The Subaru Baja does 21 mpg combined (19 city, 25 highway), which works out to about $1,829 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Against other 4-cyl cars it sits below the average of 25.7 mpg.
Every Subaru Baja engine, compared
The Subaru Baja was rated in a single specification, so its gas mileage does not vary by version — only by model year. Yearly cost assumes 12,000 miles at $3.20 a gallon.
| Engine | Combined | City / Highway | Years | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5L 4-cyl | 19 / 25 | 2003–2006 | $1,829 |
What that actually costs
The Subaru Baja burns a gallon every 21 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 571 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.152 |
| Fuel per year | $1,829 |
| Fuel over five years | $9,145 |
| Against other 4-cyl cars | +$335 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $2,963 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Subaru Baja gives up 6 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 25 out there against 19 in town, a 32% drop worth $485 a year. A wide gap punishes stop-and-start traffic; a narrow one means the car doesn't care where you drive it.
| Measure | Value | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| City | 19 mpg | $2,021 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 25 mpg | $1,536 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +6 mpg (32%) | Wide — this car dislikes traffic |
How the Baja changed over the years
The Baja peaked in 2006 at 22 mpg (20 city, 26 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 2003 at 20 — 2 mpg apart, or $175 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2006 car does 22. Jumps usually mark a new generation or a new engine; dips often mean a heavier body or added all-wheel drive.
| Model year | Combined | City / Highway | Engines offered | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 20 / 26 | 1 | $1,745 | |
| 2005 | 19 / 25 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 2004 | 19 / 25 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 2003 | 18 / 24 | 1 | $1,920 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 4 EPA ratings of the Subaru Baja — 1 engine across 2003–2006. The mileage is EPA's laboratory figure, unchanged; the yearly bill is ours, at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon, against EPA's own estimate of $2,963. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Subaru Baja get?
21 mpg combined on average — 19 in the city and 25 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 2003–2006.
How much does a Subaru Baja cost in fuel per year?
About $1,829 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $9,145 over five years, or 0.152 dollars a mile.
Which Baja engine is the most economical?
The 2.5L 4-cyl at 21 mpg.
Is the Baja good on fuel compared with similar cars?
Against other 4-cyl cars it sits below the average of 25.7 mpg, computed across 4765 ratings.
Are these real-world Baja figures?
No — they are EPA laboratory ratings, the same ones printed on the window sticker, and EPA's own annual fuel estimate for the Subaru Baja is $2,963 against the $1,829 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the city and highway figures is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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