S3 MPG -what's yours?

[CraigI]

Quite a few questions about MPG on the new S3 from prospective buyers, so thought a new thread might hold value (apologies S3 thread haters).
Useful for owners to let the good folks know what these cars produce in the real world, and how this improves after some miles are added.

The brochure states as follows:

Urban 31mpg (manual) / 32.1mpg (s-tronic)
Extra urban 48.7mpg (manual) / 47.9mpg (s-tronic)
Combined 40.4mpg (manual) / 40.9 (s-tronic)

My car is an s-tronic sportback, 1200 miles, averaging 24.8mpg.
Drive it hard (how it should be driven); use only VPower; ran it in sympathetically for 250 miles, then increased the revs whilst warm up to around 750 miles, and since then, no holding back (always once the car is warm though).
Generally use auto setting with the occasional flick into dynamic, won't use the other settings.

This I would class as my combined figure (70mph/30mph/50mph roads), although not taken it on any hundred mile trips as yet.

I'm happy with that, my other car averages 16-18mpg, maxing at 26mpg on a long run.
The S3 might improve as the miles go on, but I'll never expect more than an average of around 28mpg, these cars should be driven hard!

 

[Itguy]

A bit of extra info would be useful here too I think. Typical drive select setting, your estimation of your driving style (hard, average, easy etc ). Also how you ran it it (by the book, hard from the start etc). Also what fuel (bog 95 Ron or 97/98/99 Ron).

 

[rams_s3]

Have mine on individual, steering on auto everything else on dynamic. Averages about 35mpg on a decentish run can get it to 40mpg with some very boring driving around town it's about 30mpg mines a manual and haven't really tried economy mode does it make a vast difference?

 

[j16jrf]

I'm glad someone is seeing mid 30s as an average. I'm probably ordering next week and currently have an Audi a5 3.0tdi and I'm averaging high 30s in it. So the difference won't be too bad then.

 

[lozzermo]

I too am looking forward to MPG average that do not start with 1 (My S4 has averaged 19MPG over 3 yrs and 26,000 miles)!

 

[J6YAK]

I'm glad someone is seeing mid 30s as an average. I'm probably ordering next week and currently have an Audi a5 3.0tdi and I'm averaging high 30s in it. So the difference won't be too bad then.

Coming from a TT TDI averaging high 30s to the S3 ... Less MPG but bigger smile!!! Remember petrol costs less, not much I know but it all helps!
Only done 500 miles so far but average is reading 28-30 that's with a mix of driving but no real thrash yet mostly on Dynamic, on long journey @ 76mph I got 36mpg I'm happy with that so far.

Life's too short to worry too much about mpg get it ordered mate you won't regret it!!

 

[Itguy]

As long my new s3 does the same or slightly better mpg than my current 05 plate golf gti dsg I'll be happy.

I get under 30 in town, about 31 mixed and up to 36 on a long run (70mph on the speedo with cruise) depending on wind direction!

From all the test drives I've had in the s3 this seems quite possible to better with sympathetic driving.

 

[Silky-S3]

Only Vpower, 2000 miles, Always in dynamic. Drive it like I stole it everywhere. 19.2 mpg

 

[Itguy]

 

[CraigI]

Only Vpower, 2000 miles, Always in dynamic. Drive it like I stole it everywhere. 19.2 mpg

Great effort!

I don't think those with an eye on mpg should buy the S3 if I'm honest.
If they drive it like it should be driven the mpg will disappoint, if they get the mpg you expect, you aren't driving it like it should be driven or to its full potential.
Low mpg = more fun (even within the boundaries of the law).

What your 19.2mpg says to me is, I must try use dynamic more!

 

[j16jrf]

Coming from a TT TDI averaging high 30s to the S3 ... Less MPG but bigger smile!!! Remember petrol costs less, not much I know but it all helps!
Only done 500 miles so far but average is reading 28-30 that's with a mix of driving but no real thrash yet mostly on Dynamic, on long journey @ 76mph I got 36mpg I'm happy with that so far.

Life's too short to worry too much about mpg get it ordered mate you won't regret it!!

I will be ordering in Monday if Audi can get the figures right. I went in with orange wheels quote and asked then to match it, still waiting on the response haha

 

[PilotAudi]

I'm glad someone is seeing mid 30s as an average. I'm probably ordering next week and currently have an Audi a5 3.0tdi and I'm averaging high 30s in it. So the difference won't be too bad then.

We have had a couple of 5's and a 7 with 3.0tdi quattro 240/245. Awesome first manual coupe was best 58 plate excellent economy. Hoping for 30ish on s3

 

[Silky-S3]

Whats the point of buying a S3 if you not going to use it? 30ish mpg? Just get a tdi!

 

[PilotAudi]

Whats the point of buying a S3 if you not going to use it? 30ish mpg? Just get a tdi!

I intend using it silky and we also have a Tdi!!

 

[Silky-S3]

I intend using it silky and we also have a Tdi!!

No point hoping for 30mpg if you are gonna use it then!

 

[Scott]

480 miles, 25.9 mpg, always in dynamic, and I thought I drove it hard lol.
Although some of those are motorway miles where I did take it easy and also transporting pets around.
Oh and I gave it the full beans from day one, as soon as the oil was up to temp.

 

[Flibble]

Getting about 27 in my 8P A3, hoping for roughly the same. Seems plausible from this thread.

 

[lee_fr200]

Just because the car is capable of driving everywhere like its pants are on fire there is a time and a place and to say don't buy an s3 if you're not going to drive it quickly is wrong! And tbh does my nut in, I have a tdi that will manage 19mpg if I drive like a d1ck but I don't need to, same with an s3 on long runs especially with the amount of police on a roads and motorways I personally like to drive steady (around 55-60mph), if you want to drive silly go on a track day! (Age is starting to show)

 

[bleedsoff]

I am averaging around 30/31mpg since I had the S3. Think I am just under 800 miles now. Drive in dynamic on my off days, economy when I am driving back and forth from work. Also going to be using the Fuelly website to track what I am spending on fuel thee days and for a real MPG reading.

 

[Scott]

Just because the car is capable of driving everywhere like its pants are on fire there is a time and a place and to say don't buy an s3 if you're not going to drive it quickly is wrong! And tbh does my nut in, I have a tdi that will manage 19mpg if I drive like a d1ck but I don't need to, same with an s3 on long runs especially with the amount of police on a roads and motorways I personally like to drive steady (around 55-60mph), if you want to drive silly go on a track day! (Age is starting to show)

Perhaps you live in a different location to me and maybe others. But if I want to, I can turn straight out on to country roads, where the car can be driven hard without breaking the speed limit.

 

[the_lecht_rocks]

480 miles, 25.9 mpg, always in dynamic, and I thought I drove it hard lol.
Although some of those are motorway miles where I did take it easy and also transporting pets around.
Oh and I gave it the full beans from day one, as soon as the oil was up to temp.

good to hear you didn't bother running in a new engine - i never bother either,,,

have you seen much oil consumption ?

 

[j16jrf]

Whats the point of buying a S3 if you not going to use it? 30ish mpg? Just get a tdi!

because they are fun to drive. You cant drive flat out all the time, and when your commuting to and from work you dont really want a car that does 19mpg. If i did id be buying a GTR not a S3

 

[lee_fr200]

Perhaps you live in a different location to me and maybe others. But if I want to, I can turn straight out on to country roads, where the car can be driven hard without breaking the speed limit.

Me 2 some fantastic roads around me. But doesn't mean you have to drive hard just because it's an s3. I don't give 2 ****s how good a car does on mpg when around town but when I hit a motorway I want to be able to set the cruise at around 60mph and get decent fuel consumption, rather than have my foot down charging upto ppl then braking and waiting then overtaking then charging upto the next car etc etc!!

 

[the_lecht_rocks]

Me 2 some fantastic roads around me. But doesn't mean you have to drive hard just because it's an s3. I don't give 2 ****s how good a car does on mpg when around town but when I hit a motorway I want to be able to set the cruise at around 60mph and get decent fuel consumption, rather than have my foot down charging upto ppl then braking and waiting then overtaking then charging upto the next car etc etc!!

should of specced adaptive cruise then !

 

[kenny_boon]

Whats the point of buying a S3 if you not going to use it? 30ish mpg? Just get a tdi!

Because some people want a car that will provide a mixture if fun, speed and practicality. It's not ridiculous to expect 30ish nor is it ridiculous to think some people want decent economy for maybe a long journey.

The car is designed to give 30-40mpg so it is getting driven correctly sometimes and ragged others.

 

[nervus]

I was early for a meeting so resisted caning the s**t out of it for once and just set the cruise to flow of traffic ~70 +/- few mph and averaged just shy of 40mpg over 120miles door to door but mostly on motorway!

Most frustrating but couldnt really go any harder that time of day anyway - quite impressive for +370hp - V-power only for me though!

I also felt the need to offset the mornings nannying on way home

 

[lee_fr200]

should of specced adaptive cruise then !

That's exactly what I am speccing

 

[lee_fr200]

I was early for a meeting so resisted caning the s**t out of it for once and just set the cruise to flow of traffic ~70 +/- few mph and averaged just shy of 40mpg over 120miles door to door but mostly on motorway!

Most frustrating but couldnt really go any harder that time of day anyway - quite impressive for +370hp - V-power only for me though!

I also felt the need to offset the mornings nannying on way home

See for 370bhp that's not ****** bad!

 

[Itguy]

I've had over 34mpg out of our old 911 turbo (996) on a long trip down to Portsmouth. Not bad for 420hp conventional auto box 4wd.

 

[Scott]

good to hear you didn't bother running in a new engine - i never bother either,,,

have you seen much oil consumption ?

no mate, oil consumption has been nil so far, but you've reminded me to check again in the morning

 

[PilotAudi]

no mate, oil consumption has been nil so far, but you've reminded me to check again in the morning

That prompts a question. Do you physically have to check it on A/S 3 ( dipstick ? ) if so that's sad!

 

[Cumbrian_bob]

I can easily get mid 30s for a normal drive and thats with average driving style, a little overtaking and the odd bit of fun.

Fun driving on decent roads low 20s and even into the teens. Flappy paddle fun constant accelerating and braking, the sound of the engine is a little addictive.

The car needs to be a bit practical and be able to provide decent MPG, once the car is doing 60-75 why shouldnt the car return decent MPG, thats why its got 6 gears.

Oil hasnt needed to be topped up yet, 800 miles, and its a traditional dipstick, which is a little disapointing.

 

[rams_s3]

Had to drive my 5 day old daughter to hospital late last night, alls well now and she's back home but noticed my careful driving with her in the back and with it been icy at 4am I managed 39mpg.

 

[Itguy]

Manual or dsg rams?

 

[rams_s3]

Manual

 

[nickatkinson]

250 miles and avg around 23mpg. This is surely going to drop though as I am taking it a little easy at the min, driving fast when warmed up, but not really taking it over 4k rpm. Maybe back to the focus RS figures of low 20s at this rate. Love the car so far though.

 

[rikia93]

28.1 700miles in with a fair amount of redlining. Seen 17mpg average driving it well aggressively ! S-tropic 5dr

 

[TheFiftheElement]

@3K miles, mostly town in efficiency and B-road/motorway in dynamic. It's an S-tronic and I usually give it Shell 98.

Average 26.8 mpg, and the best I have ever seen is 36 mpg on a Aberdeen-Edinburgh trip, 70-ish on cruise, efficiency mode.

To be fair it's pretty good considering it has 300 BHP, but it's not going to get the official consumption figures unless it still has quite a bit of loosening off to go ..

I'm a bit of a jekyll and hyde driver, either smooth and slow in efficiency, or in dynamic and manual and foot down !

 

[gilberto]

Average 24.5 mpg.

 

[SilureMark]

Very pleased with my S3's economy. It is important to me as I cover 20,000 miles a year. No I don't want a tdi, but I don't want a gas guzzler either. With my S3 I have averaged, since I took delivery, 31.8mpg (from 18,202 miles). Best I have seen is 41.09 on an 80mile round trip out to the coast. On my daily commute (20miles dual carriage way/11miles country lanes and a bit of stop-start traffic) I usually get between 32 and 34mpg. 'Fast' motorway driving and it's more like 26mpg and attacking a good bit of back road at warp speed, low 20's. But then you'd expect that if you cane it. Petrol that goes into it is whatever they're selling when I pull in to refuel. Will always full up with super unleaded, but many a time have just stuck the standard leaded in - never really noticed any change in performance or economy.

Efficiency Mode? Don't make me laugh - lack of engine breaking aside, my car is more economical when I leave it in Individual (dynamic - steering/exhaust, gearbox - auto). Mines' a S3 hatch S tronic ...