Subaru averages 25 mpg combined across 18 petrol and diesel models (1984–2026). The best on record does 36 mpg, the thirstiest 18 — a yearly fuel gap of about $1,066. Its 1 electric model sits apart at 108 MPGe — 31.2 kWh per 100 miles, about $636 a year to charge, which is $900 less than the average Subaru costs to fuel.
What that actually costs
What a Subaru costs to feed, at 12,000 miles a year and $3.20 a gallon.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Average combined | 25 mpg |
| Fuel per year | $1,536 |
| Most frugal on record | 36 mpg — $1,067 a year |
| Thirstiest on record | 18 mpg — $2,133 a year |
| Its electric models | 108 MPGe — $636 a year to charge |
Subaru models by gas mileage
From the most frugal down. The yearly figure is what the fuel actually costs at 12,000 miles.
| Model | Average mpg | Best / Worst engine | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subaru Crosstrek | 36 / 29 | $1,231 | |
| Subaru Justy | 34 / 30 | $1,239 | |
| Subaru XV CrossTrek | 31 / 28 | $1,306 | |
| Subaru BRZ | 28 / 25 | $1,449 | |
| Subaru Impreza | 32 / 21 | $1,460 | |
| Subaru Forester | 35 / 21 | $1,512 | |
| Subaru DL | 25 / 23 | $1,561 | |
| Subaru Loyale | 25 / 23 | $1,561 | |
| Subaru RX | 24 / 24 | $1,600 | |
| Subaru Legacy | 30 / 19 | $1,607 | |
| Subaru Brat | 25 / 23 | $1,613 | |
| Subaru Outback | 30 / 19 | $1,634 | |
| Subaru XT | 25 / 21 | $1,641 | |
| Subaru WRX | 24 / 22 | $1,692 | |
| Subaru Ascent | 23 / 22 | $1,707 | |
| Subaru Baja | 22 / 20 | $1,829 | |
| Subaru SVX | 19 / 18 | $2,110 | |
| Subaru B9 Tribeca | 18 / 18 | $2,133 |
The electric Subarus, measured differently
Subaru has 1 model that never visit a filling station, averaging 108 MPGe. That figure looks four times better than the 25 mpg the petrol Subarus manage, but the two are not the same unit — so we keep them apart and price the electric ones in kilowatt-hours.
| Model | MPGe | kWh / 100 mi | Charging per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subaru Solterra | 31.2 | $636 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
- Fuel profile built from your actual mileage and local prices
- Fuel tracker: what you really spend, month by month
- Insurance and fuel folded into 5-year cost to own
- Compare any two cars on total cost, not sticker price
- No ads, no tracking — and much more
How we count
Subaru rests on 261 EPA ratings covering 18 models from 1984 to 2026, plus 1 electric one counted separately in MPGe. The laboratory numbers are EPA's and go in unchanged; the money is ours, at 12,000 miles a year and $3.20 a gallon. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average Subaru gas mileage?
25 mpg combined across 18 models and 261 EPA ratings, from 1984 to 2026 — 42 model years in one figure, which is why it sits below what a new Subaru does today.
Which Subaru model is the most economical?
The Subaru Crosstrek at 31.2 mpg, about $1,231 a year in fuel, against the B9 Tribeca at 18.0 mpg and $2,133 — a gap of $902 a year between the two ends of the same badge.
How much does a Subaru cost to run?
About $1,536 a year in fuel, at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon. Over five years that is $7,680, before a single service.
Does Subaru make anything electric?
Yes — 1 model, rated 108 MPGe rather than in mpg, which works out to 31.2 kWh per 100 miles and roughly $636 a year at the socket. That is $900 less than the average petrol Subaru, though the two ratings are not in the same unit.
Mark ForCar as a preferred source and our data shows up first in your Google results. One click, no account.