2016 Audi A3
Fuel economy, running costs, emissions and safety · from U.S. EPA and NHTSA data
The 2016 Audi A3 is sold in the U.S. with gasoline and plug-in hybrid power. The EPA lists 6 configurations for this model year, with combined economy from 26 to 39 MPG and an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,050 to $2,500 at 15,000 miles.
Key numbers
| Model year | 2016 |
|---|---|
| Vehicle class | Subcompact Cars |
| Fuel type(s) | Gasoline, Plug-in Hybrid |
| Combined economy | 26-39 MPG |
| Best / worst combined | 39 / 26 MPG |
| Annual fuel cost | $2,050-$2,500 |
| Tailpipe CO₂ | 138-334 g/mi |
| EPA smog rating | 9-9 / 10 |
What it costs to fuel
Across its configurations, the 2016 A3 costs about $2,050 to $2,500 a year to fuel at the EPA's 15,000-mile basis, averaging roughly $2,325. Over five years that is about $11,625 in fuel alone before maintenance, insurance and depreciation — which is why the running cost, not just the price, decides what a car really costs.
Relative to an average new vehicle, the most efficient A3 configuration saves about $3,750 in fuel over five years; less efficient versions spend more.
For context, the average combined economy of subcompact cars in this dataset is about 27 MPG. The A3 sits roughly 5 MPG above that mark at its midpoint, making it more efficient than average for its EPA class.
Configurations and fuel economy
| Version | Engine | Drive | Trans | Fuel | Combined | Annual fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A3 e-tron ultra | 1.4L 4-cyl turbo | Front-Wheel | Automatic | Plug-in Hybrid | 39 MPG | $2,050 |
| A3 e-tron | 1.4L 4-cyl turbo | Front-Wheel | Automatic | Plug-in Hybrid | 35 MPG | $2,300 |
| A3 Cabriolet | 1.8L 4-cyl turbo | Front-Wheel | Automatic | Gasoline | 28 MPG | $2,300 |
| A3 | 1.8L 4-cyl turbo | Front-Wheel | Automatic | Gasoline | 27 MPG | $2,400 |
| A3 quattro | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | All-Wheel | Automatic | Gasoline | 27 MPG | $2,400 |
| A3 Cabriolet quattro | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | All-Wheel | Automatic | Gasoline | 26 MPG | $2,500 |
Emissions, safety and size
The 2016 A3 records tailpipe CO₂ of 138-334 g/mi, an EPA smog rating of 9-9 out of 10, and an EPA electric range of 380 to 430 miles when running on battery. The EPA classifies it as subcompact cars.
Compare this car
Open the comparison tool to line this 2016 A3 up against any other vehicle in the database, or jump to other years and trims from the 2016 Audi A3 overview.
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Data: U.S. EPA FuelEconomy.gov (public domain) and NHTSA SafetyRatings. Figures are EPA estimates; real-world results vary.