Is the 2010 Audi R8 fuel efficient?

Not particularly. The 2010 Audi R8 returns 16 combined MPG, which trails the average car in the Two Seaters class for the same model year by about 15%.

What MPG does the 2010 Audi R8 get?

The EPA rates the 2010 Audi R8 at 16 combined MPG, 13 MPG in city driving, and 20 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 2010 Audi R8 per year?

The EPA estimates an annual fuel cost of $4,300 for the 2010 Audi R8. 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 2010 Audi R8 require premium gas?

Yes. The EPA lists the 2010 Audi R8 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 R8 become more fuel efficient over time?

Combined MPG has stayed close to flat across the run. Both the earliest ( 2008 Audi R8 , 15 MPG) and most recent ( 2021 Audi R8 , 16 MPG) versions sit in the same range.

How much CO₂ does the 2010 Audi R8 emit?

Tailpipe CO₂ emissions are 555 g/mi. Multiplied across a typical year of driving (15,000 miles) that works out to about 8,332 kilograms of CO₂.

What is the difference between the city and highway MPG of the 2010 Audi R8?

City driving returns 13 MPG and highway driving returns 20 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 2010 Audi R8?

The 2010 Audi R8 has a 5.2-liter 10-cylinder engine.

What transmission and drivetrain does the 2010 Audi R8 have?

The 2010 Audi R8 comes with a automatic (am6) transmission and all-wheel drive. All-wheel-drive variants typically read 1 to 3 MPG lower than the front-wheel-drive equivalent of the same engine, since the extra hardware adds weight and parasitic loss.

How does the 2010 Audi R8 compare to the best car in its class?

The most efficient car in the Two Seaters class for the 2010 model year is the smart fortwo cabriolet at 36 combined MPG. The Audi R8 returns 16 MPG, a gap of 20 MPG. If you are comparing on fuel economy alone, the class leader is worth a look.

2010 Audi R8 MPG and Fuel Economy

This page collects every fuel-economy figure the EPA publishes for the 2010 Audi R8. 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. The EPA rates 4 separate variants of this car (different engine, transmission, or drivetrain combinations), and you can compare them side by side in the trims table. 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 Two Seaters class for the 2010 model year is the smart fortwo cabriolet at 36 MPG.
EPA estimates this car costs around $10,750 more in fuel over five years than an average new vehicle of the same model year.
Subject to the federal Gas Guzzler Tax, which applies to passenger cars rated below 22.5 combined MPG.
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 2010 Audi R8. 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.

When the EPA tests several variants of the same nameplate (for example, a front-wheel-drive version and an all-wheel-drive version), each gets its own rating. The figures shown here are the headline variant, taken as the configuration with the best combined MPG. The trims table further down covers all 4 variants side by side.

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	16 MPG
City MPG	13 MPG
Highway MPG	20 MPG
Annual fuel cost	$4,300
Tailpipe CO₂	555 g/mi
Fuel type	Premium

How the 2010 Audi R8 compares

The 2010 Audi R8 returns 16 combined MPG. Cars in the Two Seaters class for the same model year average 18.9 MPG, which puts this car behind the class average by about 15%.

The most efficient car in the Two Seaters class for the 2010 model year is the smart fortwo cabriolet at 36 MPG. The bar chart below puts the Audi R8 alongside the class best and the class average so you can see the full picture.

For broader context, the average new car of the 2010 model year (across all classes) returns 20.2 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 2010 model year is on its own page.

2010 Audi R8

16 MPG

Class average, 2010

18.9 MPG

Class best, 2010

36 MPG

Average new car, 2010

20.2 MPG

Trim variants rated for 2010

The EPA rates 4 separate variants of the 2010 Audi R8. The differences come from the engine size, transmission type, and drivetrain (front-wheel drive, all-wheel drive, and so on). The same nameplate can land several MPG apart depending on the configuration you actually buy.

Engine and transmission	Drive	Combined	City	Highway	Annual cost
5.2L, 10-cyl, Automatic (AM6)	All-Wheel Drive	16 MPG	13 MPG	20 MPG	$4,300
5.2L, 10-cyl, Manual 6-spd	All-Wheel Drive	15 MPG	12 MPG	20 MPG	$4,600
4.2L, 8-cyl, Manual 6-spd	All-Wheel Drive	15 MPG	12 MPG	19 MPG	$4,600
4.2L, 8-cyl, Automatic (AM6)	All-Wheel Drive	15 MPG	13 MPG	18 MPG	$4,600

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 937.5 gallons (the car's annual consumption at the rated MPG).

Driving pattern	Estimated annual fuel cost
Light driver, 7,500 miles per year	$2,150
Average driver, 15,000 miles per year	$4,300
Heavy driver, 25,000 miles per year	$7,167

Year-over-year MPG for the Audi R8

The EPA has rated the Audi R8 across 9 model years, from 2008 Audi R8 through 2021 Audi R8. 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.

Combined MPG has stayed in roughly the same range across the run. The peak rating came with the 2014 Audi R8 at 17 MPG.

Year	Combined MPG	Open year page
2021	16 MPG	2021 Audi R8
2017	17 MPG	2017 Audi R8
2015	17 MPG	2015 Audi R8
2014	17 MPG	2014 Audi R8
2012	16 MPG	2012 Audi R8
2011	16 MPG	2011 Audi R8
2010	16 MPG	this page
2009	15 MPG	2009 Audi R8
2008	15 MPG	2008 Audi R8

Compare against other Two Seaters for 2010

If you are cross-shopping the 2010 Audi R8, the most useful comparison is against the other cars in the Two Seaters 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 smart fortwo cabriolet leads this group at 36 MPG, 20 MPG ahead of the 2010 Audi R8.

2010 smart fortwo cabriolet

36 MPG 2010 smart fortwo coupe

36 MPG 2010 Audi TT Roadster quattro

24 MPG 2010 Mazda MX-5

24 MPG 2010 Porsche Boxster

24 MPG 2010 Porsche Cayman

24 MPG

2010 Audi R8

16 MPG

Specifications

The 2010 Audi R8 runs a 5.2-liter 10-cylinder engine paired with a automatic (am6), sending power through all-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: Two Seaters
Engine: 5.2L 10-cylinder
Transmission: Automatic (AM6)
Drivetrain: All-Wheel Drive
Fuel type: Premium
Annual petroleum use: 18.6 barrels per year
Gas guzzler tax: Applies (federal)

Common questions about the 2010 Audi R8

Quick answers to the questions people most often search for when looking up the 2010 Audi R8.

Is the 2010 Audi R8 fuel efficient?

Not particularly. The 2010 Audi R8 returns 16 combined MPG, which trails the average car in the Two Seaters class for the same model year by about 15%.
What MPG does the 2010 Audi R8 get?

The EPA rates the 2010 Audi R8 at 16 combined MPG, 13 MPG in city driving, and 20 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 2010 Audi R8 per year?

The EPA estimates an annual fuel cost of $4,300 for the 2010 Audi R8. 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 2010 Audi R8 require premium gas?

Yes. The EPA lists the 2010 Audi R8 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 R8 become more fuel efficient over time?

Combined MPG has stayed close to flat across the run. Both the earliest (2008 Audi R8, 15 MPG) and most recent (2021 Audi R8, 16 MPG) versions sit in the same range.
How much CO₂ does the 2010 Audi R8 emit?

Tailpipe CO₂ emissions are 555 g/mi. Multiplied across a typical year of driving (15,000 miles) that works out to about 8,332 kilograms of CO₂.
What is the difference between the city and highway MPG of the 2010 Audi R8?

City driving returns 13 MPG and highway driving returns 20 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 2010 Audi R8?

The 2010 Audi R8 has a 5.2-liter 10-cylinder engine.
What transmission and drivetrain does the 2010 Audi R8 have?

The 2010 Audi R8 comes with a automatic (am6) transmission and all-wheel drive. All-wheel-drive variants typically read 1 to 3 MPG lower than the front-wheel-drive equivalent of the same engine, since the extra hardware adds weight and parasitic loss.
How does the 2010 Audi R8 compare to the best car in its class?

The most efficient car in the Two Seaters class for the 2010 model year is the smart fortwo cabriolet at 36 combined MPG. The Audi R8 returns 16 MPG, a gap of 20 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.