2026 Audi RS 3: MPG and fuel economy
The 2026 Audi RS 3 is rated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency at 23 combined MPG, with 20 MPG in the city and 29 MPG on the highway. That sits a little below the average car in the Subcompact Cars class for the same model year.
This page collects every fuel-economy figure the EPA publishes for the 2026 Audi RS 3. 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 Subcompact Cars class for the 2026 model year is the Honda Prelude at 44 MPG.
- EPA estimates this car costs around $4,250 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 2026 Audi RS 3. 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 | 23 MPG |
| City MPG | 20 MPG |
| Highway MPG | 29 MPG |
| Annual fuel cost | $3,000 |
| Tailpipe CO₂ | 387 g/mi |
| Fuel type | Premium |
How the 2026 Audi RS 3 compares
The 2026 Audi RS 3 returns 23 combined MPG. Cars in the Subcompact Cars class for the same model year average 24.4 MPG, which puts this car behind the class average by about 6%.
The most efficient car in the Subcompact Cars class for the 2026 model year is the Honda Prelude at 44 MPG. The bar chart below puts the Audi RS 3 alongside the class best and the class average so you can see the full picture.
For broader context, the average new car of the 2026 model year (across all classes) returns 45.5 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 2026 model year is on its own page.
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 652.2 gallons (the car's annual consumption at the rated MPG).
| Driving pattern | Estimated annual fuel cost |
|---|---|
| Light driver, 7,500 miles per year | $1,500 |
| Average driver, 15,000 miles per year | $3,000 |
| Heavy driver, 25,000 miles per year | $5,000 |
Year-over-year MPG for the Audi RS 3
The EPA has rated the Audi RS 3 across 6 model years, from 2017 Audi RS 3 through 2026 Audi RS 3. 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 2024 Audi RS 3 at 23 MPG.
| Year | Combined MPG | Open year page |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 23 MPG | this page |
| 2025 | 23 MPG | 2025 Audi RS 3 |
| 2024 | 23 MPG | 2024 Audi RS 3 |
| 2019 | 22 MPG | 2019 Audi RS 3 |
| 2018 | 22 MPG | 2018 Audi RS 3 |
| 2017 | 22 MPG | 2017 Audi RS 3 |
Compare against other Subcompact Cars for 2026
If you are cross-shopping the 2026 Audi RS 3, the most useful comparison is against the other cars in the Subcompact 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 Prelude leads this group at 44 MPG, 21 MPG ahead of the 2026 Audi RS 3.
Specifications
The 2026 Audi RS 3 runs a 2.5-liter 5-cylinder turbocharged engine paired with a automatic (am-s7), 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
- Subcompact Cars
- Engine
- 2.5L 5-cylinder turbocharged
- Transmission
- Automatic (AM-S7)
- Drivetrain
- All-Wheel Drive
- Fuel type
- Premium
- Annual petroleum use
- 12.9 barrels per year
Common questions about the 2026 Audi RS 3
Quick answers to the questions people most often search for when looking up the 2026 Audi RS 3.
-
Is the 2026 Audi RS 3 fuel efficient?
It is in line with the rest of the class. The 2026 Audi RS 3 returns 23 combined MPG, and the average car in the Subcompact Cars class for the same model year sits at 24.4 MPG. -
What MPG does the 2026 Audi RS 3 get?
The EPA rates the 2026 Audi RS 3 at 23 combined MPG, 20 MPG in city driving, and 29 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 2026 Audi RS 3 per year?
The EPA estimates an annual fuel cost of $3,000 for the 2026 Audi RS 3. 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 2026 Audi RS 3 require premium gas?
Yes. The EPA lists the 2026 Audi RS 3 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 RS 3 become more fuel efficient over time?
Combined MPG has stayed close to flat across the run. Both the earliest (2017 Audi RS 3, 22 MPG) and most recent (2026 Audi RS 3, 23 MPG) versions sit in the same range. -
How much CO₂ does the 2026 Audi RS 3 emit?
Tailpipe CO₂ emissions are 387 g/mi. Multiplied across a typical year of driving (15,000 miles) that works out to about 5,805 kilograms of CO₂. -
What is the difference between the city and highway MPG of the 2026 Audi RS 3?
City driving returns 20 MPG and highway driving returns 29 MPG, a gap of 9 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 2026 Audi RS 3?
The 2026 Audi RS 3 has a 2.5-liter 5-cylinder turbocharged engine (EPA description: SIDI). -
What transmission and drivetrain does the 2026 Audi RS 3 have?
The 2026 Audi RS 3 comes with a automatic (am-s7) 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 2026 Audi RS 3 compare to the best car in its class?
The most efficient car in the Subcompact Cars class for the 2026 model year is the Honda Prelude at 44 combined MPG. The Audi RS 3 returns 23 MPG, a gap of 21 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.