Is the 2003 Audi A6 fuel efficient?

It is in line with the rest of the class. The 2003 Audi A6 returns 21 combined MPG, and the average car in the Midsize Cars class for the same model year sits at 19.8 MPG.

What MPG does the 2003 Audi A6 get?

The EPA rates the 2003 Audi A6 at 21 combined MPG, 18 MPG in city driving, and 25 MPG on the highway. Real-world numbers depend on your driving style, the weather, and how loaded the car is.

How much does it cost to fuel a 2003 Audi A6 per year?

The EPA estimates an annual fuel cost of $3,300 for the 2003 Audi A6. That figure assumes 15,000 miles of driving per year, a 55% city and 45% highway split, and the EPA's published average fuel price for the rated fuel grade.

Does the 2003 Audi A6 require premium gas?

Yes. The EPA lists the 2003 Audi A6 as requiring premium gasoline. Running it on regular can reduce performance and may affect engine warranties, so it is not a recommended way to save at the pump.

Has the Audi A6 become more fuel efficient over time?

Yes. The first EPA-rated Audi A6, the 1995 Audi A6 , returned 19 combined MPG. The most recent 2018 Audi A6 returns 28 MPG, an improvement of 9 MPG over the run.

How much CO₂ does the 2003 Audi A6 emit?

Tailpipe CO₂ emissions are 423 g/mi. Multiplied across a typical year of driving (15,000 miles) that works out to about 6,348 kilograms of CO₂.

What is the difference between the city and highway MPG of the 2003 Audi A6?

City driving returns 18 MPG and highway driving returns 25 MPG, a gap of 7 MPG. A spread that wide is typical of cars with conventional automatic or manual transmissions, where stop-start city traffic eats more fuel than a steady highway cruise.

What engine is in the 2003 Audi A6?

The 2003 Audi A6 has a 3-liter 6-cylinder engine.

What transmission and drivetrain does the 2003 Audi A6 have?

The 2003 Audi A6 comes with a automatic (variable gear ratios) transmission and front-wheel drive.

How does the 2003 Audi A6 compare to the best car in its class?

The most efficient car in the Midsize Cars class for the 2003 model year is the Honda Accord at 25 combined MPG. The Audi A6 returns 21 MPG, a gap of 4 MPG. If you are comparing on fuel economy alone, the class leader is worth a look.

2003 Audi A6 MPG and Fuel Economy

This page collects every fuel-economy figure the EPA publishes for the 2003 Audi A6. Below you will find the headline combined, city, and highway MPG, the estimated annual fuel cost at three different driving levels, the tailpipe CO₂ emissions, and a full breakdown of the engine and drivetrain. If you want to know whether this generation got more or less efficient over the years, the year-over-year table further down covers every model year the EPA has rated.

Key takeaways

The most efficient car in the Midsize Cars class for the 2003 model year is the Honda Accord at 25 MPG.
The Audi A6 has gained 9 MPG since its first rated model year, the 1995 Audi A6 at 19 MPG.
EPA estimates this car costs around $5,750 more in fuel over five years than an average new vehicle of the same model year.
Requires premium gasoline, which typically adds about 40 to 60 cents per gallon to the EPA's annual fuel cost estimate.

Fuel economy at a glance

These are the EPA's official ratings for the 2003 Audi A6. The numbers come from a standardised laboratory test cycle and are the same figures that appear on the window sticker of every new car. Real-world mileage varies with driving style, weather, fuel quality, and how heavily loaded the car is.

Combined MPG is a 55/45 weighted blend of the city and highway test cycles. The EPA uses it as the single number you can compare across the entire dataset, including hybrids and EVs (which use the equivalent MPGe figure).

Combined MPG	21 MPG
City MPG	18 MPG
Highway MPG	25 MPG
Annual fuel cost	$3,300
Tailpipe CO₂	423 g/mi
Fuel type	Premium

How the 2003 Audi A6 compares

The 2003 Audi A6 returns 21 combined MPG. Cars in the Midsize Cars class for the same model year average 19.8 MPG, which puts this car ahead of the class average by about 6%.

The most efficient car in the Midsize Cars class for the 2003 model year is the Honda Accord at 25 MPG. The bar chart below puts the Audi A6 alongside the class best and the class average so you can see the full picture.

For broader context, the average new car of the 2003 model year (across all classes) returns 18.4 MPG. Larger vehicles pull the all-cars average down, so do not use that figure on its own to judge a small car or a hybrid. The full list of the most efficient cars of the 2003 model year is on its own page.

2003 Audi A6

21 MPG

Class average, 2003

19.8 MPG

Class best, 2003

25 MPG

Average new car, 2003

18.4 MPG

Annual fuel cost across driving patterns

The headline annual fuel cost the EPA publishes assumes 15,000 miles of driving per year and a fuel mix of 55% city and 45% highway. The dollar figure is calculated using the EPA's current reference price for premium gasoline, which is $4.61/gallon. EPA updates that reference periodically rather than tracking live pump prices, so treat it as a window-sticker estimate rather than today's pump number.

The table below scales the EPA's number to three common driving patterns. The combined MPG and the reference fuel price stay constant, only the annual mileage changes. To get a current-prices estimate, take your local gas price and multiply by 714.3 gallons (the car's annual consumption at the rated MPG).

Driving pattern	Estimated annual fuel cost
Light driver, 7,500 miles per year	$1,650
Average driver, 15,000 miles per year	$3,300
Heavy driver, 25,000 miles per year	$5,500

Year-over-year MPG for the Audi A6

The EPA has rated the Audi A6 across 23 model years, from 1995 Audi A6 through 2018 Audi A6. The numbers below are the best combined MPG figure the EPA published for each year, which lets you see when the car was at its most efficient and how recent generations stack up.

The 1995 Audi A6 returned 19 MPG. The most recent 2018 Audi A6 returns 28 MPG. That is an improvement of 9 MPG over 23 model years, the kind of gain that usually comes from smaller engines, hybrid systems, or aerodynamic redesigns.

Year	Combined MPG	Open year page
2018	28 MPG	2018 Audi A6
2017	28 MPG	2017 Audi A6
2016	28 MPG	2016 Audi A6
2015	28 MPG	2015 Audi A6
2014	28 MPG	2014 Audi A6
2013	28 MPG	2013 Audi A6
2012	28 MPG	2012 Audi A6
2011	24 MPG	2011 Audi A6
2010	22 MPG	2010 Audi A6
2009	21 MPG	2009 Audi A6
2008	21 MPG	2008 Audi A6
2007	21 MPG	2007 Audi A6
2006	21 MPG	2006 Audi A6
2004	21 MPG	2004 Audi A6
2003	21 MPG	this page
2002	19 MPG	2002 Audi A6
2001	18 MPG	2001 Audi A6
2000	18 MPG	2000 Audi A6
1999	19 MPG	1999 Audi A6
1998	19 MPG	1998 Audi A6
1997	19 MPG	1997 Audi A6
1996	19 MPG	1996 Audi A6
1995	19 MPG	1995 Audi A6

Compare against other Midsize Cars for 2003

If you are cross-shopping the 2003 Audi A6, the most useful comparison is against the other cars in the Midsize Cars class for the same model year. The list below shows the highest-MPG peers, ranked from most to least efficient. Click any of them to open its full page.

The Honda Accord leads this group at 26 MPG, 5 MPG ahead of the 2003 Audi A6.

2003 Honda Accord

26 MPG 2003 Mazda 6

24 MPG 2003 Saturn L200

24 MPG 2003 Toyota Camry

24 MPG 2003 Hyundai Sonata

23 MPG 2003 Kia Optima

23 MPG

2003 Audi A6

21 MPG

Specifications

The 2003 Audi A6 runs a 3-liter 6-cylinder engine paired with a automatic (variable gear ratios), sending power through front-wheel drive.

Engine, transmission, and drivetrain together drive most of the variation in fuel economy across trims. A larger engine moves the car with less effort but burns more fuel. A turbo lets a small engine punch above its weight, often without much MPG penalty. All-wheel drive adds traction and weight, and usually costs a couple of MPG compared with two-wheel drive of the same engine.

Vehicle class: Midsize Cars
Engine: 3L 6-cylinder
Transmission: Automatic (variable gear ratios)
Drivetrain: Front-Wheel Drive
Fuel type: Premium
Annual petroleum use: 14.2 barrels per year

Common questions about the 2003 Audi A6

Quick answers to the questions people most often search for when looking up the 2003 Audi A6.

Is the 2003 Audi A6 fuel efficient?

It is in line with the rest of the class. The 2003 Audi A6 returns 21 combined MPG, and the average car in the Midsize Cars class for the same model year sits at 19.8 MPG.
What MPG does the 2003 Audi A6 get?

The EPA rates the 2003 Audi A6 at 21 combined MPG, 18 MPG in city driving, and 25 MPG on the highway. Real-world numbers depend on your driving style, the weather, and how loaded the car is.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2003 Audi A6 per year?

The EPA estimates an annual fuel cost of $3,300 for the 2003 Audi A6. That figure assumes 15,000 miles of driving per year, a 55% city and 45% highway split, and the EPA's published average fuel price for the rated fuel grade.
Does the 2003 Audi A6 require premium gas?

Yes. The EPA lists the 2003 Audi A6 as requiring premium gasoline. Running it on regular can reduce performance and may affect engine warranties, so it is not a recommended way to save at the pump.
Has the Audi A6 become more fuel efficient over time?

Yes. The first EPA-rated Audi A6, the 1995 Audi A6, returned 19 combined MPG. The most recent 2018 Audi A6 returns 28 MPG, an improvement of 9 MPG over the run.
How much CO₂ does the 2003 Audi A6 emit?

Tailpipe CO₂ emissions are 423 g/mi. Multiplied across a typical year of driving (15,000 miles) that works out to about 6,348 kilograms of CO₂.
What is the difference between the city and highway MPG of the 2003 Audi A6?

City driving returns 18 MPG and highway driving returns 25 MPG, a gap of 7 MPG. A spread that wide is typical of cars with conventional automatic or manual transmissions, where stop-start city traffic eats more fuel than a steady highway cruise.
What engine is in the 2003 Audi A6?

The 2003 Audi A6 has a 3-liter 6-cylinder engine.
What transmission and drivetrain does the 2003 Audi A6 have?

The 2003 Audi A6 comes with a automatic (variable gear ratios) transmission and front-wheel drive.
How does the 2003 Audi A6 compare to the best car in its class?

The most efficient car in the Midsize Cars class for the 2003 model year is the Honda Accord at 25 combined MPG. The Audi A6 returns 21 MPG, a gap of 4 MPG. If you are comparing on fuel economy alone, the class leader is worth a look.

Source: U.S. EPA fuel economy dataset. Annual fuel cost figures assume 15,000 miles of driving per year and a 55% city, 45% highway split. Real-world mileage varies with driving conditions, vehicle maintenance, fuel quality, and driver behaviour.