The Subaru Forester does 25.4 mpg combined (23.2 city, 28.9 highway), which works out to about $1,512 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Engine choice matters more than you'd think: 2.5L 4-cyl Hybrid does 35 mpg while 2.5L 4-cyl does 24.8 — a difference of $451 a year. Against other 4-cyl cars it sits below the average of 25.7 mpg.
Every Subaru Forester engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Subaru Forester ranges from 35 down to 24.8 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $451 a year across 2 versions of the same car. Picking the right one often saves more fuel than picking a different car altogether. Yearly cost assumes 12,000 miles at $3.20 a gallon.
| Engine | Combined | City / Highway | Years | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5L 4-cyl Hybrid | 35 / 34 | 2025–2026 | $1,097 | |
| 2.5L 4-cyl | 22.3 / 28.6 | 1998–2026 | $1,548 |
What that actually costs
The Subaru Forester burns a gallon every 25.4 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 472 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.126 |
| Fuel per year | $1,512 |
| Fuel over five years | $7,560 |
| Against other 4-cyl cars | +$18 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $2,510 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Subaru Forester gives up 5.7 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 28.9 out there against 23.2 in town, a 25% drop worth $326 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 | 23.2 mpg | $1,655 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 28.9 mpg | $1,329 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +5.7 mpg (25%) | Typical for its type |
How the Forester changed over the years
The Forester peaked in 2026 at 32 mpg (30.5 city, 33.5 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 2004 at 21 — 11 mpg apart, or $629 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2026 car does 32. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 30.5 / 33.5 | 2 | $1,200 | |
| 2025 | 30.5 / 33.5 | 2 | $1,200 | |
| 2024 | 26 / 33 | 1 | $1,324 | |
| 2023 | 26 / 33 | 1 | $1,324 | |
| 2022 | 26 / 33 | 1 | $1,324 | |
| 2021 | 26 / 33 | 1 | $1,324 | |
| 2020 | 26 / 33 | 1 | $1,324 | |
| 2019 | 26 / 33 | 1 | $1,324 | |
| 2018 | 26 / 32 | 1 | $1,371 | |
| 2017 | 26 / 32 | 1 | $1,371 | |
| 2016 | 24 / 31 | 1 | $1,422 | |
| 2015 | 24 / 31 | 1 | $1,422 | |
| 2014 | 24 / 31 | 1 | $1,422 | |
| 2013 | 21 / 26 | 1 | $1,670 | |
| 2012 | 21 / 26 | 1 | $1,670 | |
| 2011 | 21 / 26 | 1 | $1,670 | |
| 2010 | 20 / 26 | 1 | $1,745 | |
| 2009 | 20 / 26 | 1 | $1,745 | |
| 2008 | 20 / 26 | 1 | $1,745 | |
| 2007 | 20 / 25 | 1 | $1,745 | |
| 2006 | 20 / 25 | 1 | $1,745 | |
| 2005 | 20 / 27 | 1 | $1,670 | |
| 2004 | 19 / 25 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 2003 | 19 / 24 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 2002 | 19 / 25 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 2001 | 19 / 25 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 2000 | 19 / 25 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 1999 | 19 / 25 | 1 | $1,829 | |
| 1998 | 19 / 25 | 1 | $1,829 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 31 EPA ratings of the Subaru Forester — 2 engines across 1998–2026. 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 $2,510. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Subaru Forester get?
25.4 mpg combined on average — 23.2 in the city and 28.9 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 1998–2026.
How much does a Subaru Forester cost in fuel per year?
About $1,512 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $7,560 over five years, or 0.126 dollars a mile.
Which Forester engine is the most economical?
The 2.5L 4-cyl Hybrid at 35 mpg, against 24.8 for the 2.5L 4-cyl — a difference of about $451 a year.
Is the Forester 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 Forester 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 Forester is $2,510 against the $1,512 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 35 and 21 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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