20084.2L 8-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) Premium4.2L 8-cyl162318638.916.5$4,300493.72222222222223n/a
20074.2L 8-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) Premium4.2L 8-cyl162318638.916.5$4,300493.72222222222223n/a
20064.2L 8-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) Premium4.2L 8-cyl162218638.916.5$4,300493.72222222222223n/a
20054.2L 8-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S6) Premium4.2L 8-cyl162218638.916.5$4,300493.72222222222223n/a
20034.2L 8-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic (S5) Premium4.2L 8-cyl152318638.916.5$4,300493.72222222222223n/a
19993.7L 8-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 5-spd Premium3.7L 8-cyl152418638.916.5$4,300493.72222222222223n/a
19983.7L 8-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 5-spd Premium3.7L 8-cyl152418638.916.5$4,300493.72222222222223n/a
19984.2L 8-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic 5-spd Premium4.2L 8-cyl152318638.916.5$4,300493.72222222222223n/a
19973.7L 8-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 5-spd Premium(FFS)152418638.916.5$4,300493.72222222222223n/a
19974.2L 8-cyl 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive Automatic 5-spd Premium(FFS)152318638.916.5$4,300493.72222222222223n/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.

ChangeBest combinedDeltaGallons a year at the newer rating
2010 → 201118 → 21 mpg+3 mpg548 gal
2014 → 201521 → 22 mpg+1 mpg523 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 priceMost efficientThirstiestSpread
$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.

Other Audi nameplates

Every Audi model compared → — all nameplates ranked by best combined rating, with what each one costs a year.