2015 head-to-head · Subcompact Car
2015 Audi A3 vs Audi A3 Diesel
MPG, range and what each one really costs you to fuel, from official EPA ratings and recalculated with your own gas and electricity prices.
FWD · 2.0L 4-cyl turbo · 6-speed dual-clutch · 35 MPG
The 2015 Audi A3 Diesel is the cheaper one to run. Driving 15,000 miles a year with $3.95/gal premium gas and $3.70/gal diesel fuel, it costs about $1,586 a year to fuel (35 MPG), versus $2,116 for the 2015 Audi A3 (28 MPG). That's roughly $530 a year, or about $2,652 over five years.
Your numbers
Change these to match your driving and local prices. Every figure and chart on this page updates.
Fuel cost over 10 years
- Audi A3
- Audi A3 Diesel
Side by side
| Audi A3 | Audi A3 Diesel | |
|---|---|---|
| $2,116 | Your annual fuel cost | $1,586 |
| 28 MPG | Combined efficiency | 35 MPG |
| 24 MPG | City | 31 MPG |
| 35 MPG | Highway | 41 MPG |
| 79 cu ft | Passenger volume | 86 cu ft |
| 10 cu ft | Cargo volume | 12 cu ft |
| 314 g/mi | Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) | 292 g/mi |
| 7/10 | EPA fuel economy score | 8/10 |
| 7/10 | EPA greenhouse gas score | 8/10 |
| Gas | Powertrain | Diesel |
| Premium gasoline | Fuel | Diesel |
| 1.8L 4-cyl turbo | Engine / motor | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo |
| 6-speed dual-clutch | Transmission | 6-speed dual-clutch |
| FWD | Drivetrain | FWD |
✓ marks the better value. EPA scores run 1–10 (10 is best). Volumes come from the EPA interior volume index and aren't published for every body style.
Audi A3 vs Audi A3 Diesel across model years
- Audi A3
- Audi A3 Diesel
Annual fuel cost of the most efficient configuration of each model year, at your prices. Click a point to open that year.
How they differ
Per EPA interior volume figures, the Audi A3 Diesel has more passenger space (86 vs. 79 cu ft); the Audi A3 Diesel has more cargo space (12 vs. 10 cu ft).
Among 36 2015 subcompact cars, the Audi A3 ranks 14th and the Audi A3 Diesel 9th for lowest fuel cost.
The powertrains differ: the Audi A3 is a conventional gas model, while the Audi A3 Diesel is a diesel.
Frequently asked questions
Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2015 Audi A3 or the 2015 Audi A3 Diesel?
Measured by cost to drive, the Audi A3 Diesel. The Audi A3 is rated 28 MPG combined and the Audi A3 Diesel 35 MPG (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).
How much does it cost to fuel the 2015 Audi A3 vs. the Audi A3 Diesel per year?
At 15,000 miles a year with $3.95/gal premium gas and $3.70/gal diesel fuel, about $2,116 for the Audi A3 and $1,586 for the Audi A3 Diesel.
Which has more cargo space?
The Audi A3 Diesel, with 12 cu ft of luggage volume versus 10 cu ft (EPA interior volume index).
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