What Type Of Gas Does Audi A7 Take?

Even though it should be easy to figure out what type of fuel your Audi A7 needs, if you’re here then you already know it isn’t so straightforward. 

So let’s get to the quick answer: 

Audi’s A7 owner’s manual recommends premium fuel with a minimum octane rating of 91. That’s true across all generations of the A7 except for the TDI diesel engines which require ultra-low sulfur diesel. While the A7 can be operated using regular unleaded 87 octane, per the owner’s manual, engine performance will be reduced. 

That’s all you need to get fueled up and on the road but if you want to take a closer look at all your fuel options across every generation of the A7, stick around. 

Fuel Requirements Based On Engine Type

Like most Audi vehicles, from the A6 to the A4 and everything in between, premium fuel is recommended. But let’s take a closer look at engine types to really understand why. If you just want a quick look, you can use this table for your answer: 

First Generation Audi A7 (2010-2018)

The first generation Audi A7 used either a 2.0L or 3.0L TFSI engine. While the 3.0L offered more power and torque compared to the smaller 2.0L, they both ran best on 91 octane.

2.0L & 3.0L TFSI Gasoline Engines:

The TFSI engines in Audi’s A7, standing for Turbo Fuel Stratified Injection, use a specific blend of direct injection and turbocharging. This tech necessitates a higher quality of fuel for proper combustion. That’s why a 91 octane rating is the minimum recommendation. Lower octane can lead to poor combustion and engine knock, which can harm performance and long-term engine health.

Just be clear, the 91 octane is recommended but the owner’s manual does say that octane 87 can work, and here’s the direct line from the 2012 A7 manual: “Your vehicle may also be operated using un-leaded regular gasoline with a minimum octane rating of 87 AKI/91 RON. However, using 87 AKI/9 1 RON octa ne fuel will slightly re-duce engine performance.”

While going beyond 91 octane can provide a marginal improvement in performance and knock resistance for the TFSI engine, the noticeable benefits are minimal for everyday driving, and it may not justify the additional cost for most drivers.

If you’re interested in learning more about the TFSI engine, and how its direct injection combined with turbocharging optimizes performance, you can check out this video:

3.0L TDI Diesel Engine:

Audi’s 3.0L TDI engine in the A7 requires something a bit different from its gasoline counterparts. It’s designed for ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD), a cleaner variant of diesel fuel. Traditional diesel fuels contain higher sulfur levels, which can clog emission filters and reduce the engine’s efficiency.

Sticking to ULSD ensures that the TDI engine maintains its efficiency and emissions standards, crucial for the vehicle’s performance and upkeep.

Second Generation Audi A7 (2018-Present)

The second-generation Audi A7 brought about refined engine options, particularly in the TFSI and TDI categories. There’s also the introduction of the Mild Hybrid Electric Vehicle (MHEV) system in tandem with some TFSI engines. For gasoline engines, including hybrid variants, the Audi still recommends premium fuel with a minimum of 91 octane. 

2.0L & 3.0L TFSI Gasoline Engines:

While the Audi A7 offers the same engine type, at least in terms of basic displacement, the second generation A7 saw some big improvements when it comes to turbocharging and layout.

But it still runs best on premium 91 octane. If that’s not available, the owner’s manual for this generation also mentions that 87 octane can work but with a reduction in performance. 

MHEV (Mild Hybrid Electric Vehicle) System:

Paired with some gasoline engines in the second generation, the MHEV system is a step towards enhancing fuel efficiency. While it doesn’t affect the type of gasoline used (still best with 91 octane), it helps in improving overall fuel economy by regenerating energy during braking and enabling engine-off coasting.

3.0L TDI Engine:

The 3.0L TDI engine for the second generation A7 is still tuned for ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD). 

Does The Audi A7 Require Premium Fuel?

The Audi A7 owner’s manual recommends premium fuel with a minimum octane rating of 91 for best performance. However, the owner’s manual also explains that if premium fuel isn’t available, then 87 octane can work but with some reduction in performance. So the A7 doesn’t require premium fuel but to get the most out of this vehicle you should be using it whenever possible. 

What Are The Fuel Requirements For The A7 MHEV or Hybrid Types? 

The Audi A7 MHEV models recommend using 91 octane premium fuel for optimal performance. The A7’s mild hybrid variants add in an electric motor generator and a small battery to assist the engine but don’t actually change the function of the engine which means there’s no change between the standard A7 and any MHEV or hybrid models. 

Can I Use E85 In My Audi A7? 

Nope! I’ve checked every A7 owner’s manual to date and while they mention octane 87 is acceptable when needed, E85 is not an option. It’s best to skip it entirely since it can end up damaging your A7’s engine and potentially void your warranty to top it off. 

What Types Of Fuels Can and Can’t Be Used in the Audi A7?

We’ve focused on gasoline and diesel, which covers most of it, but let’s look at some of the more uncommon fuel options. Here’s a breakdown for the Audi A7 based on the owner’s manual:

Gasoline With Added Materials

Audi, along with most auto manufacturers, recommends TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline. There’s actually a lot of data to support that this stuff makes a significant difference so there’s no reason not to stick with Audi’s recommendation when it comes to the A7. 

Gasoline With MMT

Methylcyclopentadienyl Manganese Tricarbonyl (MMT) is an additive used in some gasoline to stop knocking. It’s much less common these days since it will harm the catalytic converter on most modern vehicles, including the A7.

The owner’s manual doesn’t specifically mention MMT but does say “Filling the tank just one time with leaded fuel or other metallic additives will cause permanent deterioration to the catalytic converter function.” Gasoline with MMT counts as metallic additives and should be avoided. 

Gasoline with Alcohol or MTBE

The A7 can use gas with MTBE if it has an AKI of 87 or more and doesn’t have more than 15% MTBE.

Ethanol Blends

According to the owner’s manual, ethanol content up to 15% is allowed so E10 (up to 10% ethanol) and E15 (up to 15% ethanol) should be safe as long as the Anti-Knock Index is at least 87 AKI. 

Flex Fuels

Flex fuels like E20 (20% Ethanol), E30 (30% Ethanol), E85 (85% Ethanol) are not recommended for the Audi A7 as they exceed the 15% ethanol limit specified in the owner’s manual. You’re best off just skipping these altogether. 

Biodiesel

The Audi A7 diesel engine can run on B20 which is a 20% blend of biodiesel. However, it might not make a huge difference when it comes to fuel efficiency. 

Reformulated Gasoline

Audi’s general stance is that as long as the fuel meets the octane requirements and doesn’t contain prohibited additives or exceed certain blend limits (like ethanol percentages, for instance), it should be compatible with their vehicles. Up to 15% ethanol is allowed and if you’re in that range you’ll be good to go. 

Does The Audi A7 Get Good Gas Mileage? 

Luxury rides aren’t known for amazing gas mileage and while the A7 will get better gas mileage compared to an SUV like the Q7, it’s still nothing to write home about when compared to other vehicles in a similar class. 

The latest A7 is looking at 21 mpg city and 30 mpg highway according to the EPA. This is true whether you’re using the recommended 91 octane or going for the cheaper 87. 

You can see some good real-world testing of the MPG in this video: 

Gas Mileage Comparison: Audi A7 vs. Other Luxury Models

While 29 city mpg isn’t anything to write home about, how does it compare to other luxury vehicles? 

The BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo is one of the closest rivals to the A7 and it offers a slightly lesser fuel efficiency with an estimated 20 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway. The difference, while marginal, could add up to a lot over the life of the vehicle. 

The Mercedes-Benz CLS is the standard in the class (at least for some, I’m not a big fan of the oil leaks) and comes in at around 22 mpg in the city and 30 mpg highway. 

Small numbers matter when it comes to mpg, but in this case, these small differences are too small for most drivers to have it impact their pick. Especially if you’re already looking to buy luxury. 

Closing Thoughts

Wrapping this all up, navigating the maze of fuel options for the Audi A7 might’ve felt like choosing a wine pairing at a five-star restaurant — it’s sophisticated, a touch intimidating, but oh-so-rewarding when you get it right.

However, Audi actually makes it pretty easy. Stick with premium 91 octane and you’ll be good to go. If that’s not available, you can use 87 octane but expect a drop in the performance that led you to purchase an A7 in the first place. Those fuel requirements are true for everything (including hybrids) except for diesel and that’s what we’ve seen with most Audi vehicles from the little A3 to the larger Q5 and everything in between. 

Ride safe! 

Stefan K.

Hi! My name is Stefan; I’m the owner and lead writer at TheDriverAdviser.com.

I’m an active writer on this blog myself, as well as a novice car mechanic. For the really technical stuff, I find writers with experience as a mechanic or who have studied mechanical engineering.

Read more about our fantastic team on our about page!